Posted by Racer on March 5, 2004, at 8:03:08
In reply to Re: Do I have a problem with this?, posted by rainyday on March 5, 2004, at 7:15:33
I used to do this, and once cleaned out a savings account to buy a CD player for my stereo. I do it when I'm in despair, a sense of "if I have ENOUGH, I'll feel better" -- hasn't worked yet.
I used a couple of skills to stop doing it. First of all, I started putting coins in a jar. Then I'd through in small bills that I wasn't going to put in the bank, anyway. Just change that was in my purse on the last day of the week. Every so often, when the mood struck, I'd empty the jar, roll the coins, and decide what they were going to bring home for me. That helped more than you'd imagine -- because I hate rolling coins so much! Last time I did that, I had $250 to put in the bank and shop with. I put some in the bank, and took out only what I thought I wanted to spend. Then I went with my mother to a sort of open-to-the-public trade show, and stayed within my budget.
Another thing I did was to check out what I actually needed. Clothing wise, there hasn't been much that interested me in several years, and what there has been is so badly made that I think, "Gee, I could do better than that..." and plan on sewing it myself. That makes it a lot easier to control. I have enough make up to last a chorus line a year, and wear make up about three times a year, so that's not high on the list.
In fact, I spend excessively, when I do, on three main classes of items: books, fabric and yarn, and tools. Again, because it's so limited, it's a lot easier to control.
Oh, yeah, and I dislike malls pretty intensely. Still, I have managed to blow tons of money in a short time and still feel empty. It is hard to get over. Maybe go for the cash purchase idea? Only use your checks or credit cards or debit cards for necessary bills and pay cash for everything else? That should help.
Good luck, and I hope you can integrate this into a healthy adaptation.
poster:Racer
thread:320525
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040303/msgs/320553.html