Impulsive spending..

GettingOrganised

Hi, there are plenty of free spending diary apps for smart phones if you have one - I've been using one for a few months. Whether you use an app or just write in a notepad, my advice would be to totally honest and log everything. You can keep receipts and log each day or update as you go.

I've reduced my impulse spending just because I don't want to log it later!

Also, you need to identity when it's a problem - during lunch breaks, weekends, shopping when hungry. Once you've identified when you're likely to buy, you need to look at ways to reduce the temptation. Go for a walk at lunch instead of into town, for example.

I also think the advice about using cash only is a good one - if you withdraw your weekly budget and use cash when you buy.

Good luck, I'm still finding it to be difficult some days, but overall, my view on money has changed.

Kitty777

I guess I do, do it as a hobby....look round charity shops etc just for something to do.

I work mostly evenings so breaks etc are not a problem, I just tend to sit in the staff room as I do not have time to go out

I will start from friday, on payday. A clean slate. May even post the diary on this site if that is okay

gfplux

Glad to hear you have stopped the scratch cards.
Did you know that according to stastitics the lower the income the bigger the gambler.
Remember gambling is for mugs.

Kitty777

gfplux wrote: »

Glad to hear you have stopped the scratch cards.
Did you know that according to stastitics the lower the income the bigger the gambler.
Remember gambling is for mugs.

Well it is horribly tempting...thinking just spending £5 and you could win £££s. But How many times have I sat in my car...with loads of scratch cards and won nothing? Countless. Would be more constructive buying costa coffee and cake tbh. :P

daydream_believer_2

Hi Kitty777,

I cannot reccommend highly enough doing a spending diary!
Our debt is from a bad investment, not from overspending on a day to day basis...I am the queen of frugality!

But I started the diary, not to see where we were overspending, as we weren't, but to keep us within the very tight budget we've set ourselves.

I write down EVERYTHING!

And its amazing, when you feel you have to write something down, it often stops you spending.

As for stopping frittering money, here's a few ideas...

Don't buy that mega expensive coffee just for a treat for you. You don't need it, you can make a coffee at home. However, if you're planning to meet friends, then try somewhere cheaper. Often the independants are cheaper than the big names, or go to Weatherspoons, cheap and tasty coffee.

Never go shopping on an empty stomach, take a list and stick to it.

If you aren't close to running out of bubble bath, shower gel etc, then you don't need to buy another...use up what you have.

Buy books from charity shops,or if you're a kindle user check out the freebies. They may not be the big name new releases, but I have not paid for a single book since receiving a kindle for a present 3 years ago! And I average reading a book a week!!

Wandering around the shops for something to do?....go to a park instead, or go to the shops, but take NO money or cards! That 'must have item' will probably still be there tomorrow, giving you time to decide if you really must have it.

Hope this may give you a few ideas to help....good luck:)

Caramel147

Buying coffee is a bad one for me too.
I definitely agree with keeping a spending diary. Seeing it all add up sucks the enjoyment right out of my coffee! Figure out your weekly budget. Withdraw it in cash at the start of the week. When it's gone, it's gone. I get competitive with myself to see how much I can have left at the end of the week, or how long I can go before breaking into a new note.

Check out some of the challenges on the DFW boards. Things like the £2 savers, No Spend Days and earn £10 a day challenges might be great for you. You get support and tips from the other people in the challenge and can save/earn some extra pennies.

rockm87

For my online impulses. I have a pinterest board. its a private board so only I can see it. and I pin everything I feel i really 'need' to buy. Once Ive clicked and put it on a board, the impulse usually subsides.

When i get paid I look at the money available for me to spend, and I check the board. Usually i no longer want half the things on there, so i delete them off. I think I've only purchased 2 things on there that I really did want.

This works for me, it may work for you.

Hermia

rockm87 wrote: »

For my online impulses. I have a pinterest board. its a private board so only I can see it. and I pin everything I feel i really 'need' to buy. Once Ive clicked and put it on a board, the impulse usually subsides.

When i get paid I look at the money available for me to spend, and I check the board. Usually i no longer want half the things on there, so i delete them off. I think I've only purchased 2 things on there that I really did want.

This works for me, it may work for you.

I have something similar. I write everything I want down in a notebook. A lot of the stuff gets crossed off when I realise I don't really want it after all. The stuff that gets left I know I really want so I will save for them. It's also handy for when relatives ask me what I want for Christmas!

Kitty777

Hermia wrote: »

I have something similar. I write everything I want down in a notebook. A lot of the stuff gets crossed off when I realise I don't really want it after all. The stuff that gets left I know I really want so I will save for them. It's also handy for when relatives ask me what I want for Christmas!

I tend to already do that, as wishlists or on a sticky note on my laptop

Online shopping I can handle, it is in store that I struggle with.
I bought a tassimo machine a year or so ago when costa sent me a special offer code...I did it so I could have a costa coffee a few times a week without spending £2.50 everytime. But then i realised, I was also going to costa >< I am awful :P It cannot be good for my waist either!!!

I am going to start a diary on here.

Hermia

Kitty777 wrote: »

I tend to already do that, as wishlists or on a sticky note on my laptop

Online shopping I can handle, it is in store that I struggle with.
I bought a tassimo machine a year or so ago when costa sent me a special offer code...I did it so I could have a costa coffee a few times a week without spending £2.50 everytime. But then i realised, I was also going to costa >< I am awful :P It cannot be good for my waist either!!!

I am going to start a diary on here.

I keep my notebook in my purse (it's tiny) so I have it with me when I am shopping. It's handy because if I do see something like a very generous closing down sale I can whip the book out and at least get something I have been saving for.

I have not bought a coffee machine as I know I will do the same as you! I think kitchen gadgets are one of the worst areas for making terrible mistakes.