Stop me please

FinallyDebtfree2017

I really do think I have got a problem with spending money.

I have been paying off nearly £30k in debt this year, making massive payments since sept towards it.

However, I have been spending so much money in December and January and cannot stop, yet I am so close to being debt free at the end of this year :eek:

I really don't know how to tackle this side, the emotional side of this problem, why do I feel the need to keep spending money (that could go towards debt) on wants/stuff I just don't need?

I think a trigger has been buying Christmas presents for others and wanting to reward myself for a tough year...

System

if your spending on credit cards cut them up or if you can't face it get someone else to do it. Then get back on track as soon as you can. You will be able to treat yourself everyday when you are debt free. I was the same as you , but now a treat is a magazine occasionally.

Good luck with it all and this time next year you can be debt free .��

Bumblebear

Poor you - I know how you feel, you just want to bang your own head against a brick wall to wake yourself up sometimes! I've done this before, got back to zero or thereabouts and then somehow decided that was "good enough" and just didn't count any pennies for 6 months. The result is I now have to pay off a card again, another couple of months to go for me.

However, in hindsight (and what a beautiful thing that is!), I was deeply unhappy. My new DH had been sent away for months shortly after our wedding and I told everyone I was fine, didn't bother me, life was fine, look at my lifestyle. Rubbish - all compensation.

So, without seeming too personal, maybe have a look and see if there's something else that spending is covering up for. A falling out with a friend or relative over Christmas (hey, it happens!), having a rough time at work? Whether there is, or isn't, something underlying your change in mind-set, I think perhaps getting back to making money saving a 'hobby' is a good way to use some of the time you are currently spending, well, spending.

Best of luck!

Perryface

Get a spending diary and write EVERYTHING you spend in it

Then switch your mindset, instead of believing your 'treating yourself after a bad year'. Start thinking 'if I buy this I am going backwards'.

If you have stayed within budget at the end of every month, 'treat' yourself. By 'treat' I mean a bubble bath and face mask, one of those 1 glass bottles of wine, a homemade sponge cake - or all three if you have been extra good lol!

One day at a time, keep plodding on.

At the end of

Dancingwiththedevil

I could have written this post, I'm an emotional spender and it's almost like I can't stop myself. I know own it's not good but I spend anyway.

I'm new to the forums but paid off anonymous £15k 10 years ago and slowly it went back up, went again and now back up.

Like bumblebear though I know mine is emotional. I had a rough year in 2014 where I spent more than I should, a better year on 2015 but that also justified me treating myself again and then 2016 has been a shocker, with the year ending in a car accident and miscarriage. I did need to invest some money in a new car, but aLongside that I managed to rack up another £1000 on my credit card... all because I haven't been happy.

2017 is a new year though and we're both here. Go back to basics and essentially start from scratch. Good luck with getting back on track.

National_Debtline

Hi

There’s an MSE guide to stopping spending here which might have some useful tips.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/stop-spending-budgeting-tool

James
@natdebtline

MrsTinks

Along with the great tool posted by James, why not start a DFW diary or start a new one if you like. You will find that people are usually very happy to offer help and support and definitely help discourage spending

Does your budget include treats? If you have budgeted for treats then you should have them, going cold turkey is rarely good for long term changes because the treats are then seen a plan breaking and once you break it it's harder emotionally to get back to as you feel like you have failed...

katy_ann

I think you need to establish the underlying reason why you spend and then you can work at fixing the issue - are you an emotional spender? Is there a specific reason why you feel you need to spend money? I think once this has been figured out you can work at fixing the problem.

God luck on your DF journey!

leslieknope

i feel you! i buy something when i'm stressed or, worse, when i'm annoyed at someone! it's almost like i do it out of spite, but the only person i'm hurting is myself.

what i'm trying to do is reprogramme myself to think of different treats - except food because i think i do the same with chocolate :doh:but instead like other people have suggested, do something that won't cost the earth. if you have a tough day then have a relaxing bath and treat yourself only to a bath bomb. or start a treat jar and put away pennies and loose change and save that for a treat, so you know you've saved for it. my penguin jar is getting good use this year!

[Deleted User]

Perryface wrote: »

Get a spending diary and write EVERYTHING you spend in it

Then switch your mindset, instead of believing your 'treating yourself after a bad year'. Start thinking 'if I buy this I am going backwards'.

If you have stayed within budget at the end of every month, 'treat' yourself. By 'treat' I mean a bubble bath and face mask, one of those 1 glass bottles of wine, a homemade sponge cake - or all three if you have been extra good lol!

One day at a time, keep plodding on.

At the end of

I totally agree with the idea of a spending diary, its the one thing that made me sit up and take stock of how I was wasting money...try it, it works.

FinallyDebtfree2017

Thank you so much everyone. Some really good advice here