I spend money compulsively, how do I stop?

Question

If I have any money at all, I waste it on stupid stuff I don't need. I try not going out to stores and stuff, but then I end up on amazon.com or some other site using my credit card. I even signed up for a website today that will probably never use again and spent 30 bucks on it, just because I wanted to see how it worked. This hasn't screwed me yet, but I have a feeling that eventually I'm going to get stuck with a crap load of debt (which I'm sort of already in) and bad credit (some how I still have good credit). How do I get more discipline on my spending habits so I don't bounce checks and have money for stuff I really need, like bills and gas?

Answer 1

crack all credit cards until you have a better idea of what money is. which, to me, is used to pay for another person's labor.

Answer 2

Cut up the credit cards and pay cash for everything. If you don't have the cash then don't buy it. You sound young. You need to stop spending money on things you don't need. When you get your paycheck, sit down and write out a check for all your bills and put yourself on a budget. Only allow yourself a certain amount of money to spend out of each check. Unless you get yourself under control you will be in serious trouble with money.

Another thing you could do is get envelopes for each of your bills and put money for a percentage of the bills out of each check. That may help you to understand what you are spending. There is something about paying cash that helps you spend less money. It somehow doesn't seem real when you pull out plastic to pay for things, even if it is a debit card.

If you need additional motivation, consider that some potential employers will check your spending habits before offering you a job or promotion. Their feeling is that if you cannot manage your personal spending then you cannot manage their business.

Answer 3

You need an independent company or person that you trust and can't get mad at to manage your money for you. They will give you an allowance every week and make you live on a budget. After you have spent your allotted amount of money for the week, sorry, but your broke until Friday. Any extra money can go into a CD or money market account where you can't touch it without paying penalties. Also, cut up the credit cards to eliminate the urge to order stuff on line. You need to be dealing with cash only for your daily routine of spending.

Answer 4

Well, it's like every other bad habit; you have to stop. First of all, you have to admit that you are compensating for a hurt or some kind. You should make an appointment with a therapist and get help--talking it out and getting some tips on how to stop your compulsion. You've already taken the first step by acknowledges or recognizing that you need to make a change. Make sure you pay your bills before they are due and hopefully you can pay them off before your are in trouble. It's not easy. I'm an alcoholic, so I know about something taking control over my life. Ask for the Lord to guide you through this and give you strength.

Answer 5

What you need to do is have money taken from your paycheck and invested directly into an IRA and Some kind of Stock Portfolio or a Direct Deposit into a Mutual Fund. This will help you make money. YES! make money. It will also leave you with little money to spend else where other than your Bills. Reward yourself by going out twice a month. It's hard at first, but once you start doing it. You won't miss the money nor the pointless spending of your money.

Answer 6

Ask your employer if you can have part of your pay go automatically go into a savings account separate from your regular chequing account. Don't even look at it, and promise yourself not to touch it.

I have the opposite problem... I'm a real scrooge/miser and I hoard away all my money. I'm still in school with a part-time job and I've already stashed away enough for a pretty sweet down-payment on a house :O.

Answer 7

Ok, well go cash only. Cut your credit cards so you can't use them anymore. Then you won't do stuff online and you'll be able to see your money flow better.

I highly suggest Dave Ramsey. He has a show on Fox Business and lots of books. He's really good at this kinda stuff!

Answer 8

make a list of all the things you buy that u dont use or need in the first place ,and if u are a compolsive shopper then it might be alot and u might be shocked by how much it is and then have more reason 2 stop,and with the money that u`ve been wasting on the stuff u dont need u should think of something that u need to buy that is the same value of the amount u`ve wasted and then save up for it or whatever

Answer 9

Dear Toby,
I do the very same thing, accept I don't spend on me, I spend on my new boyfriend and his dog. I think that you should have a budget. When I had credit cards I use to spend like crazy for other people until I finally was in so much debit that I had to file bankruptcy. What I am going to suggest will help, because it has helped quite a lot of my friends. Take your credit card out of your wallet and pretend you do not have a credit card. If you make a budget and put your credit card away inside a drawer for only emergency use, my friend you will stop spending compulsively, and you will even be able to pay the card of quicker than anticipated. Try this for at least 1 month and let me know how much of a difference it has made. Good luck, and this might just stop you from breaking your funds as well. Love always
Happy New Year
Simbha

Answer 10

I think you can ask some helps from third party to control yourself. Just give the biggest permission to them to control your money. This is how I help my father to get out of debt...

Besides that you should cut up your credit card. I found that you are having problem to control your emotion over the desire of buying. So cut up the credit card, which grows your desire, may help you.

Answer 11

the system i like involves envelopes and 30 days. the envelopes come into play by budgeting your income for your expenses and placing the budgeted amount in the envelopes (i.e. an envelope for dining out, an envelope for entertainment, etc.) once an envelope is empty you don't spend anything on that budget. the other thing that works for me is waiting 30 days before i buy something i want. the 30 days helps me to know if i really want it or not.