How do you curb your temptations?

[Haku]

This started out as a response to an existing thread, but the more I typed, the more I am curious about how the rest of you handle temptations in general.

In short, I've recently started to keep a permanent list of things I have needlessly splurged on. I've found it helpful in the sense of getting an idea as what I tend to spend on, and why. More importantly, as the total in the list piles up, I find myself reeling from all the money I have wasted; providing an excellent deterrant to compulsive spending.

The two biggest killer for me so far are video games and expensive restraunts. In response, I recently sold my PS2 console to curb that temptation.

I'm find that curbing expensive restraunts is a bit trickier, however. You see, while I do love to eat, the real reason why I end up splurging on it is because I'm feeling down. So, eating makes me feel better. The problem then is, the next time I feel down, what can I do to make myself feel better?

You know what? I'm not sure what the answer is. I'm not sure what I can do that will make me feel better the way good food does. What do you guys think? Any suggestions? What are your temptations, and how do you curb them?

It's a good thing that I don't splurge often....

[Ima saver]

My biggest temptation is eating dinner out. It is not so much the food, as the desire to get out of the house and away from the television. I enjoy having a "date" night with my husband. I don't spend a lot of money. I know I need to find something else to do at night besides eat out, but this is a small town.

[SuzeOFan]

How about a new hobby? Start your own website? Or if you're single, volunteer your time in your community for those less fortunate.

Simple Boredom or feeling down - can make us to do so many things we shouldn't. Shop excessively, eat, hang with the wrong people etc. Eating out is a social kind of thing. We like to be with our kind once in a while.
We've all been there.

Just the realization of that, can be a good motivator.
But its not enough. You need to have a strategy.

Try making a list of things you like to do (other than the things you want to avoid). And see if you can come up with a creative solution.


Let me know (munch) how you make out!

[veronak]

Haku

My killer is shopping, just today on my lunch break I was in Target picked up a few things but though if I buy this I could have added the money to my challenge or new house account so I opted out. My second biggest killer would be dining out I have got to learn to cook What I usually do so I am not tempted is not go into the store in the first place thus far I have been successful This is the first time in so many years that I have stuck with the plan to buy less clothing, it’s hard but I am trying

[shelbylovesmelby]

Mine are:

Shopping - I leave my credit cards locked up @ home unless I know I will need them keeps me from buying things I don't need just cause they are on sale. Plus I have no room as it is around here. So window shopping is all I can do for the most part.

Snacking - Since I get bored easy I try to keep occupied online or doing some project or another so I'm not snacking inbetween meals. Plus with the nice weather it's hard not to drag the kiddo's outside for a few hours of play ect.

[funnyvalentine]

For me, it's a matter of priorities. I have a largely "freelance" existence; I write and perform weddings, I do hotel and restaurant reviews, I consult for a catering business that I own but am not on regular salary with. My somewhat inconsistent income has made me rethink my "temptations"; for me, that is the price of freedom. I dont' go to an office, I never could. I could never do a "regular" job, and that has meant giving up a regular paycheck.

I think often about what I "want" versus what I "need". Do I need a 50th pair of earrings? probably not. Do I need a fresh bunch of flowers? Very often yes; the payback is so great compared to what they cost.

[lrjohnson]

My temptations are related to food. Eating out dents the budget, and undents my waistline. Being on my challenge has helped, but here's another one that might work. I decide to go out to eat, say next weekend, like the 29th, and I even pick the restaurant. I spend all the time between now and then being excited about it, and knowing I will satisfy my temptation, and weighing menu options. But, there's a nine day waiting period. If I schedule the treat way ahead, it seems to help me. Somehow knowing I'm going to get it is okay, even though I don't get it now.

It hasn't helped me too much with home eating though. So I am trying to drink water everytime I'm hungry, to at least see if that will help. But I eat a lot of food for non-hunger reasons-I love the tastes and it is comforting, and when I quit other vices, I could trun to food. I'll be looking at other people's suggestions.




Temptations that I don't try to curb: hot baths.

[funnyvalentine]

The water thing works so well, and it's so good for you. Get a really cool water bottle or two, make sure they are always filled up, and reach for that first in the fridge.

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

. So I am trying to drink water everytime I'm hungry, to at least see if that will help. But I eat a lot of food for non-hunger reasons-I love the tastes and it is comforting, and when I quit other vices, I could trun to food. I'll be looking at other people's suggestions.




Temptations that I don't try to curb: hot baths.

[jodi]

Determining what was a "want" versus a "need" definitely helped for me. The other trick I used: whenever I was contemplating buying something, I ask myself how many hours I will need to work to pay for it. It puts the purchase into perspective. for example, do I really want to work 4 hours to pay for a 1 hour meal at a fancy restaurant? Can I find a coupon to make it only two hours worth of work?

[stngymama]

Two biggies:
Eating out (usually because I'm burned out) and [egads] online purchases. To fix???
The first is REALLY difficult as I just get bored of fixing dinner, and hubby's idea of fixing dinner is take-out...
For the second, a "new" strategy- I'm deleting my Amazon bookmark, one click status and using the "wishlist" function instead of the cart......Pretty dumb to be so easily tempted into buying something, but there it is!

Want and need....Apparently in Greek these are not separate words; there's a lesson there (somewhere)

[Thrifty Ray]

Funny you should ask.... the last few times Ive been shopping my thoughts have been..."do I really want to confess buying this on my blog"....lol, the answer (so far at least) has been no...and I haven't bought.

[tgavin71]

I have to admit that I absolutely hate shopping. Any kind, clothes, groceries, electronics you name it. So curbing temptation isn't really hard. My hubby likes nothing more than to window shop for big screen tvs. Personally I can't see the point. If you don't have the money why bother.
Because we dress casual we are rarely approached by sales people so that makes it a little easier to bear.

[Ima saver]

I don't eat out because I am depressed. I am very seldom "down" I guess it is because I stay home all day and I am bored. It is hard to come up with other things to do in the winter time.

[Savin4disney]

In order to keep me and DS on track! I post what needs to be paid on the fridge.

[Ima saver]

QVC use to be a big temptation to me, now I keep it turned off.

[PrincessPerky]

'lead us not into temptation'

I avoid major sources of temptation. The less I am tempted the more normal not spending is.

Now for boredom, that I have to get creative.

[Ima saver]

I find when I go to wal mart I spend too much. I went to buy humming bird food and I spent $90. I avoid going there more than 3 times a year!

[getforfree]

Once I went to a supermarket because I needed a creamcheeze to make the cake. The pound of creamcheeze is like even less than $2, but I spend $17.
Because I walked around and looke at things and I was like: " We are almost out of this and that, and I can buy this to cook something.
So, I bought a big cabbage, a few cucumbers, sour cream, ground beef (it had a $1off sticker on it because it would expire the next day).
I felt like its ok that I bought other things, so I can postpone my next shopping trip for a few extra days, but at the same time I felt bad, because I spent more then I wanted.

[FrugalDiva]

Well I usually walk in the store and think "Do I really need this or that?" I try to curb myself but on occasion I do go in for milk and bread and come out with $20 in more items!

[boefixepa]

Service! If you are feeling down and want something else to make you feel good...mow the neighors lawn. Pull their weeds, clean their gutters...whatever until the tempation passes. It makes you feel great and helps them out. Comfort food is bad in so many ways!! Remember your financial goals, write them down so you can tract it and see the 'temptation' impact. There are more ways to serve than you can imagine and all you have to do is think. I love to cook, but I'm single and I really don't want to eat it all, so if my neighbors get a cake with a slice missing they know it's from me. Yes, it's a costly piece of cake in dollar value, but my waist line in small and my neighbors get a pick me up. You can't put a dollar value on that!