Frugal challenges

[keeneye]

I find that almost everyday I run up against what I call a "frugal challenge." basically, it is something that tempts me to part from my money even though I really don't need it. The other day I was shopping and came across a beautiful hand crafted box for 50% off. I had it in my hands and was ready to go and pay for it when I realized it wasn't something that I really needed. I saw the 50% off and that is what tempted me. Do others find that they come across frugal challenges like this? How do you keep yourself from getting hooked into them?

[Lori63]

I went to my favorite coffee shop yesterday just to buy two gift certificates, and once I got there and it smelled so good in there I was dying to buy myself a treat. But I resisted. I felt better once I was out of that place-I saved money and calories.
Being frugal is the same as being on a diet-temptation is everywhere.

[asrai]

I'm always tempted. Especially now that we have a little bit of money (all of which goes toward debt). But, it's been so long since I"ve bought something for myself it's hard not to resist.
I am getting myself a treat when I finish my current course. Sometime in November.

[vendigirl]

I'm very bad a resisting a great "deal". For example, I get a mailling every other day from Tigerdirect. I have purchased some great computer components really cheaply from them but we didn't need them- so I'm spending money I shouldn't. Just today I got an email from them: 17" LCD monitor for $297 (cdn). I seriously thought about buying one for Dh- and maybe one for myself. Thankfully I resisted. I think I have to cancel those emails. they spark my impulse buying so badly and there's always room on that Visa for more...

[2moretrees]

I have this challenge each and every day I have to pass a Starbucks. I used to be addicted to their coffee - a still recovering addict since I still want it everytime I pas by one of their stores - and I would like to enjoy it more often than not. I am staying away from it for both financial and weight reasons, but it's still a challenge

[PrincessPerky]

How about presents? I am just finishing up my shopping and everytime I see a perfect present that is way out of budget I so want to pull out my already overloaded credit card (or one of the many empty ones). Especialy hard is the fact that I don't want them to know of our financial troubles.

[seaar2000]

Yes, I am very tempted, but the only thing that makes me resist the urge is that I am gum-ho on getting my car paid off in Mr. 2005. One year early. Figure the interest is better in my pocket than the banks. After I pay off the car the only debt I will have is my mortgage. Yes!! Renee

[PennyPincher]

I get tempted as well ~ it's just natural. What curbs my temptations is that I record EVERYTHING that I spend. I know how I'll feel entering it into my spreadsheet that day, and it's often not worth it.

I don't just write down what I spend, but I keep a spreadsheet of my entire money flow. Everything that I earn or spend is recorded, and the balance is computed. At any given time, I know just where I stand. Last month I was in the red (spent more than I earned), but this month I will end in the positive. You should see me the last 3/4 days of the month thinking of what I can return or other ways to bring in money!

[idefix]

I think it is natural to want to buy certain things, especially when I'm out with my parents who have money and will buy whatever they want or with my friends who don't have money but do have credit and don't think about the consequences.

I have always trained myself to wait for whatever I want, even if soemthing's on sale it'll be on sale again and if it isn't I'll buy it when I have the money if I REALLY want it enough.

I have so many other challenges that I see everything in relation to them. for example, if it's food or clothing I think about the fact that I want to lose weight so do I want to harm that by eating something other than my set meals and do I want to buy an item of clothing that won't fit me in a little while.

Sometimes it is difficult but it's true that I really appreciate things if I don't have them as often, I enjoy every mouthful of a "treat" food when I go to starbucks and things like that. The main challenge for me would be to just go and buy something without thinking! LOL .

My biggest temptation is eating out! Fortunately, I live in a small town with only one small cafe. The nearest fast food joints are 30 minutes away, otherwise I'm sure I would order out more. With a family of five that can get expensive! I try to only treat myself (I think my husband likes homecooking better-but he's not the one cooking) once a week.

[adbullock]

I'm new here but I have one that makes me almost cry to turn it down...the BOGO sales at payless. My husband laughed during hurricane Ivan this summer, I was throwing clothes out of my top drawers and putting shoes into them in case our house flooded after we evacuated. Shoes are my weakness. And I've been really good. I bought one pair of shoes while we were evacuated and no new shoes since (and that's been 3 long months)!

[terry1156]

adbullock - welcome, it's always great to see a new face here. My wife would be agreeing with you on the shoes. I have to drag her away when shoes go on sale. That and sweaters.

[akaivyleaf]

I have the shoe problem.. but I make it my business to not even go down the streets with my favorite shoe boutiques. My other weakness which I have a much harder time controlling is fast food. It doesn't help that two of my very favorite are almost gateways into my subdivision. Its a daily challenge to ride past. Plus it was very sobering this past week when I've tallied up my receipts for the year and I've spent WAY too much money on fast food. Next year will be different.

[seaar2000]

I went to Penny's with my sister the other day and there were a few things that I would of really liked and most of the items were 50% off. Was very tempted, but I know after christmas that if I really want it they will mark it down more after christmas. I guess when I see something on sale I think about my goals that I want to accomplish and that usually stops me from buying something that is not a need.

[amomof4]

I have heard the men pay $2 for something that's worth $1 because they need it, and women pay $1 for something that's worth $2 because it's on sale!

This hit home recently when on bought Q-tips for $1 which were normally $2 even though I had plenty at home. (However, eventually we will use them.)

[amomof4]

OK, here is what I do to decrease spontaneous spending.

I always (most of the time) shop with a list. This has saved me, I'm not kidding, at least $400 a month.

I have also stopped going into places where I had a weakness, such as a quilt store or scrapbooking store. But, this isn't always successful, as just last week I had to take my sewing/embroidry (sp) machine in for repairs. And they just happen to be having a sale on emroidry cards at 1/3 off. I left with a $99 card. I didn't need it, but I wanted it, at least at the time. Well, I still do, but if I had given myself a few days waiting period, I probably wouldn't have bought it.

I keep myself from advertisers by not having a tv. I also don't subscribe to magazines, and my town doesn't have billboards. I get my news on the internet, so I don't get bombarded by advertisers in newspapers.

I still am a compulsive shopper, I guess it something I'm going to struggle with all my life.

Money has no value once it's spent.

If you keep doing what your doing, you're only going to get what you got.

[PrincessPerky]

My MIL is a compulsive sale shopper. Her sons once counted over 30 pakages of 4 roll each toilet paper! Yes she could eventually use it but she will have bought more on sale by then. I have to struggle with the sale vs need thing from the opposite direction, I am more like a guy who will spend the $2 cause I need it.

My MIL also bought me some maternity pants last time I was pregnant, She said she wasn't sure if I would like them but at the price she couldn't pass them up. Well some pregnant woman at the goodwill will love them I am sure. but meanwhile my MIL is out whatever she paid.

I on the other hand am being very stingy wth my cans of chicken broth, I am almost out and I still can't manage to know when they are going on sale. (I know homade is cheaper, but I am not any good at making it)

[amomof4]

Whenever I run out of chicken broth, I just substitute it with boullion (hate those French words). For us it works fine. Some may have to worry about the sodium content.

[Kewells]

My weakness is avoiding sales, as well. This year while decorating the house for Christmas, I told myself I would not buy any after-holiday decorations, including cards. I wasn't 100% successful, but I did okay. I bought 2 or 3 boxes of cards(weened down from 5 in my hand during calculations) at $1.88 a piece, and 5 sets of 4 snowflake ornaments marked down 70% to equal 24 cents, which came to 8 cents per ornament. My other BIG compulsion is buying clothes (even if they don't fit great...what's wrong with me?) if they are super marked down. I can see myself in the dressing room now. I look at it and say, "Ahhh, it's not that bad." and I buy it anyway. I end up never wearing it and donating it eventually. I've finally honed in on my problem and this year I returned two sweaters at $20 a piece because I didn't like the feel of the fabric and knew it would shrink with one normal washing AND I've started to sell my unwanted misfits on eBay instead of tossing them in those pillow-filling donation dumpsters you find on every other corner.

[kealina]

yep, it's definately like dieting... temptation is everywhere and it doesn't go away... my worst areas of weakness are garage sale finds and really great deals i find on craigslist... i can usually resist shopping at retail locations because i figure the stock will always be there tomorrow or next week if i still want it that bad...
but with garage sales, you either buy it or leave it behind... and with criagslist, if it's a good deal, somebody a lot less frugal than me is likely to snatch it up... i've trained myself to try to be discriminating but i still have areas where i find it difficult...