Shopping addiction

chevalier

Glad I gave you something to think about. Good luck with finding the perfect motor home.
chev

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, I think there are a lot of people out there who are the same and most of them don't realise it. My love of shopping and "having stuff" comes from a difficult period in my teens when things were going very wrong in my life and I started to believe that having the right "stuff" would make me happier, more likable and more successful. This carried on through my 20s when I then had a house and kids who also needed the right "stuff".

I will never be "cured". I have learned to control it to a certain level. What helps is keeping a very close eye on my finances and how much I am spending on clothes and things for the house. I also second the idea of reading Marie Kondos book.

We stopped going shopping as a family quite a long time ago. I came to hate it actually, the kids constantly asking for things, me wrestling with my demons about that top that is reduced to £8, DH wanting to go for lunch somewhere that does two for a tenner and somehow still ends up costing us £60.

I know that if I had a found this site many years ago we wouldnt still be struggling to get out of debt now. Knowing that you have a problem is the most important thing. Good luck.

enjoyyourshoes

Habits are psychological, deep down somewhere is the route of the habit. Need to work out what that is and excorsise it.

A little aside, pay for car insurance annually not monthly, the pesky blighters get you on credit charges all the time. Work out all your annual,1/2 yearly and 1/4ly costs. Calculate what you need to save per month and stick it in the highest interest account you can find. Put renewal date in diary and month before start looking for better deal (MSE helps) then reevaluate your monthly saving to take into account any changes.

Work out the 'cost of responsibility' for any dream ! Often the material dream is less fulfilling once you have it but 'experiential' realities will live longer in your mind. The Leopard stalking the Oribi at night will always be there, long after the 'new shiny' what was it called ?

Primrose82

If we're honest a lot of us have houses filled with things that we've bought and regret and get little pleasure from. Every couple of months I have an e bay clear out to try and declutter but some how things build up again. We've all done it ! The problem as you've found is if that then leads to debt
At least at this point you've recognised there is a problem and you could do so much more with your money !

Sillygal

Hi

I did ( and still do) most of my shopping via Amazon.

Instead of leaving my card details on there and being able to click and buy to my heart's content, every month I top my amazon account with a gift card .. (amount built in to monthly budget) and allow myself some treats.

Once the amount on the gift card has run out, the show is over until the next month! This makes me still feel like I have had a treat out of my wages, but still remain within budget.. Also, if I dont spend everything the amount rolls over and is handy for buying Xmas presents throughout the year...

Works for me :T:T