[Blue_Bird]

When I'm manic I seem to spend everything I have and plan on spending every bit of money I get in the future in like one day, on some stuff I want and a lot of it on stuff I don't even need. This is part of the reason I messed up my first year of college, I spent all my money that was supposed to go to my classes on a bunch of stuff that's currently sitting in my closet and I don't need which I'm thinking of giving away. This was within two days, I spent over $2,000 dollars. I was ready to start selling some of my own stuff to start buying more stuff I really don't need Then I hit depression and didn't even care to try and fix it. I don't even know what I was thinking. I don't shop like that ever. I'm usually really good with money and saving. Does anyone else do this? I'm going to try and be more aware of myself next time I feel like that so it doesn't happen again.

Once I went roaming on eBay while hypomanic. Ended up with a wig, four sets of earrings, two necklaces, a phone cover, and six purses.

I try not to go on ebay at all. Sometimes I get hypomanic and want to spend spend but I manage to steer clear of Internet shopping and the nearest store is miles away which I cannot travel alone.

Maybe try hiding your cards? Lock them up. Take only cash you need. I read something once about putting your cards in a block of ice lol.

Yes Blue_Bird. That is usually one of the first signs that I'm a getting in a dangerous spot. And this last time I hurt my financial situation bad.

But yes, you aren't the only one.

[AnxietyGirl916]

I also read about the block of ice thing. I've been much more mindful of my spending while hypo after filing bankruptcy. I still go shopping and I have a few cc's, but I still spend when I technically don't have any money. I just try and remind myself to keep a lid on it. So far, it's worked for me.

P.S. I too stay away from eBay. eBay is a dangerous place!

[Phoenix_1]

I don't have a credit card. I only have a prepaid mastercard, which allows you to buy stuff online IF you already have the money on it. I keep a tight rein on my spending, and only put money on it when there's something important that I need to buy. If there's no money on the card, I can't spend it. And when I put money on the card, there's a 3-5 day delay from the time I take the money from my checking account until it gets to the prepaid mastercard, so impulse spending is impossible until the money actually gets there. I also try to put only $100 at a time on the card.
I did a bankruptcy and have had 2 cars repossessed. I don't want those things to happen again.
And I'm on a pretty restricted budget now that I'm on disability.

[Skittles56]

I spent about $10,000 on photographic equipment. I am only a mediocre photographer, but I was convinced that I was going to be the best fashion and glamour photographer ever.

[A Red Panda]

I'm realllllly good with my money. My banker (family friend who's known me since I was 5) has told me before that if I wanted a career change to go into financial planning.

So even when I'm in an up and do spend money.... it's just my spending/saving money that I blow - I never, ever, spend more than I can afford.

It helps that I don't have easily accessibly shopping here, and I won't buy clothes online (they'd never fit!) and I prefer browsing for books in bookstores as opposed to purchasing online. haha.

Usually for me, I'm planning on a trip or a big-ticket item, so I resist the impulses most of the time by going "BUT I want THAT MORE!"

[Hoping4aCure]

I get really generous and buy things for other people and pay their bills and just try to help them way too much! Same thing though- too much spending!

[Confusedinomicon]

Im afraid to use my credit card. I used to use it a lot until the bank started calling and my parents stepped in.

Now I mostly spend within my means.

[polesapart]

I am usually very good with money, a compulsive saver rather than shopper. So when I start spending money it's almost certainly (hypo)mania. When we have to take money out of the mortgage it's mania.

Unfortunately my husband is atrocious with money all the time, so I am in control of the finances.

[BlackPup]

Try doing shopping sprees in the two dollar shop. It's easier on the budget!!!!
I'm fairly tight with my money but when I'm hypo I tend to spend more than normal. If its going to be more than $100 I ring my hubby and ask if I should get it.

[Nessa213]

Originally Posted by BlackPup

Try doing shopping sprees in the two dollar shop. It's easier on the budget!!!!
I'm fairly tight with my money but when I'm hypo I tend to spend more than normal. If its going to be more than $100 I ring my hubby and ask if I should get it.

I spent a LOT of time at dollar stores and thrift shops after I pretty much defaulted on my credit cards after a manic spending episode but still had the urge to spend. Actually, I like the dollar/thrift stores a little better anyway. You could walk out with a literal TON of stuff for next to nothing.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by Nessa213

I spent a LOT of time at dollar stores and thrift shops after I pretty much defaulted on my credit cards after a manic spending episode but still had the urge to spend. Actually, I like the dollar/thrift stores a little better anyway. You could walk out with a literal TON of stuff for next to nothing.

That does sound like a good idea, I'll try it next time I start to feel that way

[dillpickle1983]

Last week while manic (coming down finally) I got on Ebay and bid on a Palomino Horse in New Hampshire. I live in the city. I also bought a 40in TV and a bunch of new computers. Yea. Well got everything cancelled and returned except the TV which I bought from Ebay. However it will be 14-21 business days before I get my money back. I have never bought things with money while manic until last week. I have though gone to the casino.

[Skittles56]

Originally Posted by dillpickle1983

Last week while manic (coming down finally) I got on Ebay and bid on a Palomino Horse in New Hampshire. I live in the city. I also bought a 40in TV and a bunch of new computers. Yea. Well got everything cancelled and returned except the TV which I bought from Ebay. However it will be 14-21 business days before I get my money back. I have never bought things with money while manic until last week. I have though gone to the casino.

A horse! You win. That's the best (or worst in your shoes) manic spending episode I have ever heard of.

[LonelyJoe]

I love buying educational books, read one or two chapters (if I'm lucky!) then forget they exist pretty much. I wish I knew where I was meant to be going in life, so I could plan properly and stay focussed on what matters.....

Joe

[FallenTree]

I once emptied my bank account and gave it away in $100 bills. My biggest problem while manic was not overspending but throwing things away. Sometimes lots of things and things of value...

[Blackberryrocks11]

Recently diagnosed with Bipolar at 43, in retrospect I've been for at least 20 years.

After one serious bout of overspending where I blew through over $100K generated by a house sale, I subconsciously developed a new system for my "need to shop."

Only at thrift stores, and
never spend more than $70 (don't ask me why),
keep the receipts in case I need to return or exchange (yay me!)

and AVOID online shopping, bidding sites at ALL costs. Need I also add that the serious spending spree led me to my first bankruptcy? I learn through experience :

[FireBird]

I'm usually good with my money but when I get hypomanic or manic, I do spend a little more. One time when I thought I was the next big thing in art and was going to change the world I bought a $400 pastel set. And that was on sale! Then I would sometimes get multiple balsa model kits at once and that can add up to several hundred dollars. To put in perspective I am on SSI so I only get $710 a month. Or I would buy a lot of computer games. It would drain my bank account when this happens.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by FireBird

I'm usually good with my money but when I get hypomanic or manic, I do spend a little more. One time when I thought I was the next big thing in art and was going to change the world I bought a $400 pastel set. And that was on sale! Then I would sometimes get multiple balsa model kits at once and that can add up to several hundred dollars. To put in perspective I am on SSI so I only get $710 a month. Or I would buy a lot of computer games. It would drain my bank account when this happens.

When I do spend a lot I do similar things, I think I'll be amazing at art, spend tons of money on art supplies. Think I'll be a great photographer, spend tons of money on photography equipment, etc it goes on and on. When I do it I'm convinced that is the ONE thing I want to do and will be great at Lol I definitely am overambitious with my random life changing "goals" I come up with when manic.

[Switch]

I use to be a lot worse than I am now. I have never had a lot of money, and though my rent is higher now it use to be 300-550$ (now I'm paying for a full apartment until my bf's off disability). So when I say I spent 800$ on an all leather outfit for halloween, please understand how much that actually put me in debt! The most common one for me is art supplies. New sketch books, markers, pencils, paint, clay, brushes, inks, anything. I do a lot of art, and I still haven't touched my last big art project hypo-spending thing. Its also a way to tell if I'm in a mixed episode.

My dad stepped in after the 800$ outfit, and taught me how to start saving, and how not to blow through my money. He's reduced my credit card to ONE card, and 500$ limit, which he keeps an eye on (only the money not what I buy) so that if it starts getting out of control he can step in again. He's only had to do that once since then.

But a definite issue for me. You're not alone Blue Bird.

[LadyShadow]

Yes spending is a definite issue for me. Sometimes I can go days or weeks without spending anything, like I did recently. But over the past three days I spent $400 eating out and spending on everything. I tend to splurge when eating out.

Now I have to watch what I spend. You're definitely not alone Blue Bird.

[gruvingal]

When I left my husband in 2000, my credit was perfect. I went on a manic spree and ran all of my credit cards up (one of them almost $7000) and spent a $2500 settlement from a car accident. Granted most of it was on things I needed, like a bed, but most things I could have picked up at a thrift store and instead I bought all new. I also went out to eat a lot, some drinking, and just spending on nothing. When I came down after about three months I became so depressed at what I had done I thought I would kill myself. Thanks to good friends and family I survived that.