What helps you spend less? Cards or Cash?

Nutty_Tart

It has to be cash for me. I draw out £50 week. This has to pay for petrol and food for the week. Anything left over (that doesn't go in other change jars) goes in the 'fun day' kitty (that's for when I take the kids out for the day or if they want to swimming or something). I find it too easy to hand the card over and come home with nothing!

skintscotslass

I think it goes to show that we are all different and need to work out what works best for ourselves. I'm a cash girl now. I used to be a card girl, but thats what got me into all this bother!! I take out the cash I need for the month. Stick most of it in a tin and put a tenner in my purse. I try really hard not to spend it. Oh and I really need to leave my cards at home. I spent £37.50 on a pair of trousers (half price in the sales!!) because I had a card in my purse. Lesson learned!!

POSSETTE

CASH CASH CASH..We did a run down of all our bills and decided that after all the DDs and the bills that cant be paid by DD (caravan storage car tax etx)were taken out of our monthly wages, we were then left with £250 a week to pay for food,petrol,fags,going out.We actually only withdrew 200 a week on fridays, and now the £900 overdraft has been paid off by the £50s we left in.
You know what money you left by whats in your purse and you decide if that choc bar and mag is worth, not having enough for lunch at work on thu??...

Jacks_xxx

:wave: I find being cashless helps me spend less.

I avoid the shops these days, so if I have gone to town then it's because I *need* to buy something in particular - and so I take my card and buy it.

A Bounty Bar, a paper or magazine, a little something from the bakery with the nice smells emanating from within, a couple of quid in a collectors tin, another couple of quid into a collection at work, jumping on the bus cos I'm tired instead of walking, a bag of chips to keep my hands warm, a piece of objet d'art aka tat from the charity shop...

I wouldn't dream of handing over my card for any of that so I don't spend that money if a card is all I've got on me.

And if I was to go crazy on my card it would all be enumerated on the statement for my lovely hubby and kids to see :eek: - which is enough to keep me careful.

I tried having an amount of cash that I could spend and no more - but I already have to juggle budgets doing the shopping for my grandmothers, and I found it stressful keeping it all straight in my head.

Granny's shopping, Other Granny's shopping, and Our shopping can't all be bought out of the tenner a week I was allowing myself - plus there's eBay postage, things my kids or neighbours ask me to pick up for them - so I get out some more cash, and then some more - and then I get into a panic about how much money I'm getting through.

Whereas with a card only if it's on the list, I buy it, and pay with my card - and that's it.

It works for me that way.

Love Jacks xxx

x_raphael_xx

I always pay with my card, I check my balence online everyday so I always know the balence.
Using my card means I pay the exact price, i.e £2.99 rather than a £10 out the machine and the rest in my purse losing me interest!

rayday2

Debit card for me I waste cash if I draw £10 out it would disappear and I could not tell you where. I check my bank accounts daily online and if you pay by card it acts like a spending diary too you can see where you are spending the most.

My wages go directly in the bank and come directly out! I do have a direct debit account and then put £500 for the month into another account so there is never a fear of the bills not being paid.

Buffythedebtslayer

I am going to try the cash thing, for this week, and see what happens!

wish me luck!

xx

kizzykizzywizzy

I use cash mostly.
I NEVER use my credit card EVER now!!!!:mad:
I find the same as many of you, when handing over cash, I can see every penny I'm spending.
Also like many of you, I won't buy something for 50p with a debit card, so what I used to do was make sure I spent about a fiver!!! hence I was worse off this way.
I think it comes down to which way you feel more in control.
I usually walk around with about 20p in my purse anyway, so no chance of spending over the odds:rotfl:

skintscotslass

Good luck Buffy!! xx

evab_2

Definitely cash, it helps me to see exactly what I've got and also I know the that the bank balance is correct and I'm not waiting for cheques or debits to clear.

I'm glad I can't get a credit card, that's what put me into huge amounts of debt a few years ago! I'm much better with my spending now and it makes me think twice about buying something on a whim as I won't have any more money until the next week.