what motivates you when you get off track?

[abmitch01]

I'm way off track in spending lately. Shopping way more than I ever have. Like buying Vera Bradley off Ebay. A lot of Vera Bradley. Usually I'm so frugal. I'm not spending beyond my means, I pay off my cards each month and I haven't cut back on retirement savings. So it's not a dire situation. But I know I'm off track, kwim? I bought 3 of the freaking Burt's Bees bags and I did the Allure promo. I'll use most of it for gifts. But no way did I need any of that. Haven't been avidly couponing. It's like I'm a different person. Ugh.

Disappointed in myself and the usual motivators (save for retirement, pay off the car, etc) aren't doing it for me. What motivates you to not spend?

 

[kkmcan]

What totally motivates me is when I have a vacation booked and I need to pay down the balance on it or if I am researching one and want to book it.

Right now we have a San Fran trip, a 2 night DCL and a 7 night DCL Mexican Riviera booked so I am really motivated!

There was a good deal on a Kenmore fridge this past week that my mom took advantage of. I thought about getting one since our fridge is 13 years old but...... then I thought of all the trips we've got to pay for and the fact that our fridge works fine and is not totally falling apart yet. So I skipped on that deal.

We've been talking about getting leather sofas for a few years now and it's getting close to time to replace ours. They are starting to look a little shabby and the filling in the pillows is all mushed up so they don't exactly sit right. But.... again. Our couches are still quite usable and we don't need new ones right this second so we will wait a bit more.

Now, we did get our passports today after talking about getting them for several years. That was worth it since the prices for those are going up on the 13th.

 

[MEM]

I tend to think of expenditures in "Disney terms", e.g. that pair of Crocs is only $15 but wait! that $15 would buy 4 Dole whips on our next vacation, etc., etc. That panini press (that I don't need) would cover one month of our DVC maintenance fees...

 

[MomToOne]

I find it alot easier to save money when I have a goal in mind, be it a trip, having enough free cash for the upcoming Christmas spending season, etc. Sounds like your old goals of saving for retirement, etc. are basically met (or on track) and you just need a new goal to shoot for!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Love the idea of thinking in terms of what we can use with that money at Disney

I'm in constant save mode so unless we really need something I don't even go shopping in stores or online. Yesterday, though I couldn't pass up the deal for the ll bean backpacks which my DD's needed anyway.

 

[eliza61]

Disappointed in myself and the usual motivators (save for retirement, pay off the car, etc) aren't doing it for me. What motivates you to not spend?

Budgeting for me is just like dieting. very hard to do long term.
First, I try not to beat myself up about it. If overall I've done well with not buying stuff I don't need and I'm saving etc etc. I'm not going to beat myself up because I brought a 30 pair of shorts.

So you've confessed your sins to us here maybe give yourself a new goal and start savings for that.

Also I do allow myself rewards. My a/c just broke so I've got a 6K bill. I've got the money in the bank but didn't use it because my poor savings took a hit with a new roof and a big IRS bill. I got one of those 6 months zero percent interest deals. So that's motivating me not to shop until thats paid off. I gave myself a challenge, if I pay it off in 4 months I'm treating myself to a surf and turf dinner.

Remember money isn't evil, if you buy yourself a new bag it's not the end of the world. You said you paid cash for it so no debt and you still saving for retirement. I really think you're doing pretty good.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Budgeting for me is just like dieting. very hard to do long term.
First, I try not to beat myself up about it. If overall I've done well with not buying stuff I don't need and I'm saving etc etc. I'm not going to beat myself up because I brought a 30 pair of shorts.

So you've confessed your sins to us here maybe give yourself a new goal and start savings for that.

Also I do allow myself rewards. My a/c just broke so I've got a 6K bill. I've got the money in the bank but didn't use it because my poor savings took a hit with a new roof and a big IRS bill. I got one of those 6 months zero percent interest deals. So that's motivating me not to shop until thats paid off. I gave myself a challenge, if I pay it off in 4 months I'm treating myself to a surf and turf dinner.

Remember money isn't evil, if you buy yourself a new bag it's not the end of the world. You said you paid cash for it so no debt and you still saving for retirement. I really think you're doing pretty good.

Don't forget about the $1,500 tax break for getting the A/C. We just had our A/C & furnace replaced in November.

 

[hinodis]

Well don't feel bad, I have been on an Ebay vera bradley spending spree myself. Sometime what helps me is to stay off the budget board. I can't resist a great deal!

 

[abmitch01]

I got addicted to getting those packages in the mail!

 

[thebigkahuna]

I don't know if this helps to "keep me on track" , but it does help with some of the unnecessary spending I'm prone to.

No matter what it is (and we are talking frivolous purchases, not food or gas or anything serious) I tell myself to wait. If it's something I really want, I will still want it tomorrow, or even later in the day.
Been doing it with the jeans I saw at the mall last Friday, and it's worked.
Saw them on lunch, liked them. Went back to work - told myself if I really felt the urge I could go after work. Never did.
Still haven't had the urge - and it's not like I *NEED* another pair of jeans.

For me, seeing an account balance grow higher (or seeing more dollars in a Disney bucket) is a WONDERFUL sense of satisfaction.

 

[PrncesKMW]

I don't know if this helps to "keep me on track" , but it does help with some of the unnecessary spending I'm prone to.

No matter what it is (and we are talking frivolous purchases, not food or gas or anything serious) I tell myself to wait. If it's something I really want, I will still want it tomorrow, or even later in the day.
Been doing it with the jeans I saw at the mall last Friday, and it's worked.
Saw them on lunch, liked them. Went back to work - told myself if I really felt the urge I could go after work. Never did.
Still haven't had the urge - and it's not like I *NEED* another pair of jeans.

For me, seeing an account balance grow higher (or seeing more dollars in a Disney bucket) is a WONDERFUL sense of satisfaction.

I couldn't agree more about waiting! And usually when I do that it motivates me to find coupons/deals - wanted a pair of Crocs so badly and someone finally listed value codes here

I agree with the other posters too - it helps to have a short term and long term goal in mind. Short term goal: pay off Disney vacay before the balance comes due August 10; long term goal: save enough to work part time someday

 

[QVCshopper]

When I go a little crazy with Vera Bradley or whatever treat it is, I try to make up that money on my other bills--like groceries or energy bills or gas. We have a lot of power with our money and lifestyle. What motivates me? Having a large balance in my mutual fund so I don't have to worry about retirement like my parents. My dad's company is downsizing and he's 65 w/o enough money to retire early before he's laid off. It's scary, and I don't want to be like them in that respect.

But, don't feel too bad. You need to treat yourself once in a while, and it sounds like you can afford a mini splurge now and then. (Like my $15 LL Bean cashmere sweaters (from $139) and $6 coudoroy pants (from $50) that I got this past weekend for my b-day). And, yes, I buy my own b-day and XMas presents--and my DH never complains. : )

 

[abmitch01]

I short term goal would be good, because those long term goals aren't motivating me, plus I'm already meeting them.

I want to save for Disney again but my kids are turning 13 and the other is 11 and I feel like they are getting too old to take them out of school. I did it this year because the off season is so much cheaper and less crowded but was sort of thinking we couldn't do that in say 2 yrs, when DS is in high school. Hmmm, I'll have to think of a really good short term goal.

 

[SunnieRN]

The older your children get, the more expensive their back to school clothes, birthday gifts and Christmas gifts become. What about saving for Christmas right now?