Comments on: Tightwad Tuesday: Curb Impulse Spending

By: Les

Les — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:57:27 +0000

Back when I was a poor college student my friends and I would go to the mall together with the agreement that we would enjoy ourselves without buying anything except a snack. It worked, we saved money. They were the no shop shopping trips. I think it helps when you have a friend there to hold you back from being tempted by impulse buys or sales especieally if the friend is also on a tight budget.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:41:17 +0000

Solid advice . . .

Stopping to really think through a purchase can save thousands . . .

By: marci

marci — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:06:47 +0000

My usual rule with impulse spending is to wait at least 24 hours. I should extend the wait though. It would help me curb it even more. My other general rule is to try to not spend any money at all each day. I love the days I go without digging out dollars and cents out of my purse. I get so proud of myself on those days.

By: Katja

Katja — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:58:07 +0000

I use the 30-day-list. Whenever I see something I HAVE to have but dont really need) I write it down in a file and wait one month. I have never once bought something I wrote down, since during the 30 days I always come up with something I already own that I can repurpose… I think I read about the 30-day-list at Zen Habits a while ago.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:44:24 +0000

I just wanted to say, on a totally random tagent, that I own those ribbon-y red shoes in the picture, but in black.

My best way not to overspend? To think how much I’ll use it. If it’s something that just looks pretty, I most likely won’t use it very often. I do have my weaknesses, though. Like pretty shoes. (For example, I don’t think I’ve ever worn previously mentioned pair of shoes.)

By: unfinishedmom

unfinishedmom — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:06:52 +0000

I love your tips, especially “stay out of the stores”. It’s amazing what you don’t spend when you don’t go to stores.

By: ktkane

ktkane — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:46:03 +0000

The best thing is to stay out of the mall and avoid high-priced temptation. Go to Goodwill, a different charity shop or a consignment shop instead. (In my area, Goodwills frequently run half-price sales on clothes and other items-which means slacks and tops for around $3.00 each-many of them quite nice). Try to find charity-based thrift shops in or near expensive neighborhoods. Some of the clothes there were originally pricey, some have not even been worn. These places often have wonderful stuff for dirt cheap. They also have lots of books at Goodwill! A splurge there is a lot less damaging than at the mall!

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:47:23 +0000

This post was meant for me! I do have a mild slash full blown case of SHOPOHOLISM. Except, I usually don’t buy anything unless I have the money in my checking account. So if I think I can make the purchase and still have enough to pay bills and have a good time, I go ahead with it. This hurts with my bigger purchases, i.e, the Wii. Well above the bi-weekly budget I set for myself and so I find myself avoiding stores until I get my next paycheck.

Also, for your bibliophilia, may I suggest the library. They aren’t new and they don’t smell as good, but you can get the information part without hurting your wallet.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:25:09 +0000

When I’m in the shopping mood or have something I need to buy but I’m afraid I’ll overspend if I go to the store, I check Amazon first. I use my SwagBucks to redeem Amazon gift cards and I always try to keep at least $25 in gift cards in my Amazon account at all times (the min. for free shipping) so I can buy when I need something.

By: Annie Kate

Annie Kate — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:14:55 +0000

Whenever I really, really, really want to shop, I go onto our library website and order books like crazy. Wonderful solution, and it seems you do the same thing. :)

Annie Kate