What helps you not spend? Could use some advice.

[rizzmo]

You, my friend, are ready to become an investor. You don't spend all of your income, you see a big pile of money in your checking account, and because it is not allocated to something, you felt you could blow it on whatever.

I second that advise, it is much easier to save when you have your dollars allocated. Investing makes savings all that much more exciting!

[lucasrd]

look at your spending as a function of time. If you're blowing $500 a month...that's $6000 a year and $60K in 10 years not counting in interest. I'm sure you'd rather have a bank account with 60K in it in 10 years than some old worn out shoes and pants...add in just 5% return and we're talking almost 80K

When ever I am going to buy something or modify my budget I put into this excel sheet I have that calculates my worth out over then next 35 years...it's funny, but a few grand early on can result in tens if not hunderds of thousands of dollars difference down the road (depending on how you invest it).

If you can keep that in the back of your head the next time you drop $200 on some shoes it might make you change your mind.

[PrincessPerky]

I discovered my desire to own things was greatly reduced when I started donating some. reducing the pile made me look long and hard at a good deal..one that may have sat never worn/used for months.

Also donating time to those with less, helps keep me thankful for what I have, rather than wanting more.

Not to mention less time to shop is less time to spend.

Ditto all the 'make it automatic' ideas. My bank account automatically pays extra on my car each month, I still have to think about it when we have overtime to spend, but not the basic budget. you could do the same with your CCs first, then when they are gone, try it on the braces or car.

Also all the time to set the auto up is time you are not on ebay . which btw, I also agree is dangerous ground to be checking at work. if you are not selling, with all that debt I would not visit period.

[Ariadne]

I used this trick a few years ago, and you only have to do this for 1 month to get started (it's so easy)...

Estimate how much money you need to survive for the next two weeks. Add 20% extra for 'wiggle room'. Take that money out of the bank in cash. You'll have to live off of cash until the next pay day.

Put 1 credit card in a safe hiding place at home, so that you can access it when you need it in the event of an emergency.

Put all other cards in a plastic cup, fill it with water and put it in the freezer.

2 weeks later, go back to the bank, withdraw cash and live off of that.

If you get the idea that you "want" to buy something, you'll need to wait for the cards in the freezer to defrost before you can get what you "want".

Just my 2 cents.

BTW, stay off eBay at work. It can constitute 'Just Cause' for terminating your employment. And whatever you do, don't ask them to block eBay on your computer. Besides, they probably know that you're on there anyway.

[Ima saver]

I have not been to a mall in about 7 years. It really works for me. why buy something that i don't really need. It is much more fun to watch the savings and the interest pile up!!

[pearlieq]

Others have hinted at this, but it really sounds like you might have a lot of free time on your hands.

One way to stop spending is to get busy! Take a second or a freelance job. Volunteer! Ask for extra projects at work. Join a gym or sports league and social clubs.

Fill your time with fun, enriching things and you might find you have a lot less time and interest in shopping.

Good luck!

[Aleta]

What helps me not to spend is staying out of the stores. Making lists of needed items and waiting for them to go on sale is a good idea. I also go into the store with a list and try not to be distracted by other items.

Also, by making a spending plan (budget) and spending the allocated amount or less will help you stay on track.

Also, don't hang around spenders if you have a problem of not spending.

[mom-from-missouri]

I used this trick a few years ago, and you only have to do this for 1 month to get started (it's so easy)...

Put all other cards in a plastic cup, fill it with water and put it in the freezer.

2 weeks later, go back to the bank, withdraw cash and live off of that.

If you get the idea that you "want" to buy something, you'll need to wait for the cards in the freezer to defrost before you can get what you "want".

.

No fair defrostig them in the microwave either. They have to defrost on their own. (besides, the microwave will damage the magnitic strip on them-saw that on TV)

The company I worked for fired people for being on ebay and other non work related sites. Also for receiving personal email. Supervisors anywhere in the company could log onto your ID and see everything on your PC. They even fired people who had been there 30 years or more and had only been on ebay once, and also people who had done it for years and years with nothing ever said to them. They argued they were "on break" so the rule came down then that we "had" to leave our desk on break.

[KrystalKF]

Thanks for all of the advice. It is very helpful. My boyfriend actually day-trades and is very financially savvy so I think he'll be the perfect person to help me start investing. I would definitely not want a second job, my first job is quite challenging and stressful at times.. I do sales for an aerospace engineering company and some of our customers are 1/2 way across the globe so sometimes I'll have to stay until 9pm to get something completed.

But I do agree with getting a hobby! I'm thinking of getting tennis or golf lessons in the spring, that way I can get outdoors and use some of my spare time. I'm getting paid tomorrow so I think when I'm in the bank I'll set up some automatic transfers from my checking to saving.

Thanks for all of the advice!!!

[disneysteve]

My boyfriend actually day-trades and is very financially savvy

I'm not sure I would put those two statements together. I hope there is some other reason you think he is financially savvy other than the fact that he day-trades because that certainly isn't the most savvy thing to do with one's money.