Breaking a depressing habit...

[dennis08]

How do you break the habit of spending money? The obvious answer here is don’t spend it. Well I tried to but for whatever reason I spent my $400 that I had stashed on things I didn’t need whatsoever.

I feel bad now and this isn’t the first time. One time I blew $500 just as easily without thinking. When I have a large sum of money on me like that in my house I get paranoid thinking my family is going to take it. Any ideas here?

[Addict]

I know what helps some people is investing the money. Make it hard to get to and you will be less tempted. I guess you wouldn't have to be worried about your family taking it either.

[Shamou]

dennis... over spending money... over eating... drugs and booze are all techniques used to try to get away from boredom, frustration and whatever else is not working in your life...

So, knowing the cause of the habit.. should help you find the solution...

There are two paths that can be followed... one is growth... the other self-destruction... the choice is yours... and so is the result of your decision...

Good luck to you...
.

[dennis08]

Thank you Shamou you always have the best advice

[brooke]

I agree with the idea of investing. Or at least put it in a savings account where you can't access it immediately with a debit card.
One thing that helps me spend wisely is paying attention to what my intuition is telling me in that moment when I am considering, "to buy or not to buy". I find that by doing this, I make much wiser choices! This is actually the topic of todays article on my blog ...Intuition and Spending Advice on Marriage, Life and More : Plain Advice
Good luck!
Brooke

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Put it in a high yeild savings account (like ING, Emigrant Direct, etc.) to save up so you can move out. Alot of those accounts make you wait a day or two to get at funds, so that would decrease impulse buys.

Good luck.

[silicon toad2000]

i like to spend money also. When I find money burning a hole in my pocket I make myself look for value, whenever I am looking at something I'd like to buy, I make myself imagine all the other things I could buy with the same money and wonder if any of those other things would bring me more satisfaction than what I am looking at.
Mostly I decide something else would be more satisfying to me and leave the shop, I keep repeating the process till I get bored and go home, usually with my money still in my pocket.