Major Spending Problem. Help!

[questions]

This is not what you think. I have a problem spending money. When I go to the store and see things that I know I need, if they are even a few cents higher than I thought they would be, I can't bring myself to spending the money on them. I want to treat myself, but every time I go to do it, I think about how I could use the money in so many more useful ways that I usually talk myself out of it.

The problem isn't that I don't have any money. I have plenty for retirement and can spend much more than I do, but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I know this is probably not a problem that people ask you to help them out with often, but what would you suggest I do?

[rennigade]

You should start spending it! If you have plenty of money and find something that is well within how much you can spend, buy it. Do you have kids? When you're gone, I guarantee they won't have a problem spending your money. So either you leave a boatload of cash to your kids, relative, etc, or you don't and you spend it yourself. Your money will be spent whether you like it or not.

[sweeps]

Have you tried creating a budget? I would argue you may need a budget as much as the person who has an overspending problem. If you allocate a certain amount of money to your needs, then that should help alleviate any guilt or fear you have in spending money that has already been set aside for your needs.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Have you tried creating a budget? I would argue you may need a budget as much as the person who has an overspending problem.

Exactly what I was going to say. You should have a line item in your budget for "blow money" or "fun spending" or "stuff" or whatever you want to call it, and you should commit to spending that money every month, or at least maybe 80% of it. Make it mandatory.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Have you tried creating a budget? I would argue you may need a budget as much as the person who has an overspending problem. If you allocate a certain amount of money to your needs, then that should help alleviate any guilt or fear you have in spending money that has already been set aside for your needs.

This advice gets my vote, also.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yep for necessary items like home repair. My DH gets cold feet then I remind him we saved it and it will end up used eventually. He can do it now or not.

[b4freedom]

Originally Posted by questions

This is not what you think. I have a problem spending money. When I go to the store and see things that I know I need, if they are even a few cents higher than I thought they would be, I can't bring myself to spending the money on them. I want to treat myself, but every time I go to do it, I think about how I could use the money in so many more useful ways that I usually talk myself out of it.

The problem isn't that I don't have any money. I have plenty for retirement and can spend much more than I do, but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I know this is probably not a problem that people ask you to help them out with often, but what would you suggest I do?

What do you want to buy?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Originally Posted by sweeps

Have you tried creating a budget? I would argue you may need a budget as much as the person who has an overspending problem. If you allocate a certain amount of money to your needs, then that should help alleviate any guilt or fear you have in spending money that has already been set aside for your needs.

Even Joan.the.Budgetless agrees with this advice.

[Coleroo]

Give it to me and I can help you spend it. :-D (just kidding)

I find myself feeling the same way (although, of course, I'm not quite to the point where I can afford it all the time). My mom skips over frugal and just calls me a tightwad... especially when I refuse to buy paper towels because dishrags suit me just fine,tyvm.

I agree that a line item budget for "free money" may motivate you to spend it easier. Or, create a budget category for "overages" and put a little extra money in it....then, when you see something you need and it costs a "little more", buy it - and then deduct from your "overages" category the difference between what you thought and what the real price was.

For instance, if you go to the store needing X widget and you think it should cost $10....but it costs $14. Buy it with the mental thought that it costs $10, and then deduct $4 from your "overages". Allow yourself, say, $50 a month to spend on "overages" and once that's gone, stop. That way you can spend money a little more freely - but still know you have a good limit on your own freedom (if that makes sense??).

[creditscore]

Originally Posted by questions

This is not what you think. I have a problem spending money. When I go to the store and see things that I know I need, if they are even a few cents higher than I thought they would be, I can't bring myself to spending the money on them. I want to treat myself, but every time I go to do it, I think about how I could use the money in so many more useful ways that I usually talk myself out of it.

The problem isn't that I don't have any money. I have plenty for retirement and can spend much more than I do, but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I know this is probably not a problem that people ask you to help them out with often, but what would you suggest I do?

same here..this is also one of my problem because everytime i went to shopping mall i can't stop myself getting all the stuff i really want. but sometimes we need to spend our money wisely

[PrincessPerky]

get someone else to do it for you.....find a teen or mother needing a little help, ask them to pick up what you need, then pay them for it plus a small driving fee..you can't very well refuse to pay someone for a service, so if your widget should cost an extra 4 you still have it.

then you aren't wasting money you are helping out someone in need. if you are fond of helping make it a monthly goal to buy something needed and help someone.

but at the same time if you don't need something you are not required to spend.