Stopping spending

sazaccount · 18 July 2019 at 6:17PM

Hi debt free and DFW,

We've all been in the same boat at one point or another weather its been the big spends or the little that have grown...

What is the most random thing you have done to stop yourself from spending,
I've put my credit card in a tub of water in the freezer to stop the "oh its only something small i'll just put in on the CC" This served 2 things it there was something I really wanted/needed I could pull my card out of the freezer and let it defrost this give time to think weather I really really want this item to the its an emergency and I must break the ice/put it in hot water to melt it quicker.

I personally don't do well with cash as I feel I have no control on where its going and when its gone my thoughts are "where did it go?" where as on my card I can see via apps/online banking what and how much I've spend, when I was really budgeting I used my revoult card as its a prepaid card so only putting so much on.

Now however I have a CC on my phone which makes it easy to just swipe my phone :eek::eek::eek:

D_M_E · 18 July 2019 at 11:27PM

Scratched off the cvv on the back of all cards and damaged the mag strip as well - stopped me spending online and mostly stopped getting cash out of machines.

That was a few years ago.

Storeit · 19 July 2019 at 5:00AM

Wow you actually "froze" your own credit card! That's amazing! I tried using an envelope system for expense and spending and it sort of worked. Luckily I've managed to avoid most of the issues with debt around credit cards.

dan958 · 19 July 2019 at 2:30PM

I write down all my purchases on a spreadsheet. Once you start writing it down and get easily look back on it all, you can starting seeing areas of where money can be saved. It also helps that I am not addicted to shopping.

Jami74 · 19 July 2019 at 11:39PM

Booked to work extra shifts. Can't spend while working and too tired afterwards. So tired.

getmore4less · 20 July 2019 at 1:37PM

For the little stuff it is about thinking twice how much is in that budget pot and will it last if I spend now.

For the bigger stuff make a list of needs&wants and stuff that is budgeted for looking forward.

There will be a price where a purchase can be brought forward to save money or a want will be cheap enough to have a treat over something else from the treat pot.

Just remember to update the budget

If you have space bulk buy everyday stuff when cheap can free up money.

Proper budgets have a plan at least a year ahead.

trailingspouse · 21 July 2019 at 4:55AM

Every penny is a prisoner. I will not spend a single one of them without good reason - and even then I'll think twice.
Don't buy something you don't need just because it's cheap - you'll end up with something you don't need, and no money.

A_Random_Man · 21 July 2019 at 11:43AM

I cut up my credit card immediately after I use it for whatever I need, then I don't feel the need to spend on it and I just pay balance over time

[Deleted User] · 21 July 2019 at 11:47AM

Don't go into shops

My spending definitely decreased after I stopped popping into shops 'for a look'. So much for "looking" being free :rotfl: Ditto Amazon.

I now only go into shops with a specific purchase in mind, and if I see something I want, I wait a few days/a week before purchasing - the urge usually disappears by then.

astrocytic_kitten · 21 July 2019 at 11:59AM

[quote=[Deleted User];76061168]Don't go into shops

My spending definitely decreased after I stopped popping into shops 'for a look'[/QUOTE]

Exactly this! I realised that browsing online shops had become my default activity when I was really tired and wanting something mindless to do...I’m nowhere near cracking the shopping thing, but stopping that and finding other things to do has made a huge difference.

[Deleted User] · 21 July 2019 at 4:30PM

I'm the same as the last 2 posters !

I never, ever, go into shops 'just for a look'.

I only go into the shop/s I need to buy the items on my list.

Same with online - I never go on to 'just look', by looking around (wherever it is) you're actually looking for something to spend money on.

Stopping spending

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