Good Luck Hon, These days and times it is so hard. Each day put all your change from your purse in a jar.....you would be surprised how much you can save. Have a Great one....Hugs,

It's hard ... I think most of us do it! One thing I've tried lately, is to ask myself this when I'm about to make a new purchase:

WILL THIS ITEM END UP IN THE PILE IN MY BASEMENT WAITING TO BE DONATED OR SOLD OR JUST GATHERING DUST?

And often, the answer is YES, so I don't buy it.
OH, one other good thought is to locate the item online (many items are on amazon.com) and put it on your wish list ... that way you can think it over or wait for a friend/family member to buy it for you. woohoo!

I have a separate savings account that isn't linked to my debit account. Then, when I get my direct deposit, I put in half or more of my pay check. I save this money to pay for bills, groceries, etc. What is good for me is that if I want access to be able to spend this money, I have to actually go to the bank to transfer the money into my checking account, or I can do it on-line. I have bank of America and it costs $1 a month for the extra account. I'm not sure how much it would cost through a credit union/other banks.

When I go shopping I ask God to let me enjoy, but not to throw money away...and I put all quarters in a large jar...
a start!!

Well what are you buying ? Is it for yourself or others or for the house ?? If its for yourself try to allow yourself one guilt free affordable treat per week and leave it at that. If its for others well just say no !!! ( great word I just learned lately and mechellebelle has the right idea about stuff bought for the house.

When you are going shopping only bring what you can afford to spend. Thats really the shortest answer to your issue. Maybe afterwards you can get to the root of your spending ???? Leave your cards at home and when it comes to shopping online ( if thats an issue for you , ) then just put your cards in a very hard to get at place. My sister leaves hers in her attic. She will just not go to the bother of getting then down unless its really important. Sounds mad but it honestly worked for her !! Katie xx

We have put money (change) in a jar and it is amazing how quickly it adds up. Last time it was emptied there was over $75.00 in coins!!!!! Happy Day, and yes it went to pay a bill but that was a good thing too!!

Gabby, I really say a big AMEN!! to the change thing!!!

I love the change in a jar method. We actually saved up enough that way to pay for the closing costs when we bought our house!

I also put my budget together in a spreadsheet, so I know exactly how much I need for bills each month. In that spreadsheet, there is a place for spending money. This I take out in cash. When the cash is gone, the fun shopping is done. This way, I can still do what I love - SHOPPING! - but I am able to keep the damage down to a dull roar instead of a crazy, out of control spending spree.

We also use the Christmas Club account at the local credit union. To help us save, this is where we put moneys like rebates, unexpected bonuses, what we refer here to as found money, and sometimes I will make a deposit depending on where we are at the end of the month. The credit union locks the account so we can deposit and not withdrawal until November, this includes protecting it from things like overdraft fees. By the end of the year, whatever is in this account is what we use for Christmas - for everyone. So if we only have $200, that's all we have to spend on Christmas, no more, no exceptions. This has really helped us plan for the holiday so we aren't using our credit cards for gifts.

One thing that helps me too, is I use the method that mechellebelle uses for deciding whether or not to buy something. For me, if it just sits around collecting dust, that's enough incentive for me to say NO (I HATE DUSTING!!!). Also, for clothing, I no longer buy anything that is "just OK", I have to absolutely be head over heals in love with it, even if it is only $5 on clearance. This does two things for me: helps me keep my wardrobe small enough to fit into my tiny closet and one dresser and I know for a fact that every single piece of clothing I love, and will wear, and it fits.

Good luck to you! Happy Shopping!!!

If you love to shop.. start going to yard sales and thrift stores.. you would not believe what you will find and not spend nearly what you are spending now...and we do the change in the jar thing at my house.. challenge yourself to see just how much you can save in the jar in 1 month.. Good luck.. I love to shop too.. and yard sales is the way to go!! they have everything.. household, clothes, shoes, anything you can imagine..

Thrift stores are fun and you can get some amazing things!! I love to look around in them. I have gotten some very pretty clothes and one still had the tag on it. It was a pair of capri pants that had retailed for $45.00!!Bill Blass brand too. I paid $3.00 for them and they were new!! I just smile everytime I wear them. Yard sales are good too but we don't have alot of those where we live now. When we lived at the beach you could really make $$ having your own yard sale as well as going around to others!!
Occasionally at thrif stores I have found some exp. china pieces for almost nothing. It really is true, one man's trash is another man's treasure!!

I like Kim and Gabby's idea. Sometimes we just need to SHOP whether or not we buy anything. If I go to Goodwill or garage sales I can spend less, usually find a really good buy and yet satisfy that need to shop.

You need to take the Dave Ramsey class and learn how to use the cash envalope system and zero budget. Then you will learn how to pay for all the important things and still have a little "blow money". Go to www.daveramsey.com for more info.

I love the jar too. You wanted to not spend money and save.
If your just piddling it away on little things you think your not spending much...But you are. Even the dollar store adds up, necessitys vs wants.
If your buying too many groceries, make a list and stick to it, I would be rich if I stayed away from the grocery store. A list and no cash back. Now I take cash and a calculator and get what I need, not what I want. Amazing the difference in what I have left at the end of the month. And you can save half of that or spend it on yourself or a nice dinner or steaks on the grill. Do it...

Do your budget first. Take half of what is left and put it in savings and let it stay there. Savings is just that..not extra money to spend like my daughter does!!! I always save no matter how little, always even if it is just $5.00, save something for your own security.

I do lots of window shopping, cards at home, take $10.00 with me. Whenyou need something you can save for it or buy it with what you have saved for.

I was the same way until my husband got sick very suddenly and i had to run the business and the house, food shop, pay bill, etc I quickly learned to count every cent and that every cent counted (I did not do that on purpose but it's kinda cute....)Seriously, it was quite an awakening. I've always worked and I'm the one who does the papers and bill-paying, but this was very different....It scared the heck out of me....But I certainly saw what I'm made of.....good luck

i don't go to the shops unless I actually need to buy something with the emphasis on need and not want - shopping out of boredom will run away with your money. I try to buy as much as I can on a monthly basis leaving just fresh stuff like veggies and fruit on a weekly basis, that way I stay out of the shops. I also keep track of what I spend every month and make a list before going to the shops so I can whizz in and out without spending too much.Charity shops are great and I've often found such bargins, doesn't bother me if Im wearing secondhand clothing. When I worked and got a bonus I would save 80 percent of the bonus and spend 20 percent on myself.

Lots of good advice here for you to start saving.