need frugal help

[lauriebeth]

Does anyone else here rationalize shopping? How did you stop doing that? I am trying to go cold turkey from rationalizing a LOT of stuff (ohhhh... that's a great buy or DD just neeeeeeds those shoes for that one outfit). You know that type of shopping.

I also do that with out of season food shopping. We neeeeeeeed avacados, they are a super food! $2.00, is that too much to spend on a life time of brain function?!?

PLEASE HELP! Give me your best ways that you saved those pennies from going to avacodos or cute shoes that really *seemed* like a good idea at the time...

[mumkimum]

Leave tags on and keep reciepts out, sit in bedroom (or wherever) for like a week over which you convince yourself yes this is useful and worthwhile or hey, I don't really like this and then go return it. After I'd started doing this more and more often I was doing it in the store instead to save myself the time and saying 'hey, I'll come back if I REALLY want it'. Hardly any regrets about things I thought I might want to buy.

(of course, dunno if this would work for those avocados. . . you're on your own there. )

[Knittin' in the Shade]

well, with the avocados you can convince yourself it's not worth buying because it's killing the Earth. All those miles it had to travel, burning up jet fuel and gasoline. What good will that brain function be 30 years down the road if the Earth is a sucky place to be? (Ditto this for any expensive tropical fruits that you know were not grown anywhere near you)

[doublesnap]

I'm guilty of the same thing but DP and I have committed ourselves to a financial plan so I just keep that in mind. DP shaves his own head for example instead of going to the barber so now I tweeze my own eyebrows. It's free and not quite as perfect as getting them waxed but we're saving!

As far as groceries, I always try to be in season etc but sometimes you just have to cave in for the occasional goodies. We've cut way back on eating out so now we can splurge a bit more on our groceries and eat well at home.

I guess my best advice is to keep in mind what you need/want to do with your money whenever you have a shopping dilemma. Would you rather get those one pair of Robeez (when you already have 3 at home) or do you want to stick that money into paying down a credit card? Good luck!

[velochic]

Instead of rationalizing spending, how about justifying saving?

- I can't buy those shoes because I need to save the money for retirement so that dd doesn't have to take care of me in my old age.

- I shouldn't buy that avocado because if I save money for dd's college, she'll start life in a better financial position than I did.

- I ought not buy that outfit because we need to build up the emergency fund so that if our income is compromised, dd won't be homeless.

- I should put that money in an automobile fund instead of getting this toy because dd deserves to live in a house that is free of financial stress and next time we can buy our vehicle with cash instead of financing.

(I could go on and on, but you get the picture.) Don't give into the cultural tendency of instant gratification. Look to the future and that will help you not make irrational purchases. Good luck!

[root*children]

We are on a budget, so buying extravagantly is just not in the plan

I make a menu for each week, then grocery shop according to that. If it's not on the shopping list - I don't buy it!

[Purple Sage]

Wallet Buddy

This is something I found on the New American Dream website that you print out and fold around your cc's or debit card. It's a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you buy something. I thought it was a cool idea.

[Justmee]

Originally Posted by lemongrass

Wallet Buddy

This is something I found on the New American Dream website that you print out and fold around your cc's or debit card. It's a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you buy something. I thought it was a cool idea.

Thanks!! I'm going to print one of those out as soon as I get my new : printer up and running!

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by lemongrass

Wallet Buddy

This is something I found on the New American Dream website that you print out and fold around your cc's or debit card. It's a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you buy something. I thought it was a cool idea.

Ooohhh.... I really like that!

[Twinklefae]

I like to check my cart just as I'm coming to the check out too. Sometimes I don't want that impulse buy anymore once I get to the place where they are going to take my money. So I take them out.