Sigh.

[rosebee]

It seems like such a little thing. But for some reason I have an almost impossible time saving money.

If I had a bit stronger impulse control at the grocery store & a higher salary, then perhaps it'd be easier. But as it is, whatever money I have just seems to get spent on something. I'm so good, I can even spend money I don't have! [the rosebee of now wants to go back and tell the rosebee of several years ago just how evil credit cards are, and exactly *why* they're so evil]

Half of me wants to rubber band my wallet shut with a picture of something (new computer, wedding dress... or both) in an effort to remind myself why I should *not* open said wallet & spend money unless it's damn important. But knowing me that'll work for a few days and then it'll be old & familiar (& not novel) and it will no longer work.

Probably the best thing will be for me to set up an automatic transfer of money out of my checking account and into my savings account each payday. Maybe I can have my direct deposit altered so it goes straight into my savings account. Maybe even a savings account at a different credit union than the one I currently use for my checking account. Having it at a different bank would certainly make it impossible for me to just go online and transfer the money into my checking account where I can access it all too easily!
Definitely something to look into. But I should first make sure that I have atm card & everything necessary to access the money.

I've got to do something. I need to be more careful when I'm grocery shopping. That's probably where I can save the most money if I'm better about not buying the spendy/fancy stuff.

Comments

[poetdiva28.livejournal.com]

Oh honey I'm with you. But I want to buy a house, and my housing counselor told me that in order to do that I need to clean up my credit and find out where my money's going. So I write every expense down. Rent, lunch, diapers, even a bottle of water gets written down. Before I started doing that I easily spent over $100 on takeout! That's a whole bill right there! And I have an automatic transfer from my checking to savings, as well as a separate savings account at a different bank. Unfortunately, I can't split my paycheck for direct deposit or I wouldn't ever see the money I'm saving.

Try making a shopping list and clipping coupons. I do that too and it helps. If it's the more expensive brand of something you use a lot, wait for it to go on sale and get a coupon for it to make it as cheap as possible. Once you see how much you're saving, you might stick to it once the novelty wears off.

Good luck!

[rosebee.livejournal.com]

Those are all good ideas! I keep a shopping list taped to my fridge and I write stuff down when I run out of them.
The problem at the store I think is that I don't stick to the list!
I use Quicken instead of a checkbook and after looking things over I think I can best save money by giving myself a strict spending limit for groceries & dining out/fun money.
If I take it one decision & one day at a time I might be able to do it! The thought of never buying anything fun or high-priced for a very long time is depressing (but really what I have to do to get out of debt & get enough money to someday buy a house).

*hugs*

[whizzmo.livejournal.com]

Changing personal habits can be very hard, time consuming, and frustrating. What you are doing is admirable, and good to see (from my perspective, anyway). I will help with this as much as I can later on.

For now, let me share a cute little secret: Use your bad habits against each other.

If, as an off-the-wall example, you happen to be an impulsive spender, and a moderately accomplished procrastinator, try to use your procrastination skills when impulse control wanders off. Having a [that would be "one (1), and only one (1)"] debit card in your pocket is fine. Just leave the CCs in the car, or, preferably, at home. Allow your procrastination engine to generate roadblocks (mental *and* physical) for your impulsive nature.

It's not a perfect solution, but, with temperment, it can help.

ttyl, my Dear Rosebee...

Re: *hugs*

[rosebee.livejournal.com]

It used to be worse. I used to charge all kinds of everyday things to my credit cards. I'm a LOT better at that. The only things I've charged lately is my new bike (& one or two of the accessories I bought for it, the majority of them I paid cash for).

I consider it a good improvement that I at least now only overspend my checking account and don't have enough left over to pay as much as I'd like towards my credit cards. Though I've gotten close a couple of times where I'd overspent and I'd have to 'borrow' from the next paycheck's extra non-bill-paying money.
Sticking like glue to my shopping list (& only what's on the list) and taking an adhd pill before I go shopping I think will both help a lot.