money, I am in need of some.

[enamoured]

I need help.

So, despite the fact that I worked the most hours I've had in a month and a half (not counting Christmas), I barely have enough money to get me by until next payday. Why? Because I have been overdrafting all over the place lately.

It sucks, because I used to be somewhat good with money. Like, I wouldn't automatically spend everything on food or crap at the drug store or whatever. I tend to spend a lot of money on smallish things, stuff under $10/$20 dollars, and most of it food and sometimes gas.

What I'm in need of, basically, is ideas for/ways to not spend every cent I have on crap. I've tried hiding my debit and credit cards, but then I always remember where they're at and I grab them thinking, "Oh, it's some small thing, it won't matter!" What do you all do when you feel super-tempted to buy smallish things that don't seem like they'll end up adding up? And I've sold everything I could and am willing to part with, so I don't really know what else I can do short of donating plasma or eggs or something, and I am not so broke that I've given serious thought to going down that road.

Comments

[poshspice.livejournal.com]

Get a notebook/planner (as in find one you have, don't buy it haha) and write down everything you buy every day. I think if you were to actually see you're spending like, $20 a day on dumb crap you might be motivated to change. Because $20 doesn't sound like a lot, but $20 a day is $140 a week which is like, $600 a month! Even $10 a day is $300 a month!

Also try to spend only cash. When I spend cash I notice how fast it disappears because it's physical.

And you are totally not the only person with this problem, I am so bad about this. :(

[bossymarmalade.livejournal.com]

I've had luck linking my spending to another goal. Like, I also buy a lot of food, but I wanted to cut certain things out of my diet and so that eliminates a ton of impulse small-amount spending. But I also allow myself *one* small frivolous buy per week, so it doesn't feel like such a hardship.

One of my credit cards collects points, so I use that to purchase everything and pay it off throughout the month so I can see the money leaving my account.

Finding fun things to do at home is also helping! Although that might just be my laziness, because once I'm at home even if I'm craving something I'll just forgo it instead of going out. *g*

[juliamac.livejournal.com]

I feel you. We have had our highs and lows. It is bad.

Big thing I do is live off of cash. When we get paid, money for fixed expenses (house, power, phone, car, etc.) is accounted for. What's left is what we "live" off. So, if I have X amount for food, that's all we can use. I try to budget money for stupid purchases, because I do love them. Not every day... but, $100 no one has to justify, stuff like that.

The part that sucks is getting out of the hole. I know, because I've been there. We had to live like monks for a few months to get where we could make it work. THOSE MONTHS SUCKED. But they passed and now we're okay. You'll be okay, too.

[vwlphb.livejournal.com]

Do you read Consumerist? (http://www.consumerist.com)

I'm pretty addicted to it. In between the stories of people being screwed over at Best Buy, they actually have some good articles about how to manage your money and how to keep yourself from spending it. You can see the relevant articles in the How To section here: http://consumerist.com/topics/