How To Stop Spending?

Hermia

YoungBusinessman wrote: »

Know exactly where you are coming from in the way you get bored as you havnt had anything new for a while.

'Shop your...' challenges can be good for beating the boredom. I first heard about shop your closet challenges where women would take some of the barely-worn clothes from their wardrobe and find new ways to style them. I have seen people do similar things with DVDs/CDs/games in that they get some out they haven't looked at for ages. I have even seen people who put the majority of their DVDs/games etc in a cupboard and just take a selection each month. I suppose it is the adult version of hiding some toys away so the child doesn't get bored of them.

forzaitalia

I find going round the shops too tempting. I now only visit when I have to (once a week grocery shop, occasional clothes shopping). It really is that simple - if you don't see it you won't want it. Definitely unsubscribe emails that tempt you to browse.

This morning I could have nipped down to the town and browse the shops, instead I am reading Martin's Moneysaving email, and then searching for cheapest house insurance.

Maybe find a hobby to take up that time you would normally spend shopping, or volunteer for a charity?

I understand how you feel, many of us are tempted the way you are. You just need to avoid the temptation in the first place. Wishing you lots of luck 😍

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, yep another here who could have written that post. Hence why we are £17k in debt and I dont really know what most of it went on.

I have accepted that I am just one of those people who loves buying stuff. I am convinced that I will be more likeable, more attractive and happier with the right clothes, shoes, house, car etc. Sad I know.

For me what really stops me spending is spreadsheets. I log all my debts monthly (balance bfwd, interest, payments, balance cfwd). I log every penny I spend so I can tell you exactly how much I have spent on clothes or whatever this year. Seeing it in black and white makes it real.

Oh and I couldnt survive without a little "extras" budget, its fun making it go as far as I can.

And come on here instead of internet shopping! Good luck.

wendyt1974

I was exactly the same and I was 30k in debt! I am an improved character but alas not perfect yet! I am down to 15k debt in 2 years and I still shop but if I feel like shopping I buy yellow stickers that can be frozen to help with the food thing and scour charity shops for clothes I need. This way I spend far less and it takes longer, I often go home without anything but feel better for browsing (and if not I've bagged a bargain)

Also I recommend ultimate cheapskate book its fun and really changes your mindset!

If youre still bored use the technology to sell on ebay :j

racing_blue

You can reframe the question- instead of "how do I stop spending", ask "how do I start saving?"

Saying "I am going to stop eating cakes" is a poor way of losing weight. The focus is on cakes... when a tray is passed around at work, or when you are in the supermarket, cakes are on your mind and whoops, suddenly in your stomach. A much more effective way is to focus on what you want to achieve: visualise having a lean, healthy, fit body and the process by which people achieve that. Then when the cakes come round, your first thought is "I want to be lean and fit, I had a decent breakfast and I'm not that hungry right now, so maybe I'll pass on the cake".

Saving is the opposite of spending, and is the positive result you really want. To visualise saving, I like MrMoneyMustache's "little green soldiers" image. Every dollar (or pound) you save or invest today is quietly put to work for you, and can earn you 5p or 7p or 10p per year for the rest of your life. At some point those little green soldiers will be working so hard on your behalf, that you can kick back and do whatever you want.

curiousralphy

Don't know if this helps but I write down what I think I really need to buy and what I plan to buy as I go and I look at it almost every day (is on my kitchen planner). I'm not allowed to buy any item I write down for 2 months but at the end of the 2 months if I still think we need it then I can get it. The other trick is that if during that 2 months I ever look at it and think to myself; you're being silly, you don't need that - then I take it off the list. I can put it back but it resets to a 2 month wait.....I hardly ever buy stuff now. Look at it this way, you never had it before and you're alive and functioning so 2 months wait won't change anything.

Another vote for the cut back on TV or magazines as well. When you don't see the ads they can't work on you.

FrugalinShropshire

Before we moved we were putting every spare penny into paying off our mortgage so we could start our new life mortgage free. It became and still is, a game to see how little we need and how much we can save. We have a very limited income now but are so much happier. I suppose it boils down to the fact that we have a plan, we budget for everything and only use cash. If we go out for a cup of tea, we take the 'tea fund' money for example, we made a load of zipped purses to keep the money in.

NeverAgain2

xbethanyx wrote: »

How do you all stop spending? I just can't seem to for anymore than 2 weeks... I just can't seem to cut up my cards - what if I need them? How do I get cash out if I have no cards? Even if I kept my debit card for cash, I can still easily buy something online with it?
My husband has a running joke when he sees me on the ipad and asks "what sh**e are you buying now?" or "you're attracted to sh**e" and I 99.9% usually am... I have curtailed slightly so far my love of buying expensive candles and any old tat but I always end up running out of something like toilet roll and going into a shop and coming out having spent £38 (like on Sunday...) Oh I'll just get that while I'm here, oh I fancy that to eat instead... The usual!!
I like browsing websites to see what I can buy , usually when I should be doing something else!! - such a bad idea!!
I have tried these no spend challenges but after about the 2 week mark it bores me (not sure if bore is the right choice of word?) and I give up and go buy again.
Food impulse buys seem to be the worst as I do keep spending diaries. I have plenty of meals and food in the house, but a pizza or hot dogs for dinner always seem more appealing than what I have in the freezer etc...
I have the mentality of "omg I want that!!" and will just buy it.
A few times I have left my cards and still went to buy something and my husband has had to pay with his card.

Sorry for the long rant, but I'm just so sick of it

I know EXACTLY how you feel! Firstly, delete any shopping apps or websites.

Secondly, don't save credit card info anywhere! I find that having to get up, get my purse & fill in the details is often enough to put me off if it's an impulse purchase.

Thirdly, don't go to the shops! Go straight home!

Running_man

twiggy86 wrote: »

Maybe you need to start off gradually by giving yourself an allowance rather than stop spending altogether and that way you won't get to the "oh sod it" point!
I'm new to this DFW but what seems to be working for me so far is: I allow myself £40 per week for anything/everything (its mine!), what I don't spend gets put aside for me in an envelope rather than sitting in my purse (but its still mine!) and then I can use it for more expensive purchases/nights outs etc (or once I hit a certain mark I might pay of some debts with some of it and keep some aside for (haven't got to that point yet as I'm a newbie!)).
Last weekend I treated myself a Chinese takeaway but only had one dish and then stole some of the OHs! So I don't feel deprived. This weekend I'm going to best friends and will use the "left over" money for that as will probably go to the pub or a wander round the shops, not that I'm going to "try" to spend it but its ok if I do.
One of my "treats" was coke/Fanta etc. Instead of buying 1 bottle daily for over £1, I now buy a pack on Mr T brand cans - 8 for £1.50!
I also have pots/envelopes for different things - so my shopping money is in an envelope in my bag and I use that money (and only that money) for shopping only. Again I put the left overs aside each week (we're doing up our house so I put it aside for that). I'm really finding that segmenting my money (me, shopping, petrol etc) is helping MASSIVELY!
I think this approach helps me as actually I'm just being sensible with money rather than restricting myself.
Hope you find some help in my ramblings!

Have I got that right.You have £40 per week so £160 per month over £2000 a year to spend on yourself?
You have debts ?
And you are on this thread to tell people how to stop spending.Think you do really need to look again
Not meant to be offensive but that money should be going towards debt repayment

Muhren

Running_man wrote: »

Have I got that right.You have £40 per week so £160 per month over £2000 a year to spend on yourself?
You have debts ?
And you are on this thread to tell people how to stop spending.Think you do really need to look again
Not meant to be offensive but that money should be going towards debt repayment

I disagree on this, I still think you have to maintain some sort of social life whilst you are paying off your debt or you will end up going insane. I have a lot of respect for people who manage to completely batten down the hatches but I would rather still live my life a little, which in turn will mean it will take me an extra couple of months to pay off my debt.