Comments on: Impulse Spending http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:15:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Melaniesd http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2651 Melaniesd Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:19:13 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2651 Update - I did not buy the tickets. Didn't even try! Now he's sold out and I'm glad I didn't spend the money that I didn't have in the first place. Update - I did not buy the tickets. Didn’t even try! Now he’s sold out and I’m glad I didn’t spend the money that I didn’t have in the first place.

]]> By: Melaniesd http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2617 Melaniesd Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:31:57 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2617 **2nd thought... Elton John is coming to my city in concert for the 1st time. I really WANT to go but tickets start at $100! So for 2 of us to go we are looking at at least $220 after surcharges, plus parking & gas, and drinks etc. As much as I've always wanted to see him, I'm starting to look at it from the perspective that I could buy a good quality DVD of Elton in concert and enjoy it anytime I want for likely under $30.00. Plus I'm already going to 2 concerts that I've paid for so I'm trying to reason that even though it's not everyday I get the chance to see Elton, I can only afford so many concerts. **2nd thought…

Elton John is coming to my city in concert for the 1st time. I really WANT to go but tickets start at $100! So for 2 of us to go we are looking at at least $220 after surcharges, plus parking & gas, and drinks etc.
As much as I’ve always wanted to see him, I’m starting to look at it from the perspective that I could buy a good quality DVD of Elton in concert and enjoy it anytime I want for likely under $30.00.
Plus I’m already going to 2 concerts that I’ve paid for so I’m trying to reason that even though it’s not everyday I get the chance to see Elton, I can only afford so many concerts.

]]> By: Melaniesd http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2616 Melaniesd Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:09:40 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2616 I always make a grocery list, and I have often picked up extras resulting in an extra $20 or $30 spent. Recently I decided I have to stick to my list. What a great feeling when you only spend what you intended to spend. This last 2 weeks I put NOTHING on my credit card and paid cash for all my purchases. I kept every reciept just to see what I bought. I did really well. I'm very pleased with myself. Now to see if I can stick to my new frugal ways. : ) I always make a grocery list, and I have often picked up extras resulting in an extra $20 or $30 spent. Recently I decided I have to stick to my list. What a great feeling when you only spend what you intended to spend.

This last 2 weeks I put NOTHING on my credit card and paid cash for all my purchases. I kept every reciept just to see what I bought. I did really well. I’m very pleased with myself.

Now to see if I can stick to my new frugal ways. : )

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2612 Stephanie Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:20:19 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2612 I am a big fan of the carry it around and think about it method. Also when I am going in for just a couple of items I always pick up the hand basket instead of the grocery cart. If you have to lug it around the store you will be amazed at how fast you really don't need the item that isn't on your list. I also use lists a ton. I like the wish lists on websites since you can wait to purchase either untill you have enough money, you have thought about or decided you really don't want it. When I grocery shop I always go with a list and budget. As I add items to my cart I right down the price on my list. Before I check out I add up the cost and if I'm under budget I will grab any of my staples (flour, sugar etc) which happen to be on sale. I am a big fan of the carry it around and think about it method. Also when I am going in for just a couple of items I always pick up the hand basket instead of the grocery cart. If you have to lug it around the store you will be amazed at how fast you really don’t need the item that isn’t on your list. I also use lists a ton. I like the wish lists on websites since you can wait to purchase either untill you have enough money, you have thought about or decided you really don’t want it. When I grocery shop I always go with a list and budget. As I add items to my cart I right down the price on my list. Before I check out I add up the cost and if I’m under budget I will grab any of my staples (flour, sugar etc) which happen to be on sale.

]]> By: Frugal Trenches http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2611 Frugal Trenches Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:34:22 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2611 I wrote about something very similar today. There is something incredibly wholesome about planning our purchases instead of buying with only seconds or a minutes thoughts! I wrote about something very similar today. There is something incredibly wholesome about planning our purchases instead of buying with only seconds or a minutes thoughts!

]]> By: bigasssuperstar http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2610 bigasssuperstar Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:46:44 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2610 Gail (or others), do you know if anyone's ever tried to apply the relapse prevention methods used in treating alcoholism, drug addiction, sex offenders, overeaters, etc. to the problem of overspending? There are echoes of the cognitive-behavioural therapy principles of relapse prevention in your post. I imagine pathological destructive spending would be tough to treat for some people, since we have to spend to get by, much like we need to eat to survive. A meeting of the minds could produce a gangbuster rehab program -- get a CPA and a behavioural psychologist together to lick the problem and build for the future! Gail (or others), do you know if anyone’s ever tried to apply the relapse prevention methods used in treating alcoholism, drug addiction, sex offenders, overeaters, etc. to the problem of overspending? There are echoes of the cognitive-behavioural therapy principles of relapse prevention in your post.

I imagine pathological destructive spending would be tough to treat for some people, since we have to spend to get by, much like we need to eat to survive. A meeting of the minds could produce a gangbuster rehab program — get a CPA and a behavioural psychologist together to lick the problem and build for the future!

]]> By: Tracy J http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/165#comment-2609 Tracy J Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:11:57 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=165#comment-2609 It's a killer, that impulse monkey. Thankfully mine is a little tiny lemur that tugs on my ear from time to time.... generally not loud enough to get into too much trouble. Actually I am going to correct myself, the little monkey can be very loud and persistent occassionally, but it goes in phases and can be tamed. Buyer's remorse with me is swift and leaves me physically ill, sometimes before I even finish ringing it up at the till. My cure: I find letting the monkey HOLD the desired item for a while, giving me time to ponder how it will fit in my life, what it really costs, what it is that I like about it, and if I already have something that works that I will need to get rid of..... it really dampens the desire, (monkeys have short attention spans) and if I still think it's worth it, I wander around with it some more! I can talk my monkey out of almost anything! LOL On the other hand.... My sister must have a big, loud BABOON on her back! (I know I am always talking about her, and I apologize -- I worry is all.) Her impulse shopping is crazy! "It was such a good DEAL, I just couldn't leave it there!" Sis even buys clothes that aren't in her size because of the great prices (gasp). She always talks about how much she "saved" by buying these things, (justifying the impulse as loud as she can over the screaming monkey's victory cries?). The thing that always surprises me is that while I am suffering watching her unload the bags of booty, she is positively glowing as though they were conquests. I am happy to see her so happy, so I have a hard time reminding her that she already has X amount of pretty blankets, Y amount of cute little girl boots, Z amount of hand bags. They are very nice things she gets, and the prices are great IF SHE NEEDED THE STUFF! Monkey business. It’s a killer, that impulse monkey. Thankfully mine is a little tiny lemur that tugs on my ear from time to time…. generally not loud enough to get into too much trouble. Actually I am going to correct myself, the little monkey can be very loud and persistent occassionally, but it goes in phases and can be tamed. Buyer’s remorse with me is swift and leaves me physically ill, sometimes before I even finish ringing it up at the till. My cure: I find letting the monkey HOLD the desired item for a while, giving me time to ponder how it will fit in my life, what it really costs, what it is that I like about it, and if I already have something that works that I will need to get rid of….. it really dampens the desire, (monkeys have short attention spans) and if I still think it’s worth it, I wander around with it some more! I can talk my monkey out of almost anything! LOL

On the other hand…. My sister must have a big, loud BABOON on her back! (I know I am always talking about her, and I apologize — I worry is all.) Her impulse shopping is crazy!
“It was such a good DEAL, I just couldn’t leave it there!”
Sis even buys clothes that aren’t in her size because of the great prices (gasp). She always talks about how much she “saved” by buying these things, (justifying the impulse as loud as she can over the screaming monkey’s victory cries?). The thing that always surprises me is that while I am suffering watching her unload the bags of booty, she is positively glowing as though they were conquests. I am happy to see her so happy, so I have a hard time reminding her that she already has X amount of pretty blankets, Y amount of cute little girl boots, Z amount of hand bags. They are very nice things she gets, and the prices are great IF SHE NEEDED THE STUFF! Monkey business.

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