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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 14:05:51 GMT -5
If there is something I want, and I can afford it, I buy it. I am mostly talking about clothing, kitchen items, or beauty supplies. Some may think it is no big deal since I am able to pay for. My issue is, some of these things I do not NEED.
If I see a shirt I like or a pair of jeans I like (and they fit good), I buy them. I am also a sucker for salon hair products.
How can I stop myself from buying things?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jun 16, 2011 14:06:56 GMT -5
Why do you not need these things?
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jun 16, 2011 14:07:31 GMT -5
Try to stay out of the stores... I used to tell myself I was "just looking" when I shopped, but damned if I didn't leave with something every time! ;D
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 16, 2011 14:09:01 GMT -5
Why do you want to stop yourself? If you can afford it a splurge now and again isn't a bad thing.
If you have a specific reason why you want to stop, like you want to increase your savings or something, that makes it a lot easier than just trying to not make yourself ever buy anything that you want.
I sometimes wait a day or two before buying something I want and then revisit, if I still want it I'll get it, but usually it's an impulse and giving myself a couple days to cool my jets rids me of the desire to spend.
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kiskis
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Post by kiskis on Jun 16, 2011 14:09:38 GMT -5
My deterrent is running out of space to put things, and I hate throwing things I still use and like out more than I hate not being able to buy more things.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 14:15:08 GMT -5
Poke yourself in the eye with a sharp stick everytime you buy something (or better yet, have a friend do it). Soon you will associate buying things with getting poked in the eye. Then you will only need to buy eye surgery.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 16, 2011 14:17:59 GMT -5
When you find a way - can you tell me how you did it?
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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 14:30:47 GMT -5
Why do you not need these things? A good example would be jeans. I only need a few pair. I cannot wear them to work (except Fridays). I probably have ten perfectly good pairs of jeans that cost on average $75 a pair. If I am shopping and I see a pair of jeans I like, I buy them, even though I do not need them. Another one is hair products. I always want to try new stuff. Then I don't like it that much and it sits on my shelf.
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qofcc
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Post by qofcc on Jun 16, 2011 14:32:52 GMT -5
You probably don't need to stop yourself completely, especially if you enjoy the things and actually use them, you just need to decide what a reasonable amount is to spend and stick with that. I have an allowance for discretionary purchases so if I see something like that and there's money in that section of my wallet, I'll buy it (unless I'm saving up to splurge on something else).
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 16, 2011 14:33:25 GMT -5
Why do you not need these things? A good example would be jeans. I only need a few pair. I cannot wear them to work (except Fridays). I probably have ten perfectly good pairs of jeans that cost on average $75 a pair. If I am shopping and I see a pair of jeans I like, I buy them, even though I do not need them. Another one is hair products. I always want to try new stuff. Then I don't like it that much and it sits on my shelf. You too, could be one of those people with discretionary income you often come here to whine about, if you stopped being stupid with your money. Stuff doesn't make you happy, good relationships with people do. Work on building friendships instead of putting more crap in your house.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Jun 16, 2011 14:38:18 GMT -5
I ask myself where it will fit in my house, and most of the time I decide it will just make the house feel too cluttered. Where are you going to be tempted by jeans and hair products? Are you at the mall for a specific purchase or to hang out? Try to stay away from the stores that tempt you unless you have something specific to purchase.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Jun 16, 2011 14:40:50 GMT -5
I think about other uses for the money. Say I wanted to someday own a first home and I wanted new jeans that cost $75, I would say the jeans money was house money and might mean waiting to get my house another day or another week. Is it worth the trade off? If I needed jeans or food or gas to get to work then I spend the house money if not it is a few more dollars towards my dream.
Now my goal is retirement. I have about enough money but every dollar spent now is a dollar I could have when I don't have to work and might want play clothes and not to have to worry about the price of food.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 14:44:43 GMT -5
Make sure the money you waste isn't in your regular account. If you waste a large amount of money of crap, put it in savings so you can't get to it as easily. It will give you the feeling that you are a little poorer and you won't be as likely to waste money.
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sapphire12
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Post by sapphire12 on Jun 16, 2011 14:50:14 GMT -5
Salon Products -- How about buying sample sizes of these items? Then when you've decided you don't like them, there should not be any left to sit on the shelf.
Clothes -- I have a rule, if something new comes into my house something has to leave. I've read where others are like 2 out for every 1 that comes in the house. So... when I'm out shopping, I have to decide if what I am about to purchase is better than what I already have. This could get complicated if one is losing weight. I haven't lost much, but enough to need smaller sizes. Some stuff has been altered; some can't be altered, the nature of the design, etc and some cost more to alter than replace. Go figure.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Jun 16, 2011 14:50:18 GMT -5
I have to agree with everyone: 1. stay out of the store 2. Don't try stuff on.
I have the same issue, if I am at the mall looking, I WILL come home with something because it is cute, not because I need it. I can easily afford this stuff.
As for clutter, I have a new clothes rule, for any new item in, something equivalent has to be discarded.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 16, 2011 14:55:02 GMT -5
You can get salon hair products at discount stores. Ditto for other beauty products. Neither has to come from a salon or high-end store.
Designer jeans can come from thrift or consignment stores, or big-box, low-end department stores. Look for sales and coupons and store reward programs to stack on top of one another.
You can plan to buy once or twice a year, using the seasons to your advantage. Don't buy summer clothes in May, for example. Buy them in October, when everyone else is scrambling for winter stuff.
I like crone's idea of trading off: instead of spending for the "here and now," think of what your future is going to look like with less money. When you are young, you cannot picture retirement 30-40 years away, and you figure it will take care of itself. It won't. And someone else won't take care of it for you, either. It's your job and responsibility.
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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 15:01:36 GMT -5
A good example would be jeans. I only need a few pair. I cannot wear them to work (except Fridays). I probably have ten perfectly good pairs of jeans that cost on average $75 a pair. If I am shopping and I see a pair of jeans I like, I buy them, even though I do not need them. Another one is hair products. I always want to try new stuff. Then I don't like it that much and it sits on my shelf. You too, could be one of those people with discretionary income you often come here to whine about, if you stopped being stupid with your money. Stuff doesn't make you happy, good relationships with people do. Work on building friendships instead of putting more crap in your house. I do not have a lot of clutter - far from it. I often go through my things and donate what I do not use to charity or sell it in a consignment store. I hate clutter. I love my friends. One in particular shops like I do. In fact, yesterday she gave me a pair of jeans that no longer fit her.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jun 16, 2011 15:02:53 GMT -5
You too, could be one of those people with discretionary income you often come here to whine about, if you stopped being stupid with your money. Stuff doesn't make you happy, good relationships with people do. Work on building friendships instead of putting more crap in your house. I do not have a lot of clutter - far from it. I often go through my things and donate what I do not use to charity or sell them in a consignment store. I hate clutter. I love my friends. One in particular shops like I do. In fact, yesterday she gave me a pair of jeans that not longer fit her. I think 10 perfectly good pairs of jeans and a shelf full of hair and beauty products you don't use is clutter.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Jun 16, 2011 15:15:27 GMT -5
Stuff doesn't make you happy, good relationships with people do. Work on building friendships instead of putting more crap in your house.
But see, some of us find shopping with family or friends part of our good relationship. I have to admit I got this from my Mom and passed it on to my daughter. An afternoon of shopping and lunch out is one of our favorite get togethers. Fortunately I also learned and passed on, that you never buy more than you can afford.
But, tea4me, if you really want to break this habit, you need to find other activities to enjoy with these kinds of friends.
On the other hand, if you are enjoying yourself, can afford what you buy and are eventually passing stuff on to others, Maybe there is really no harm in it.
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kgb18
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Post by kgb18 on Jun 16, 2011 15:17:29 GMT -5
Why do you need to stop buying those things? If you want it and can afford it, there's no reason to stop buying those things. It would be different if you were going in debt buying stuff, but that doesn't sound like that's the case.
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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 15:19:12 GMT -5
I do not have a lot of clutter - far from it. I often go through my things and donate what I do not use to charity or sell them in a consignment store. I hate clutter. I love my friends. One in particular shops like I do. In fact, yesterday she gave me a pair of jeans that not longer fit her. I think 10 perfectly good pairs of jeans and a shelf full of hair and beauty products you don't use is clutter. I hate to get rid of the jeans. Two of the pairs I use for yard work or hunting where I don't care if they get dirty. Otherwise, I alternate my good pairs. I probably have about six hair products I don't use. That is six more than I like but I don't consider it as clutter. Plus, sometimes I try using them once in a while just to use them up. I guess it's not too bad. It's not like I am a hoarder or anything. I need to refrain from buying more jeans or hair products. That is what my original post was about. Edit to add: It's not like I spend a ton of money - maybe $150 a month on these things. I don't even live near a mall. (Thank goodness.)
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Jun 16, 2011 15:29:49 GMT -5
Edit to add: It's not like I spend a ton of money - maybe $150 a month on these things. I don't even live near a mall. (Thank goodness.) Which is what; $5 a day, every single day? You remember when every post about money on these boards was answered with some variation of "stop going to Starbucks"? Well, you've got a jeans and hair product habit that's exactly the same as a daily half caf soy mocha whatever the hell that became the poster child for frivolous spending prior to the recession.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jun 16, 2011 15:33:30 GMT -5
Do you want to stop spending the money, or not? From your OP it sounds like you do, but every post thereafter has been about how it's not a big deal.
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2kids10horses
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Post by 2kids10horses on Jun 16, 2011 15:38:49 GMT -5
My jeans cost $1 at the thrift shop.
$75 for a pair of jeans?
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2kids10horses
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Post by 2kids10horses on Jun 16, 2011 15:39:16 GMT -5
This message has been deleted.
(Sorry duplicate post.)
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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 15:43:22 GMT -5
Do you want to stop spending the money, or not? From your OP it sounds like you do, but every post thereafter has been about how it's not a big deal. I would like to stop purchasing frivolous items. I justify it by saying at least I am not going into debt over my purchases. It's almost like I am a shopaholic, but I don't think I am because I use the items (even though I don't need them). Does that make sense? Doesn't a shopaholic buy things and never wear or use them?
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Post by tea4me on Jun 16, 2011 15:44:33 GMT -5
My jeans cost $1 at the thrift shop. $75 for a pair of jeans? Maybe it is my old jeans you are buying. ;D
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brdsl
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Post by brdsl on Jun 16, 2011 15:45:29 GMT -5
try this. When you go to buy something, look at the price. Think how many hours (after tax) you have to work to pay for it.
When you realize you are working 8 hours for that pair of jeans, you might think twice.
Some it works for, others it doesn't.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Jun 16, 2011 15:45:50 GMT -5
OK, no more advice from me. I just went home for lunch and counted. I own 10 pair of jeans ( I was afraid it was more) Skinny jeans, boot cut jeans, long jeans for heels, shorter jeans for tennis shoes, old ratty jeans for gardening and painting, a pair for when I am feeling fat, capri jeans and 2 pair I should get rid of because I will never be that skinny again. I cant wear jeans to work, but here in the PNW I probably wear jeans almost every day. The oldest are at least 15 years, the newest 1 month. Cost between $20 and $75 each. I do keep my jeans a long time, I probably buy a new pair every six months.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jun 16, 2011 15:47:37 GMT -5
"Shopaholic" can refer to many different behaviors... but I think a common theme is regretting purchases. I second the 24-hour-rule - if you see something you absolutely love, give yourself a day to think about it. If you're still in love, go buy it. As far as salon products... any way to get samples from your beautician? If you can try it out prior to purchase you might be able to better assess whether or not you'll use it. And if all else fails, put yourself on the envelope system and try to stay out of stores
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