Okay, that is it.  I am a bonefied shopaholic.  I am not the kind that spends hundreds or thousands in a day, but over time, it is hundreds or thousands.

Yesterday I went to a store and bought just a few more presents for my DD.  Problem is, that is not all.  I have a couple of topiary (lighted) that I bought at a thrift store.  I wanted to put them on my mantel.  Well, I went to a big lots, target and a dollar store and spent another 100.00 on decorations.  Not only will the mantel look nice but now I have a new tableclothe, candle, napkins and rings and chargers for my table setting.  Oh... and a new James Taylor cd for 13.00.  Had to have that.

I CANNOT AFFORD THIS!  NO I AM NOT TAKING THEM BACK!

There, I said it.  I will never get ahead. I will never pay off my debt and I will always be stuck in a dumpy condo because I can't control my spending.  I didn't put anything on my CC.  I paid cash, but I am short in my checkbook.  I won't be over drawn because I am holding my mortgage payment for a bit.  But come on.

I know I am spending because I am missing something, I know it is filling a hole.  Even when I am not buying junk, I spend too much on GOOD DEALs for groceries.  Its shopping too!

Oh boy, I need a shrink!!!  Help!!!!! 

P.S., I have a very pretty mantel and its one of a kind!  ;-)

It's hard to change habits, especially if you try to make a drastic change all at once. I would suggest baby steps since you are struggling with progress. Take one area and focus on spending less there and creating new habits.

Food is one I see you trying for. One of the real advantages to using Angel Food is that it keeps you out of the stores. I recommend making use of the package you did buy and the foods you have and stretching it as far as you can without shopping for more. If you do need perishables, make a list of only what is necessary and buy ONLY those items.

A sale is only good if you are purcashing needful items and using the prices to stay on or under budget. If you are buying many things just because wow, that's a good price and going over the budget then it wasn't really good deals at all.

You may need to consider your priorities and what you consider needful. If you find things you realise you could live without...cut them from your routine shopping.

I thought of something else for you to consider. Set a limit on amounts to stock. Once that amount is reached, buy no more of that item, no matter how good the price.

I'll use my shampoo for an example. I have set a six month stock for this item which for me means about 8 bottles to be sure it lasts that long. Between sales, coupons and deals at salvage stores I average finding a good price at least every other month. I am sure to be able to find great deals before my six month stock dwindles and will likely be able to keep it stocked to that point. It doesn't make sense to by more as often as I find the deals so if I get to 8, I pass on all deals until I use some of it up.

dmc,

I don't know if this will help much, but before you spend, think.."is this something I really NEED or just a WANT". When we were younger, we thought we had to have everything we wanted right then and there. I'm not sure of your age, but I'm 45 now and believe me, the older you get, the less "stuff" you want. I wish I had known years ago what I know now. I wish we had always only bought necessities in our younger years. We would be in a whole lot better financial shape today.

Maybe if you can decide to just wait two weeks before making the purchase, put that money in cash back that you would have spent. Maybe when the two weeks is up, you'll realize you're glad you held onto your money and then go ahead and put it into a savings account. I hope this helps some!

Brandy,  
You are right, groceries are where I am trying because its where I should be able to control my spending!  I am going to really get down to it and I like your idea.  I am done for a long time.  I am going to post what I buy!  That way I will have to be accountable! 

Loves2cook,

I am 48 and a very slow learner!  I am going to try harder next time!  I do think about the Need vs Want and then I shrug it off like a juvinile.  I am learning and I am better than I ever was but not as good as I need to be!

;-) thanks! 

dmc_2008:

I am better than I ever was but not as good as I need to be

In a year, you can be ahead of where you are today and say the same!

DMC, I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm the same way, but with clothes. I've lose a lot of weight, and I'm able to fit into things I've never been able to wear before. I get SO excited when I find something cute I wouldn't have been able to wear a year ago, it's so hard to resist, and I buy a lot more than I should. And it's full price half the time, because all I can think about at times like that is how excited and happy I am, not about the cost. 

I also have big student loans to pay off, like you do. One thing that helps me is, if I buy something, only wear it a couple of times, and can't return it, I give it to Goodwill. I still feel stupid about buying it in the first place, but it makes me feel better that it's going for a good cause, and I can get a tax writeoff of almost the price I paid for it, if it's still pretty new. You might consider doing that with your decorations, after the holidays. 

I also adopted a policy where if I buy something, I won't let myself buy anything similar until I've used the first thing. Right now I have two pairs of shoes in my closet, which I've never worn, and I won't let myself buy any more new shoes until I've worn both of those. I've been tempted a few times and I can't always adhere to it, but it helps as a starting point.

Anyhow, I understand where you're coming from, so feel free to PM me if you want to talk or anything!  

 The Dollar Stretcher has an article up this week called Breaking the Shopping Habit. 

I think the shopping is the least of your problems.

'Dumpy Condo"? Spare me. There are lots of people out there that would appreciate your dumpy condo more than you apparently do.

It's time to count your blessings and "man up" to your shopping problem. Most likely it doesn't have anything to do with deals at all, but something in your thinking. What hole in yourself are you trying to fill with "stuff"? Do you feel so bad with your living conditions that you must overspend to make yourself feel better or make your condo look nicer? Hey, I can put a $3000 leather sofa in my old cottage in the woods and you know what....it's still an old cottage in the woods. Might as well be a $150 sofa in there instead.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but you need to look at the reasons behind your shopaholic issue, not just the symptoms if you want to make any lasting changes.

Thanks Brandy, I will check it out.

Cininhusky, OUCH!  ;-)