How do you keep yourself from spending money?

Question

I am completely addicted to spending money. I've been trying to pay off my credit cards for years and I owe more than ever. I really need to move into my own apartment, but need to pay off a lot of debt first. What tricks are there to keep myself from blowing all my money on things I don't need? I spend most of it on going out to eat, little toys i don't need, clothes, umm videos.. etc heh

Answer 1

as soon as you get it put all the extra into a savings account and pretend you don't even have it...like right away, as soon as you get the check

Answer 2

hello - the spending committee is a brilliant idea actually.  I do this -

Wittie down what my current priority is (saving for a home) - paste it on the door so I see it Ervy time i leave and have it on a piece of paper in thepassengerr seat of my car, so i see it all the time.  i pay only cash for things as well, its harder to spendcashs than pull outplasticc, and so every time i go to make a purchase i think  about the house iwantt and asI'mm pulling out the hard earned cold hard cash i oftenthinkn twice about whateverI'mm about to buy.  works for me, i spend very little right now other than rent, food, utilities etc.  

good luck

Answer 3

The best option for debt trouble is negotiating your debts with your credit companies to keep the payments from swallowing all of your income. Typically, you have to get a counseling agency to call on your behalf. If you try to work with them yourself, many of them will not cooperate with you because you are not enrolled in credit counseling. Try http://www.womenindebt.info. Good luck!

Answer 4

Get a "spending committee". It should be comprised of a minimum of three people who love you and accept you for who you are. You can't spend without majority approval. Basically it gives you some good input, retrains your spending habits and keeps you from "impulse buying".