Cant stop spending...

gupalsmurthpadacal

To be honest I think you might need to review your budget! If you are saying that you are running out of money by the middle of the month then that indicates its not really working.
Its difficult but you need to sit down with all your statements and look at your wants vs your needs. Many times we justify things like takeaways/ coffee's/ magazines as needs when we have actually just had a rubbish day and want a treat. Its easily done and of course we all need a bit of relief but if you reviewed your monthly spending and took a good honest look you would be able to see things you could improve.

learningtosave

I am exactly the same and even though I battle most of the month to not spend it only takes one moment of weakness and I can blow £100s in one go on things I don't need or even want. I always feel rubbish after but by then it's too late. Narrowly avoided it today just by thinking of this site. I've never tried piggy banking before but it sounds sensible so I've just applied for two new bank accounts and hope to start using them soon. Until then I will keep reading the forum. You're not alone, there are others like us! (I normally lurk and never post but thought you should know)

bigjl

I have a mate that got one of those pay as you go Cashplus cards.

He puts money on it like a savings account and leaves it for a rainy day or christmas presents or holiday money.

Works for him

I used to deal with the OH's spending by doing OT but that has not been possible the last few years so i can understand your situation.

Try to be more realistic with your debts.

You didn't really reduce your debt by £200. You made you monthly payment. Unless you make your monthly payment aswell your debt has stayed the same or grown slightly due to interest.

Debt is very easy to get into and not so easy to get out of.

The result of years of poor pay for the average worker despite huge increase in senior bosses pay and an increase in the cost of living have meant borrowing has become a way if life for most.

Perhaps check with your benefits office or check online at Entitled to and see if you are entitled to any financial help such as tax credits or housing benefit might give you the breathing space to sort the debts out.

learningtosave

So would that be a good thing to use for online oopsie moments too? and backup for nights out? A big problem for me is when I'm out with my my friends and my sensible cash allowance has run out...I am too scared of not having taxi fare to not take a backup with me but then it it usually gets abused for the wrong reasons and I always regret it the next day

darcyboo

Could you work out how much you've got to spend over the course of the month, and then withdraw a proportion of it in cash each week and leave your cards at home?

Works brilliantly for me, I love having a 'new pot of money' each week, no more running out of cash mid month!

chuckley

I'm the same. for the past few years I've had no credit so i just rinse my wages. I find it thrilling to get my account down to zero with 3 weeks left till payday. Then I find ways to solve the problem. It's like a challenge.

I dont spend on designer either, i just 'have' to spend.

This month i blew £100 on house of fraser and returned it all as I didnt want any of it. I just needed to click that 'pay now' button. then I felt I'd shopped.

I'll buy some form of clothing or jewellery every month whether its £5 or £50. I just 'have' to.

learningtosave

A quick shop at Asda turns into a major clothes haul as their jumpers are just so cute... I never 'buy' clothes yet I waste a lot of money on impulse buys at the supermarket and still have nothing to wear!!

rich11

Cant offer any help to the OP but my wife is the same.She popped out to buy a loaf of bread today and returned with a brand new hoover

opinions4u

As a teen I wasted £15 on a watch in a mock auction (sussed out after the event). It was a great lesson to never buy on impulse again.

I've only erred once - and still never forgiven myself for the £395 computer warranty I bought in PC World many years ago. I was distracted by the staff member's cleavage, combined with not having a clue how to fix a broken computer.

macman

'I am really good at budgeting'.
Unfortunately that is entirely at odds with everything else you have said. Which makes me think that you're in complete denial of the fact that you are £8K in debt and rising. Unless all that debt is interest-free, how can blowing a £1,200 PPI payment (clue: it didn't 'just go'-you spent it) be 'good budgeting'? You could have cleared £1,200 (about 15%) of your most expensive debt with that.
Why not start by putting at least your £200 debt repayments onto SO's that are timed to go out as soon as your pay cheque comes in? That way you can't be tempted to spend it elsewhere.