Curbing Consumerism Club: 2009 Edition Part B

[amymarie]

Originally Posted by canadianstudies

So far, I've spent $700 on books... for one course. (er, thank goodness for funding?)

on one course?!! wow!

[canadianstudies]

^^ yeah, it's a reading course, so I needed to buy 12-13 books for it. These will probably be some of the foundational texts for my PhD, though, so hopefully I will be using again and again!

[Loganz]

OMG - I have to bitch a little -

I am SOOOO bored - I don't think I realized how much time I spent ONLINE looking at clothes/accessories! I almost feel depressed - like I have experienced a loss by not having any credit cards in my wallet anymore -

I know it is silly to feel this way - but the truth is shopping makes me feel better about the things I am too lazy to change. Not being able to shop is doing NOTHING to make me want to work on myself and those aforementioned "things". Instead, I am bitter and grumpy and short-fused - I truly feel like I am going through "withdrawal" symptoms.

grrrr....thanks for listening.

[nauticalstar]

Originally Posted by Loganz

OMG - I have to bitch a little - I am SOOOO bored - I don't think I realized how much time I spent ONLINE looking at clothes/accessories! I almost feel depressed - like I have experienced a loss by not having any credit cards in my wallet anymore - I know it is silly to feel this way - but the truth is shopping makes me feel better about the things I am too lazy to change. Not being able to shop is doing NOTHING to make me want to work on myself and those aforementioned "things". Instead, I am bitter and grumpy and short-fused - I truly feel like I am going through "withdrawal" symptoms. grrrr....thanks for listening.

When I was trying to stop shopping, I picked up looking at blogs that are not shopping related... my favorites are cakewrecks and a dollar store crafts blog. For me, the feelings started to go away. Even now, when I look, I don't get the urge to buy. Can you try looking up things about other interests you have?

[Loganz]

Originally Posted by nauticalstar

When I was trying to stop shopping, I picked up looking at blogs that are not shopping related... my favorites are cakewrecks and a dollar store crafts blog. For me, the feelings started to go away. Even now, when I look, I don't get the urge to buy. Can you try looking up things about other interests you have?

Cake wrecks is hillarious! Is it wrong that even ugly cakes make me crave cake? lol

Good suggestions Nauticalstar, thanks - I do sometimes just cruise the news sites; but, eventually I start to think about things on NAP or Saks or Barneys and then get mad since I hate to window shop.

I am sure it will get easier - but, right now it sucks and I am sour about it.

[digby723]

Ok, I'm not sure if it's still an active thread or not, but in the general discussion forum there was a reading book club...maybe join that to fill up time? Or create a new thread to start one :) Or, do you own an ipod and love music? Why not buy one of those unlimited downloading for life memberships (like $50) and create tons and playlists? I LOVE to make playlists when I'm bored :) You sound like you just need to move the focus off of shopping, maybe try to re-organize your closet or something so that you can see all of the things that you do own and make the space that they are in prettier? Like a little DIY stuff? Buy like $20 worth of goods at home depot and then spend a week or 2 fixing everything up. I know when I was trying to stop shopping I just had to move my focus onto something else, so I focused on school a lot more than what I used to and not only did I stop shopping but I got much better grades. It's hard a first, esp when you wander to the subforums and see what everyone is buying, but it does get easier :)

[Loganz]

^ Good tips Digby. I did rearrange some of my dresser drawers this evening.

[guess]

I finally caught up with the old thread this week. Like I said before, each time I would visit there were another 10 pages waiting for me. I almost panicked when I was about to reply and saw it was closed.

I'm still reading and keeping up with all of your amazing stories. You are all truly inspirational. I know words on the internet may not mean much but you've shown me that strength comes from many places and shows in different ways. Aside from all that you ladies have a wicked sense of humor and crack me up.

For a quick reintroduction, I wasn't dealing with debt but did want to curb my consumerism. Even though my income was drastically reduced by the economy I've also been able to continue saving. I've had a few no buy months this year even with being tempted by sales so I'm very proud of that. I have everything I need and bringing more stuff into my life didn't make any sense.
I've updated my wishlist after buying some things from the original. There were great discounts that made it possible. I don't like paying retail and can wait until the cows come home so no rush there. Each piece I do buy feels like something special and well earned. I admit that my comfort level in price is a lot lower in comparison to what designer purse lovers are used to. Some of you might think my strategy is silly but it's been working well in the long run. Just trying to be more aware and mindful of everything.

[canadianstudies]

4 days left in the month, and I have $163 left in my budget! I do need to get a haircut, which will eat up a lot of that, but I'm very pleased I've managed to live 4 months on a budget- the first time I've ever been successful with budgetting!

[simmmchen]

^^Well done, canadian I love it when I manage to have some roll-over from my cash allowance

guess, welcome

Loganz, I hope you get through your withdrawal soon. Like others have suggested, you need to focus on something else. It's not always easy to find something that will work for you! I know! Maybe working out? Reading? I love hanging out at book stores, but obviously that makes me spend as well, even if it's only the latte! I go to the library now instead. I love it there. I can hang out there for hours and it costs nothing

nautical, can you just write something on the cards with a dvd marker? I think it's a very good idea to have separate accounts for different things. Good luck with the new system!

[dr. twiggers]

Loganz: I struggle with the same thing with gambling. I literally have to occupy my time hour by hour. I will put a movie in, clean the house, reorganize the closet, clean the fridge, bathe the dog, go grocery shopping, read a book, etc. Then I'll look at the clock and it'll be too late to drive there. And I'll be relieved another day passed without caving in. It's an addiction and it's really tough to keep under control!


Me: A couple updates....Today is DH's last day of work...the owner said it made more sense to be finished on a Friday (and today is the end of pay period), but that he'll still pay DH for the entire month's commission.
They let DH keep his laptop (DH had paid for 50% of it), which saves us some money!
DH thinks that he may have sold the RV!!!! So, the person can't afford to buy the whole thing....so he might just pay a couple thousand down payment and then $250/month payments. It'll take like 2.5 years for him to pay it off. The person will be responsible for insurance and registration fees, but since we still have the title (well, the bank does) we would just release liability.

[simmmchen]

^^OMG, that's great news about the trailer! I'll keep my fingers crossed that this will wokr out the way you planned

[Loganz]

Thanks for the encouragement and ideas ladies!

^ Great news about the pendng RV sale!! Things truly are falling into place for you guys so far - I hope this string of good luck continues.


I am very glad it is Friday and the end of the month.

I probably will do a closet cleanse this wknd and then list it all on Ebay. Perhaps I can fund my cruise spending money this way.

[Nola]

Loganz-You think like me! Sounds so familiar!

[Allisonfaye]

Originally Posted by Loganz

^ Good tips Digby. I did rearrange some of my dresser drawers this evening.

Do you belong to a gym? I swear this solved my shopping problems. It gives you the mental lift because it gets your endorphins going. It fills time and keeps you away from the malls. I would have gone nuts without my gym membership over the past year. Not sure how old you are, but women need to have some weight bearing exercise, especially as they get closer to menopause. It keeps your bone density in tact. Please consider it. I figure the $85 a month I spend has saved me thousands of dollars.