How To Stop Spending?

matttye

My downfall is Apple stuff, I usually like to get the latest and greatest iPhone but I've so far held off.

I just keep telling myself that I'll never be comfortably well off whilst I keep spending money on gadgets, and the novelty of having that new shiny device wears off after about a month anyway.

moohound

matttye wrote: »

My downfall is Apple stuff, I usually like to get the latest and greatest iPhone but I've so far held off.

I just keep telling myself that I'll never be comfortably well off whilst I keep spending money on gadgets, and the novelty of having that new shiny device wears off after about a month anyway.

They are deliberately marketed to make you do this, think how you felt when you got your current iPhone, I bet you really loved it, it is still the same phone you were really pleased with, not that long ago.

Having said that, I am typing this on a Macbook Pro but I won't be getting a new one until this one no longer works, and I bought it through work with a third off

matttye

moohound wrote: »

They are deliberately marketed to make you do this, think how you felt when you got your current iPhone, I bet you really loved it, it is still the same phone you were really pleased with, not that long ago.

Having said that, I am typing this on a Macbook Pro but I won't be getting a new one until this one no longer works, and I bought it through work with a third off

Exactly. And I normally spend about a week playing with the new features then go back to my same usage patterns anyway. :eek:

I don't have the same urge to get a new iPad, still using my 3 year old iPad 2.

FireWyrm

matttye wrote: »

My downfall is Apple stuff, I usually like to get the latest and greatest iPhone but I've so far held off.

I just keep telling myself that I'll never be comfortably well off whilst I keep spending money on gadgets, and the novelty of having that new shiny device wears off after about a month anyway.

Has your previous device stopped working? What was it that you found alluring about that one but not now? This treadmill of 'upgrading' is a manufactured position. Unless your current device does not work properly (faulty battery...it happens), or your device no longer does the job (you need to have emails and stuff on the go whereas previously you just needed to make a phone call) then devices do not need upgrading on an annual basis. The manufacturers have created this very situation artificially because they know that the market is saturated. Everyone who 'needs' a phone has one, the only way to keep going is to keep the fanboys churning and that has fast become normal.

matttye

FireWyrm wrote: »

Has your previous device stopped working? What was it that you found alluring about that one but not now? This treadmill of 'upgrading' is a manufactured position. Unless your current device does not work properly (faulty battery...it happens), or your device no longer does the job (you need to have emails and stuff on the go whereas previously you just needed to make a phone call) then devices do not need upgrading on an annual basis. The manufacturers have created this very situation artificially because they know that the market is saturated. Everyone who 'needs' a phone has one, the only way to keep going is to keep the fanboys churning and that has fast become normal.

I completely agree.

Mine does everything I need it to and works fine. I'm determined to un-brainwash myself!

DalePie

FireWyrm wrote: »

Or...

The practice of buying stuff you dont need with money you dont have to impress people you dont like and who dont even know you exist.

Makes total sense.

This is very true.

For 99.9% of people, the most important person in the world is "ME". It's not selfish it's the human condition and only partially changes when people become parents; even then you can argue that the same deal applies because children are basically an extension of yourself and your bloodline.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that all those people you're trying to impress? They couldn't give two hoots, they're dealing with their own stuff right now.

moohound

matttye wrote: »

Exactly. And I normally spend about a week playing with the new features then go back to my same usage patterns anyway. :eek:

I don't have the same urge to get a new iPad, still using my 3 year old iPad 2.

I think the thing with phones is that they are more publicly visible, you get them out of your pocket several times a day, I think they are psychologically the modern replacement for cigarette packs.

I am really bad at losing stuff and have never bothered with the latest phone as it would last 5 mins. I once left my purse on the roof of my car and drove off, and I left my husbands wallet on top of a mountain in Maderia, and I left all our passports and money in a taxi in Rome and so on….

heatherks

go shopping alone /once a week and only take enough money with you when you visit the corner shop for top ups you need every other day
.. wish i'd did this sooner i was spending a fortune esp if id taken the kids with me

Hermia

heatherks wrote: »

go shopping alone /once a week and only take enough money with you when you visit the corner shop for top ups you need every other day
.. wish i'd did this sooner i was spending a fortune esp if id taken the kids with me

I found online grocery shopping is the thing that really helped me budget as I am not able to pick things up on impulse.

I also find planning means you don't need to keep popping out for top ups which means less temptation. I will buy two small milks rather than a big one so it lasts the week. I put some bread in the freezer for the end of the week. I also make sure I eat the most perishable fruit and veg at the beginning of the week (e.g. berries) and save the stuff the lasts (e.g. apples) for the end of the week. It comes from living in the country for a while where popping to the shops was a big trip so people meal planned really well.

I also think the posters who mention thinking about think about what items cost in terms of hours worked are spot on. I remember looking at a designer lippie in Boots and realising I'd have to work two hours to pay for it. It really makes you assess what matters to you and what doesn't.

YoungBusinessman

Know exactly where you are coming from in the way you get bored as you havnt had anything new for a while. I can go on for new work socks and come off with work tools, a new pair trainers and a few hundred lighter. If you dont have access to money, you cant buy anything. As simple as that. Hide your money in an account you have to go into a bank to withdraw it. The sheer inconvinience of having to go in and withdraw it then put in an account so you can spend online, should help put you off.

My GF loves yankee candles, what an expense!!!!