I’ve heard about the envelope method. Label envelopes for each bill or expense like one for gas, one for groceries, one for leisure. Only use what is in the envelope for each expense. You can shop at discount grocery stores. We have Aldis here and sparkle markets. Shop smart. Look through grocery ads and make a list and STICK TO THE LIST.
I also have issues budgeting. I am hoping that my new job will help me catch up and I can start a savings account. I am an impulse buyer and after my bills are paid, instead of putting aside for savings, I spend spend spend.
So I’ll keep tabs on this post for more suggestions too

i have been doing this all my life truly and still cannot keep it going for more than 6 months but i have to keep hitting my head against the wall until either i am stable (wishful thinking and not probable) or i find the magic touch or midas touch
we can work on this together good luck

Bywena, you do a lot of shopping online. That's one of the biggest downfalls for people with spending problems. Having online accounts where you're payment info. is all stored and it's easy as the click of a button....it creates an impossible situation. When you're manic or depressed there is almost no way to have self control or self discipline in that scenario.

Time to bite the bullet and delete those saved online shopping accounts. BiPolar folks shouldn't have them, unless there is an absolute need such as immobility, being housebound, medical illness, etc. Next get rid of the credit cards, put them in a safe deposit box, or cut them up or however. Keep a bank card, but don't keep it around accessible. When I'm manic my credit and bank cards literally stay with my S.O. and if he's traveling I lock them in the glove box of my car and give that key to my son. Because I don't need that hassle, and I can spend some money, but not if it's not there to spend. It took a while to "train myself" out of it...it was literally like drug withdrawal, but it worked. I learned I don't have to buy stuff to feel better....and I don't need all the damn stuff.

You isolate a lot inside your house and that gives you a lot of time to shop...to fill the void of missing everything else out there in the world. You've got to find something else to fill that void. Go to the park and walk or feed the ducks. Take your easel and paint scenes other places around town. Change the script, get your brain used to different senses, different environments, different feelings. When you stay in the same place 24/7 your brain goes stagnant, it doesn't care if you sleep, it doesn't care if you change emotional patterns, it doesn't care period....and it's hellishly hard to change anything. Do something different, get your neurons firing in different patterns.

You can change your behaviors, but it's not easy and it takes work...you have to do the work.

Making a monthly budget, putting reminders on your calendar to pay what bills on which date, making a grocery list each week and sticking to it with planned meals. Allowing yourself a set amount each month for "spending money" are all things that keep you on track and they all work. But you have to put all the tools and tricks together and work them.

Take care,

Kat

I think people have to get rid of credit cards or have a very low amount you can use and not use a debit card so that you have to go to the bank or only use cash

The plastic can give us a false sense of money security.... It's messed me up in the past as well.... Now I am really careful about plastic

It's also about changing habits so that will take effort and the willingness to change what's hurting you

Emotional spending can give you a momentary high when you need a lift however it is momentary and then you have to face the financial music..... Big hug....xo

Sun and Kat I have the same problems. I have five credit cards and guess who hasn’t been able to make her payments? I am hoping to catch up by summer and then close those accounts. I lost a steady job in August then spent two and a half months unemployed. It’s been rough.

you know i had this same conversation with my county contact at handicapped services here on the island it worked ... and then social security dropped 30,000 dollars in my checking account with the condition that i spend it all in 6 months??? what??? that was all it took to make my spending habits go up the wall and becoming more uncontrollable i still have that feeling every time i become hypomanic

i am beginning to think i need someone to handle my money but the rent and bills and everything is paid i just do not have anything to fall back on right now so you are lock up the cards i put them in a really hard to get to place and blank out the numbers wipe them from the computer get rid of prime and bite the bullet

you give me the advice that all my doctors have given me i just hope no more credit cards come in the mail or i am dead thanks all for the knock in the head which has brought me back down to earth starting tonight right now i am on a budget

Kisses you don't have to wait until summer to shred the cards, you can still make the payments without having the actual cards. You keep 1 card for emergency's, but 5 is excessive when you don't have disposable income or the means to pay them...I'd get rid of the cards so you're not tempted to use them when they have credit available.

OlderCPer that is exactly what i did thanks

One possibility is bipolar 1. There is a tendency to spend money without question. I only say that because I was in that same boat similar to yourself.

I_am_a_RollerCoaster Iam bipolar 1 and unstable so there is the problem

I tend to spend more when I am manic with bipolar 2 but I tried to keep it in check if I can.

You could make a list and only stick to the list and try that first

I read about a trick recently where you seal your credit card really well and freeze it. then if you want to buy something you have to wait for it to thaw out and with any luck the 'manic; moment has stopped', I use online shopping as I have pretty limited mobility and live miles away from the nearest town and I frequently indulge in just filling my cart with whatever I want, browsing for ages and then empty the cart without buying anything unless I need it. Also I have a rule where if I buy something (non essential), I have to sell/give away something before I get it. Also I do my main grocery shop in Lidl which is kind of like aldi and use loads of veg, some meats,, grow my own herbs and make my own sauces (happy to share recipes, just pm. I'm a retired chef). When I cook I bulk up all meals with lots of veg and make about six portions. I'll eat the same meal for two or three days and freeze the rest in double or single portions. I also use lots of fruit and freeze that too when I have some left. You can stew some fruit, freeze it and have some delicious desserts.
In actual stores I don't even look at the main racks, just go straight to the bargain rail e.g. I got a wedding invite for the 16th March and today when I was in town I found a fabulous dress on sale from 60 euro to 7. that's me sorted. also if I do buy something online I will only use a site with free shipping and check a few sites before I purchase as many of them sell the exact same items at ridiculously different prices. I also have only had to pay electric a couple of times during the last year or so as I keep checking providers and most of them offer 150/200 switching bonuses which I avail of all the time.
about 16yrs ago I was in the same position as you but these days it is mostly in check and If I do splurge in manic mode I'll return the item if possible. If not I will do without something else.
Kisses' envelope idea seems like a great one too.
also is there any way you could sell some of your incredible art work? try gift stores/tourist stores etc to see if they might be interested or see if a cafe/restaurant/pub could display some of your work to decorate their walls for sale to their customers.
good luck with it - it can be a very tough one to deal with. hugs

Irish, what do you mean you get to switch your Electric Provider?? Like your cable or cell phone company??? Seriously??....yeah we don't get that option here in the States. You get assigned an Electric Company that covers the County/Area you live in and that's who you pay, if you want electricity.

Wild thought though.

The credit card in the freezer is a good trick.

heading for the freezer right now lol seriously i had forgotten about that trick dropped amazon prime too