What holds you back from being more frugal?

**justjenn** · 02-06-2003, 10:05 PM

I find that I constantly struggle with staying frugal, and becoming more frugal. I do better than I used to, but boy, do I need to do so much more! lol

I have a lack of discipline (I love to shop), and dh loves to go overboard at times.

How about you?

**SouthernJen** · 02-06-2003, 10:44 PM

Jenn, what a great topic!

I'm like you & love to shop. I live in a small town so we don't have too may stores to tempt me but I am from a large city & work in one too so I get in trouble on my lunchbreaks sometimes when I stop in stores.

I am doing much better than I used to in couponing, watching sale ads, menu planning & stock-piling so I can say I am head of the game compared to my former habits!

**Shell** · 02-06-2003, 10:47 PM

Well, I have improved a lot but I have so much more to work on. I just love to buy new clothes. I am great at paying my bills on time, I save money for the future but every once in a while I just can't seem to control myself and I need to buy new clothes. I am so much better then I used to be but I have to admit that is where a lot of my extra money goes.

**aylasmommy** · 02-06-2003, 10:56 PM

Well if my dh wasn't so addicted to cokes, guitars and ciggarettes we could be doing a LOT better than we are...And I also have the clothes addiction, as well as the Target clearance addiction

**MANDERS** · 02-07-2003, 09:41 AM

TIME TIME TIME!And the fact that I was depressed for months.But now mostly time since the child count has doubled during the day in my home 3 weeks ago.But that can be fixed by managing my time better and sticking to a schedule.MULTITASKING!!!!LOL

Also i like to shop too and have found it hard to fight the urges since yard sale season hasn't started.

**babynurse** · 02-07-2003, 09:45 AM

For me it's boredom...I get bored by myself and at times I just go shopping out of boredom, or that movie I shouldn't spend money on. I never buy clothes because A: I still feel to overweight to justify the purchase and B: I don't go anywhere very often to wear anything special. But I also eat at restaurants out of boredom too. I am MUCH better than I used to be...in fact most of the debt I just paid off was boredom debt (I call it!), stuff I didn't need that I just bought to comfort me.

**AmyBoz** · 02-07-2003, 10:13 AM

Amanda, I guess I'd have to agree with you. Time is definitely a factor for me. If I had more time to really shop sales, etc., I could probably be more frugal, but then, when I think about it, I don't really ever go shopping anyway, so I guess that's more frugal since I'm not spending any money! But still, I think more time would afford more frugal intensity.

Mommyof2lildivas · 02-07-2003, 01:09 PM

For me it's feeling like I have to keep up with the Joneses, though in the last year my dh and I have really become much better at that. I'm also putting in the time to find deals and to stockpile.

**katiebug** · 02-07-2003, 01:24 PM

I laughed when I read this thread title because the first thing that popped into my head was, "DH"!! That is the reason. I could cut back much further on many things around here, but there would be a revolt in the family, led by DH and supported by DD#1. The level we are at now is comfortable for them (mostly), but if I try to take things further, there is discord. So for the sake of family harmony, I don't push it.

**Mom23boys** · 02-07-2003, 01:38 PM

Katiebug~ I have to agree with you! If I could leave DH home and never take him to town with me we could really save. LOL!

**frugalmel** · 02-07-2003, 03:43 PM

I "fall off the wagon" too! I love new things, so shopping is a weakness. If I can stay busy at home I do better.

**taylor97** · 02-07-2003, 11:07 PM

My situation is similar to yours justjenn. I love to shop and my dh loves big ticket items.

**missytata** · 02-07-2003, 11:19 PM

Target gets me everytime! Sometimes (ok, alot of times

) we don't even need anything, but I am convinced that there are wonderful deals just waiting on me! LOL The kicker is that Target is 45 mins from my home! Also, sometimes after reading their Sunday flyer, I feel the need to check out all the neat stuff in there. Their ads are really put together well if it inspires me to drive 45 minutes "just to check it out"!
In my defense though, it does not hurt my feelings (just my gas tank) to turn around and drive home without buying anything if I can't find really good deals.

OK, That's the end of my novel!

$ · 02-08-2003, 12:11 AM

well I must admit I love to shop too, but my other problem lately has been time, I get so busy, it just seems I don't have enough time for all the things I would like to do.

**LeShea** · 02-08-2003, 08:26 AM

I would say that if I could keep dh out of the catalogs(which he won't let me cancel) we would be better off!!!LOL! He is always looking for what he wants next.......it makes me crazy sometimes!