How can I stop spending?!

Knalchemist

I think my problem was that once I became debt-free, I completely left this site, de-activating my account etc. I get a buzz out of paying off my debts, and seeing them dwindle, so perhaps I could do this the other way round with saving, sticking to this site.

With lunches, I meant that I don't like fruit or bread, and I have no idea what kind of 'healthy' snacks / lunches are out there, that I can make / take to work. It is difficult for me to make lunches and freeze them, as there are four adults in the house (We live with my partners father and sister at the moment).

I know people say 'stop spending' but it isn't that easy. It isn't even like I buy things for me, it's for my partner and family, because I want to get them nice things and want them to be happy - it is weird I know.

Should I open another bank account, separate from my Natwest one? All my bills come out of the same bank account, so I could open a new account, and deposit £x per month or per week in there, then once it's gone it's gone?

I've looked in to opening a Cash ISA with a separate bank, so I can start saving once my debts are paid off, which is looking to be next month. I will open a Cash ISA once I'm debt-free, not sooner.

Does anyone have any good websites I could take a look at for lunches? I know I said I don't like bread, I mean in a sandwich form. Bruschetta is lovely, it cost me less than £1, and can make it at work.

I'm going to keep the Littlewoods account, but take off my payment information, and ask my partner to change the password, so I don't know it. It will be useful for when we move in the future, to furnish a place.

I will take my car information off of amazon, ebay etc as others have suggested!

Sorry for the long post

nat21luv

I would transfer all of my disposable income into a savings account/off your CC as soon as you're paid. It'll just sit there otherwise, begging you to spend it. You'll soon be debt free and have a nice savings pot to fall back on. I have a savings DD of £300 a month, I see it as a bill now and forget that its going into savings, this helps greatly to not overspend as I think 'I haven't saved much this month so I wont spend much of my disposable income', when in fact Ive put away at least £300.

runforlife

Why not try paying for things in cash. At the beginning of the week draw cash out and leave your card tucked away somewhere. Then see if you have any left by the end of the week. That way you have that money plus a new weeks worth. It becomes infectious as then you realise that the surplus can be saved or you only draw enough out to equal your allowance because you have a tenner or twenty, thirty quid left over.

melanzana

TBH I cannot reply to someone who doesn't like bread, but likes bruschetta.

Nuff said

troll Alert!

theoretica

Knalchemist wrote: »

Does anyone have any good websites I could take a look at for lunches? I know I said I don't like bread, I mean in a sandwich form. Bruschetta is lovely, it cost me less than £1, and can make it at work.

Try the old style forum on this site.

dancingfairy

Buying stuff for people is nice, provided you can afford it. It seems to be about finding a balance that works for you, rather than one extreme or the other. Maybe set a budget for 'treats' for your family?
In terms of food try the OldStyle board as already suggested. How about soup (Even tinned rather than hm is not that expensive), veg and humous? cous cous and roast veg? pasta salad? I'm sure the oldstyle board will have more ideas.
df

Sazzie23

Hi Knalchemist

Well done for achieving debt free once, I'm sure you can do it again.
Have you considered you may be a compulsive spender/debtor. I've realised I am one, and I'm currently addressing this with debtors anonymous:o, however the help from MSE on budgeting etc is most invaluable.
The on-line literature is fairly available for you to decide if this applies to you or not.

Maybe not relevant to you, but thought I'd put it out there so to speak.

owen-b

Knalchemist wrote: »

I know people say 'stop spending' but it isn't that easy. It isn't even like I buy things for me, it's for my partner and family, because I want to get them nice things and want them to be happy - it is weird I know.

I'm sorry but this is just an excuse. It *is* that easy. I thought you were going to go on to say it's not that easy because there's so many essential things you have no choice but to buy, but instead you said "I like to buy people nice things".

Those people don't *need* those nice things and the nice things you are buying them are ruining your finances. The people you're buying nice things for would probably be happier if they knew you were financially secure than if you keep buying them nice things.

By the way, you don't really freeze lunches, you freeze dinners. For lunches buy some cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and pickle and some nice rolls and make sandwiches every day. A home-made sandwich works out to pennies. A bought one costs a couple of quid.

With a house full of adults you should have no problem cooking up big pots of stew or soup or lasagne or something, then cooling and freezing meal-sized portions to defrost for meals.

MrsGSR

owen-b wrote: »

I'm sorry but this is just an excuse. It *is* that easy. I thought you were going to go on to say it's not that easy because there's so many essential things you have no choice but to buy, but instead you said "I like to buy people nice things".

Those people don't *need* those nice things and the nice things you are buying them are ruining your finances. The people you're buying nice things for would probably be happier if they knew you were financially secure than if you keep buying them nice things.

By the way, you don't really freeze lunches, you freeze dinners. For lunches buy some cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and pickle and some nice rolls and make sandwiches every day. A home-made sandwich works out to pennies. A bought one costs a couple of quid.

With a house full of adults you should have no problem cooking up big pots of stew or soup or lasagne or something, then cooling and freezing meal-sized portions to defrost for meals.

Agree with you on this, why feel the need to buy people nice things all the time? Those are wants not needs.
The OP has said they don't like bread (although bruscetta seems to be an exception to this) and don't eat sandwiches and doesn't seem to know where to start when it comes to making lunches.

mrsscattercushion

You seem to have actually hit the nail on the head in one of your other posts....I want to buy them nice things, I want them to be happy. I think it is the mindset of equating happiness with "things" or "possessions"...for me, often the nicest things are things I experience for free, e.g. precious time with family and friends, the natural world, a long walk on a crisp frosty morning etc...happiness really isn't about what you have, else you'll always be chasing that, or feeling like you miss out on what you don't have....to me it is the sense of experiencing, not having....

Like others said, I'm sure your family would be happiest knowing that you were in a good financial place ~ good luck with this.

BTW, I shouldn't eat bread, so my lunches are often salads, bowls of cous cous or bulgar wheat with veg, cheese, houmous and oatcakes/crackers, fruit, carrot and celery sticks, homemade soup or leftovers from teas ~ lots of options for you, the OS forum is great for inventive ideas so you don't get bored.