Addicted to money

**maat55** · 03-03-2011, 05:51 PM

It will get boring eventually.

**Mr Nice Guy** · 03-03-2011, 06:19 PM

*shamefully raises hand*
Yeah I am too. I am an account checker as well. I like checking my investment account throughout the day to see how my positions are doing, which is probably not a good idea. But for me it is fun to do that.

One area I would like to work on is my giving. I am too selfish with the money I have. The last time I donated was $100 in January. For me that is not enough.

Another area I would like to work on is spending more time and money with friends. As of late I have been kinda anti-social, just really trying to focus on school and saving money. Two years ago I was the opposite, and racked up debt and partied too much. I have changed my ways 180 degrees, but I fear this change could be negative as well.

So needless to say, you are not alone!

**GREENBACK** · 03-03-2011, 09:22 PM

Like maat55 said, it will eventually become like checking paint to see if it's dried yet.

**bjl584** · 03-04-2011, 03:14 AM

You need balance. Something else to do to occupy your mind. I enjoy going to the gym and working out, being outside, working on cars, playing with my dog.

Like matt said, it becomes boring and pointless. I check my stock portfolio if there is a big move in the market, or if I am thinking about buying or selling something, but I try not to obsess over it. My accounts are to a point where they will flucuate several thousand dollars up or down day to day. But to worry about it is pointless. I'm not planning on retiring for at least 30 more years.

**kork13** · 03-04-2011, 05:03 AM

If I'm expecting transactions to post (mostly around the 1st/15th), then I'll normally check my accounts perhaps daily, just to see confirm the amounts are what I'm expecting (both income and expenditures). However, very few banks make updates to their systems more than once daily, so it's mostly pointless to check repeatedly during the day. I say this, and my bank is one of the few that does...

but in any case, you'll grow to not worry about it. If you're concerned, add a larger buffer into your account. If it's out of boredom, pick up a new hobby. If it's all you can think about, go to the gym/go for a run/whatever workout suits you. It'll help get your mind off of it and onto other (more important) matters...and it's healthy too.

**cypher1** · 03-04-2011, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by KiwiJo09 View Post

I check my checking account balance at least 4 times a day. I check my SmartyPig account at least twice. And all I think about is where my money is going on my next paycheck. I am horribly addicted to money and controlling it. Is anyone else?

Wow, I thought I was bad for monitoring. M-F beginning of work morning I check my 2 CC accounts since I since I use those for daily expenses. I like to make sure my saving/checking online is in synch with my spreadsheet balance, but not everyday. Otherwise its the news, IMDB, and this forum for daily reads.

You either need a new hobby, or friend/date to occupy your mind more

**feh** · 03-04-2011, 08:14 AM

I visit mint.com daily to check transactions and valuations.

**khosta** · 03-04-2011, 09:45 AM

I check my account usually only after paying bills and if I have a fun night out! Maybe you should wonder away fromy our computer more often!!!

**seen** · 03-04-2011, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by maat55 View Post

It will get boring eventually.

Not to me. I don't check my checkings account often because it doesn't change much (I only use it for DD and transfers). However since I use my credit card all the time for points/rewards I check that daily to keep an eye on my spending, the amounts, and any fishy charges.

Earlier last year I had a CC fraud scare in that someone tried to buy airline tickets with it. I caught it about an hour after the charge was made/posted and immediately called Amex to report it. They have a fairly lenient policy for customers when the CC is misused, but I like to think that my quick response helped them in catching the perpetrator, albeit I was never told whether he/she was caught

**KiwiJo09** · 03-04-2011, 05:16 PM

I'm just very scared of overdrafting. A buffer would be nice. I have to build it up first though.

Maybe I will take up walking. Healthy is good, both in body and mind.

**snafu** · 03-05-2011, 12:52 PM

Walking has great benefits like adding positive endorphins, building strength and avoiding spending. If you're fretting over your bank balance, you are spending more than your income allows. Best to find either some way to cut/reduce spending or increase your income.

**KiwiJo09** · 03-05-2011, 02:05 PM

We overspent in the past but haven't overdrafted since October of last year. The fear still breeds in me!

**snafu** · 03-07-2011, 12:23 AM

Happy to learn you're not running an overdraft, that's just one more way the banks transfer money from your account into their profit line. I suggest you find a way to decrease spending or increase income which would allow you to build up a buffer between sums in your bank account and spending. Wouldn't that reduce your anxiety?

**KiwiJo09** · 03-07-2011, 03:11 AM

Probably. I'm currently working on that. Me and hubby are both students, we bring in maybe $1200 a month. So, it's going to take us a while to come up with a good buffer.

Addicted to money