Learning to live within my means

astrocytic_kitten

So much I want to buy....I really need to do that list on my phone you suggested @GeorgianaCavendish. In the meantime will bore people here with it:

• £12 on a tumeric drink powder (I have a sample and really like it, and it should last a while, and it needs less sugar than other hot milky drinks I like, but still - £12?!)
• Gigantic sweater dress so I can wear that, fleece lined leggings and warm socks and basically be wearing secret pjs while wfh
• Big snuggly jumper 
• Skincare stuff (all budgeted for next month, just need to wait a couple of weeks. And I have enough to get me through the next couple of weeks so why oh why do I want to buy them now?)
• More cosy socks
• Every single fleece lined item that Uniqlo sells
• Big cosy blanket

Looking at all that, a need to be warm seems to be driving this 😂 well, to be warm and to have new stuff - I already have warm clothes, blankets, sock etc for this time of year. I can also see my environmental ‘no new clothes’ principles go out the window when the shopping monster strikes. 

I’ve already put all survey money towards my food shop this month because it came in more expensive than usual so the clothes, food, etc pots are all empty for the rest of the month. I have plenty to get me through, just feel the need to buy stuff...I wonder if it’s a reaction to the restriction? 

To be honest it worries me that this close to the end of my debt payoff I still have the urges to spend, earlier today I actually thought to myself that I’d just chuck stuff on the credit card and sort it out later which is very much old AK’s way of thinking. I haven’t done it, and I’m posting here instead, and I do plan to give the budget some more wriggle room when I’m debt free. Maybe I’ll always struggle with this to some extent.

naomij1411

I totally relate to the buying urges! I have noticed I enjoy window shopping much more than actual shopping. I always have several things in my amazon basket which I eventually 'save for later', so I can add new things which strike me as needed. This is an ongoing cycle and I never buy anything from 'save for later' so it's quite safe! For me, anyway.
I do love uniqlo tho... I wear their warm leggings almost every day and some are getting little holes now!
Well done for posting rather than buying. Don't give in!

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @naomij1411! I also do the add to basket, save for later cycle, I just don’t trust myself to not lose my head and buy everything in the basket! Hopefully that will come with time.
I have quite a few Uniqlo heattech tops but I just discovered they do fleece lined jeans and trousers and now I want the whole lot.

GeorgianaCavendish

I've had exactly the same dilemma over skincare stuff today! I "need" four things, but only one has to be replaced right away - I've got enough left of the other three products to take me through the end of this month at least (maybe longer, as I'm always underestimating how long a bottle actually lasts). That didn't stop me wasting about an hour with the website open, putting things in my basket in various combinations and trying to convince myself that the most sensible course of action was to buy everything right now. 
I don't have an answer to curbing the spending urges, like you I suspect they will always be there in some shape or form, but I'm trying to be more aware of what else is going on when I get them. Any feeling of restriction is a massive trigger for me but I'm not sure how to overcome this long term as there will inevitably always be a limit on what I can spend. 

astrocytic_kitten

Have been reminded when posting on another diary there’s a piece of news I’ve neglected - I have a new cat! Didn’t want to say anything at first because it was supposed to be a temporary foster, I thought it wouldn’t really be fair to him to stay with me long term as I have such low energy and he’s still pretty young and wildly enthusiastic about life...but we’ve settled down really well together and he’s bonded much more than the charity thought he could (long, sad story) so it’s now permanent. As we head into a tough winter I think he will do my mental health more good than any amount of vitamin D. It does mean I’m spending a fortune on cat toys, though the amusement I get from him playing means they’re excellent value.

How funny about the skincare @GeorgianaCavendish! I always underestimate how long mine have left too, I’ll probably be ok for some stuff through to January at least. As I was writing the post I was thinking of the one step at a time thing for addictions. I’ve been thinking that I need to stop worrying I’m going to have a huge splurge and quickly backslide to where I was before, and trust myself to just take it one day at a time. If I ever figure out how to actually do that I could probably bottle it and make a million 😂

stymied

It’s lovely that you & your cat have found each other.

Our cat’s favourite toy is a £1 piece of cord/string from the Range. The more expensive toys & scratching posts go unused! She’s 11 but still thinks she’s a kitten sometimes.

astrocytic_kitten

stymied said:

It’s lovely that you & your cat have found each other.

Our cat’s favourite toy is a £1 piece of cord/string from the Range. The more expensive toys & scratching posts go unused! She’s 11 but still thinks she’s a kitten sometimes.

I love that - my last cat’s favourite toy was several elastic bands all knotted together! I bought a few different types of toys to see which ones he would play with (he’s not interested in catnip and my last cats were obsessed by it) and was surprised how quickly it added up! I’m going to donate the ones he’s not interested in to the shelter.

GeorgianaCavendish

Awww, great news about your cat! That is really lovely  

vixx_123

My dog is like a cat (greyhound - they're so low maintenance 😂). He sleeps all day, all night. He's calm enough that my 75yo neighbour takes him out for walks (20-30 mins is by far enough!!). Some weekends I think I'd love a dog who had more energy to do long walks with (2miles is overdoing it for him 😅) but then I remind myself that he suits my full-time work patterns, plus he's affectionate and so good for my mental health 😊 I'd be lonely without him. Pets are the best ❤️

redofromstart

That is great news about the new cat - so pleased for you both.  

(fleece lined jeans, ooh I am off to look at those....)