A
female
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anonymous
writes:ok this may not seem like a huge problem, but it is to me...basically, I can't stop spending money. Whenever i have money I am itching to spend it, just to buy things, not because i actually need stuff. When my wages come through, the first thing i do is blow it all on shoes, clothes etc....for obvious reasons, this is becoming a nuisance to say the least. I just have no concept of budgeting. What do I do?please help...thanks! Sharleen, 23
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female
reader, Hopeful +, writes (11 April 2006):
 http://money.ninemsn.com.au/controls/tool/budgetplanner.aspx
Check out this site - it is an online planner which is good, it helps you see where your money goes, what you can save on and what your essentials cost.
*I always find that a good goal helps - ie. what do you want to save for? A house, a new car, a holiday? If you have a goal in mind, it will make it much easier to save because it will motivate and excite you and when you see a hot pair of shoes you can think "do I really need them or would I prefer to spend that money on my exciting new car or my oversea's holiday?" - it will help you see what you really need as opposed to what you simply just want.
*I would also, if you like going to the shops, plan ahead and say to yourself - "I'm going to buy a new skirt - I want to spend no more than $140.00" so take $140 in cash - no store cards, no credit cards. Just take that cash and enjoy really looking and having fun comparing and trying on and then rather than walking out of the shops with 20 things, you can just leave with the one thing you came to get and within a budget you have established.
* Also slow it down at the shops, rather than rush and buy, allow yourself to wander. Before you buy, go away and have a coffee and think about what the item is - will you get a lot of wear out of it, is it worth the money, could you find a cheaper alternative, is it worth waiting to see if you can get it on sale etc. Often, I will love something and then once I wander away, I will think "that won't go with any of my other clothes or I will only wear that once" and decide not to get it.
*Also think about the things you can cut down on - can you take your lunch to work rather than buy every day - can you use petrol discount vochures or use a landline rather than your mobile to make a call? If you pay bills early can you get a discount? etc. Then if you say save $50 on buying lunch, put that in an account, that will help you see how much you are saving on everyday things and motivate you to continue doing it.
*When you are most tempted to go the shops (ie day after pay day) organise other activities - make sure you meet a friend for coffee or arrange to visit a relative or make a commitment that will cut back on the time you tend to shop.
*Also investigate cheaper options - especially for basics - a white T shirt, PJ's, etc. No need to buy a designer white singlet that you will just wear under other things, skimp on the boring things rather than go nuts on things you will only wear once or things that you only wear underneath other tops.
Hope this helps a bit!
A
female
reader, lisa_01  +, writes (11 April 2006):
 you have to be really strict with yourself, my bf has always complemented me on being so good with saving my money and not wasting it, i came from a poor family had to get a job and learnt to only save for more important things that i really needed, i was use to not having the best of everything and i new that i was able to get by without them. once i was able to afford luxury's i would not go blow all my money at once for example i would reward myself, say i got a really good report for an assignment that i had done, id reward myself by buying myself a new shirt, but id have a limit on how much id spend, i use to only allow max $20.00 a month on luxury items, a good way to stop yourself from spending to much is get all the money you need out from the bank for the week and not spend anymore, and leave your bank card at home each day instead of taking it with you to work/school.
almost making a chart or something with calculations on how much you earn a month and how much you need to take out for important things like bills,rent,car etc and then look at how much you have left and say you want to save $100.00 a month you take that off the amount aswell and then see how much you have left over and thats how much you can spend on yourself.
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A
female
reader, Jadzia1127  +, writes (11 April 2006):
 A budget is like a diet it won't work unless you make life changes. Here are a few ideas I hope one or more works for you.
1. A simple way to curb spending is to start a money diary. A small ledger or notebook where you list EVERYTHING you buy and amount spent. List everything you want to buy on the front pages. Stick to the rule you can't buy the same day the item is listed, even better a 3 day rule. This will start making you think before buying.
2. Talk to your bank and make sure your savings account isn't used as an overdraft for your checking account/debit card. Then have your paychecks automatically deposited into your savings account, then online give yourself a budget by transferring money into your checking/debit card account, leaving at least 10% in savings from each paycheck.
3. You can put your money far from your reach in saving bonds or Cd's. Talk to your bank about this try to find something you can do monthly.
4. You can put away 10-50% of your money each month into a separate savings account then in a few years buy real estate. The best investment you can get. Keep a picture of a piece of beautiful real estate (you would like to buy) around and in front of cards and checks to remind you what your working for. Most people find having a goal of a large purchase helps, whether it be a home, a car or a new jet ski.
5. Just remember what your craving is not the shoes, or the item in front of you it is the endorphin rush. It is the same addictive rush of chemicals that food addicts get when they eat, and all other addictive behaviors get when they give into temptation. You can join a gym and get the same rush of endorphins with exercise.
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A
female
reader, stress_head +, writes (11 April 2006):
oooh! been there! ok first you have to enroll help, that way if you find yourself battling to the shops you know their will be at least one voice of reason calling you to remind you. its easy to let yourself down yet for some reason harder to let others down, set yourself a daily budget and try and go UNDER it, that way you can accumulate money at the end of the month to use, go crazy with it if you must! also try having a direct debit set up. where a certain amount is taken into a savings account straight away, this way it'll be harder to get access to it, hope it helps x
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