Struggling to stay on track!

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 09-08-2011, 09:59 AM

I got a job last August working from home. I write for a large deal blogger. Needless to say I am totally on top of all the great deals out there. BUT, it is so hard not to try to take advantage of them all. I find so many great deals on things we use or *might* need soon and want to jump on the deals. I always try to wait and not jump on them while I am working and many of them I forget to come back to when I am not working so that helps. But the temptation is killing me and probably my budget!

We have some rather large savings goals (needed things like braces, car replacement, driveway replacement, furnace, etc - not wants) and I really need to get on top of this or we won't have any extra to save. Any ideas?

**krbshappy71** · 09-08-2011, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by my4littlebuffaloes

I got a job last August working from home. I write for a large deal blogger. Needless to say I am totally on top of all the great deals out there. BUT, it is so hard not to try to take advantage of them all. I find so many great deals on things we use or *might* need soon and want to jump on the deals. I always try to wait and not jump on them while I am working and many of them I forget to come back to when I am not working so that helps. But the temptation is killing me and probably my budget!

We have some rather large savings goals (needed things like braces, car replacement, driveway replacement, furnace, etc - not wants) and I really need to get on top of this or we won't have any extra to save. Any ideas?

Pretend you are finding those deals for "suckers" so you can make your money. You are not finding "real deals", convince yourself those deals are for everyone else that is riding the credit card merry -go-round and that's not going to be you.

If you are using credit cards, physically cut them up and do NOT write down the numbers first. (hm, can you tell I have been there done that?) CUT THEM UP AND STOP IT. Pick ONE savings goal and write it LARGE on a piece of paper and tape it to the front of your monitor, in your car on the dash board, a visual reminder "BRACES FOR JOHNNY" Focus on ONE of those goals, don't look at all of them at once, it's too overwhelming and can be easy to feel like "I can't reach all those goals so....hey look at those cute shoes/chainsaws!"

Yes, chainsaws. Because when one is avoiding paying down debt or saving up for a goal even chainsaws can become cute.

Hugs to you, YOU CAN DO THIS but you have to MAKE yourself, only YOU can make yourself.

**shoiji** · 09-08-2011, 10:23 AM

I hear you on this subject. The Today Show has a segment called Jill's Steals and Deals. It always seems so tempting to try one of their offers. The reality is I do not need the items they list. Now if there really is a need I would think more about it.

Have you started a holiday shopping list? If you do shop for the holidays maybe having a list of person buying for and amount of money for that person could help you decide on a purchase.

Are you tempted to purchase for yourself? How about setting aside x amount of money each month. Once you have the total amount set aside that is the only amount you can spend on a purchase. Try to limit this to a once or twice a year purchase.

How about walking through your home and taking a look at the closets and bureaus to see what you do have. Keep a mental note of all the items and tell yourself you have more than enough. You could also make a list of everything you are saving for and place it next to the computer to remind yourself.

Personally I will see makeup and think I should try that but then realize I have sensitive skin. See jewelry and think that is a great price but realize it really is not my style. See clothing then realize that I already have a ton of clothing. Remind yourself that advertisers make advertisments so you think you need something when you probably do not. Try looking at your job as helping you identify good deals so when you are out looking for a deal you have a good idea what to spend.

**Russ** · 09-08-2011, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by my4littlebuffaloes

We have some rather large savings goals (needed things like braces, car replacement, driveway replacement, furnace, etc - not wants) and I really need to get on top of this or we won't have any extra to save. Any ideas?

Put this list on a sticky note right on your computer. Hard to spend money when you see how much you're going to need.

on edit... looks like krbs beat me to the punch.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 09-08-2011, 10:27 AM

I love the idea of writing down whatever savings goal we are tackling at the moment and sticking it on the computer. Would definitely make me rethink. I do try to take advantage of some deals as gifts that I would have bought anyway, but I feel like I am always spending money on something! I hate that. Rarely a day goes by that I don't spend money. We are not in debt other than the mortgage, but we just paid off our van and I am so trying to avoid the mindset of "now we have all this extra money" and spending it all. A battle of my willpower all day every day! Thanks for the tips! Talking about it helps me.

**Telephus44** · 09-08-2011, 11:50 AM

Something I find helpful is to keep a wordpad document open with all the "deals" I'm considering buying, and checking it once a week. If you're working on more time sensitive ones you could look at it once a day. It's easier to see a list of 5 deal you're interested in and pick 1 or 2, rather than looking at a list of hundreds, because it's easy to lose track of how many you'd consider.

**zakity** · 09-08-2011, 01:05 PM

I have a list of things that we need or will need soon (ie, money has been allocated for). If it isn't on that list, it is on the "needs to be saved up for to purchase" list.

If it isn't on the "need" list, we can't buy it unless we just run across a fabulous deal on craigslist.

**KennySoward** · 09-16-2011, 04:28 PM

In my book, I talk a little bit about the psychology behind impulse buying. Knowing, thinking or imagining you will need something down the road is natural, and marketers feed off of this.

You have to put some time between yourself and the purchase. If that means taking notes into your computer on your favorite deals, then at least that is better than actually buying.

Most of the time, when you've had a moment to think about all the "deals," the ones you really need start to stand out more than others.

**lparker** · 09-16-2011, 05:47 PM

FWIW and IMHO (I hate acronyms) I'd at least change my order of things to furnace first...I can't picture a tooth implant stopping me from freezing my *** off.