[Merlin]

Really struggling with overspending right now. I just bought a bought a laptop because I wanted it, not needed it. Now I’m locked into a financing plan with a high interest rate. Guess that’s the first debt I am paying off. Hoping I can transfer it to a low interest rate credit card. I need to stop spending. I’m $4000 in consumer debt and have zero savings. I’m on disability. Just coming for support.

[quietlylost]

In the past I found it helpful for myself to eliminate all credit options and to start being more structured in how I did my spending. For example, I would pay all the bills at the start of the month and then try to budget the remainder for what I wanted or needed. I found that I could save money in certain areas (i.e. not eating out) and also start to slow down my process of making purchases. I would several times look online and add something to my cart but wait until the next day to come back and decide if I really wanted to order it or not.

I know this is all easier said than done and every person is different. For me, though, I found that setting some hard limits helped. I didn't have anyone else to help keep me accountable, so I had to find a system that worked for me and then practice it regularly.

I can relate to the feeling of being trapped in debt. I'm currently carrying a lot of it, in addition to student loans. Keep strong. Debt is not who you are, and there are more important things in life.

[swimmingly]

Before I had someone to hold me accountable, I was my own worst enemy. I bought and returned a car in the same weekend. I exploded in rage in a dealership when they wouldn't honor their 48 hour return policy. They called me unprofessional and all sorts of things to shame me, and I was unwhole and unleashed.

I've purchased a canoe, two kayaks, and a trailer hitch for my truck all in the same binge. I eventually asked someone to be my accountability partner and then wasn't honest with them. For me, it was the feeling of hitting a financial low like you described and realizing how scary it was. I froze all my credit cards, took them out of my amazon account (that hurt), and made it inconvenient to spend in this oh all too easy world. Sure it was harder, but it made me have to slow down. If I was freaking out to get through those blocks of ice, the cold of the blocks served as a grounding mechanism that I never quite got past before my wisemind kicked back into play.

I'm by no means an expert at this. For the past three days I've been fighting the urge to replace the weighted blanket that my daughter's cat puked on and ruined. I miss it a lot, but think I can live without it.

Good luck my friend, I only came in to say that you have my support!

[bpcyclist]

Bought 10k in guitars over 4 days once. Wife not pleased. Gave my money to someone else so cannot do that again.

Hugs.

Originally Posted by Merlin

Really struggling with overspending right now. I just bought a bought a laptop because I wanted it, not needed it. Now I’m locked into a financing plan with a high interest rate. Guess that’s the first debt I am paying off. Hoping I can transfer it to a low interest rate credit card. I need to stop spending. I’m $4000 in consumer debt and have zero savings. I’m on disability. Just coming for support.

been their, done that.

most I have ever spent in one time was £1000 on amazon just on junk

and believe me it sucks when you really want something and don't have the money for it

[Living in LaLa Land]

My husband keeps all of the credit cards. I need a good reason to spend money. Overspending is one of the ways my Bipolar shows up. I always know when I am about to lash by the way I spend money.

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by Merlin

I just bought a bought a laptop because I wanted it, not needed it. Now I’m locked into a financing plan with a high interest rate. Guess that’s the first debt I am paying off.

Good news. I was able to cancel the order. The first customer service agent lied to me about whether it was allowed. I still have thousands of dollars in consumer debt, but now I have over a thousand less.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Good news. I was able to cancel the order. The first customer service agent lied to me about whether it was allowed. I still have thousands of dollars in consumer debt, but now I have over a thousand less.

Awesome news. One less worry is a great thing.

[swimmingly]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Good news. I was able to cancel the order. The first customer service agent lied to me about whether it was allowed. I still have thousands of dollars in consumer debt, but now I have over a thousand less.

That's great, Merlin. and shame on the first Customer Service Agent. That's illegal, immoral, and frankly jerky. I'm glad that you were able to work it down a bit. I know just how stressful these things can be.

I've got the same as quietlylost, no credit card. I only have a debit card, so automatically limited. Then of course there's the matter of not spending what you'll need for rent, etc., but structure can help there, as quietlylost says.

I'm really glad you were able to return stuff!

[sarahsweets]

I've been married 25 years but in the beginning of our marriage we got in trouble with debt. We almost lost our house during the recession. We now own our house and have no CC debt because we never got CC's again. Sometimes it causes a hitch and I have had to give my mom cash for example so she could use her charge card for me.

[The Black Dog]

I found out the hard way that just because you have a limit on a credit card to curb overspending doesnt mean you cant spend more than that.
Credit cards are too tempting. But it is hard not to have a credit card these days and I think it is worse to hold a debit card which pays the mortgage/bills. Right now i leave my cards at home tucked away and try to use cash. It is not the best solution.

[*Beth*]

For myself, I have never quite understood whether I'm purchasing items I really want and need, or whether I'm buying just to buy. I mean, recently I bought some furniture to decorate my pretty much empty apartment. I bought all of it within just a few days, but I don't use credit cards. I also purchased some items I really needed ( drugstore stuff), and I went for an eye exam and bought new glasses.

I'm using everything I bought, but I did spend $4,000 on all of it, and I had plans for buying what I bought before I had the money to do so.

So is that crazy spending, or is it practical spending?

My husband is frugal to the point at which I find unrealistic. He is shocked at how much I've spent. So it leaves me confused.

[Merlin]

I’m planning on going the cash route, except for gas because that 7 cents discount is substantial.