I used to overspend on books, music and DVDs, until I quit my job and had to live on a strict budget. This is what helped me curb my habits:
Books - borrow from my local library if they have what I want. If not, request it from paperbackswap.com or look for a used copy locally. Only buy new for certain new releases. Look for discounted or free (non-pirated) ebooks. Read a certain number of books before allowing myself to buy another one.
Music - shop the daily and monthly deals on amazon's MP3 store - often they have albums I want for $5 or less. iTunes has 90 second song previews, NPR.org streams whole albums before their release date, and I just signed up for Spotify which also lets me stream whole albums.
DVDs - again, local library and Netflix - I hardly ever buy DVDs any more.
I am also a compulsive wish-lister. It's cheaper than being a compulsive buyer! Every month or so I will buy $25 worth of stuff for myself from my wish list (that's the amount for free shipping from amazon). If something stays on the list for over a year without me buying it for myself, I probably didn't want it that much!
Cutting back on crafting supplies is harder if you're an active crafter. I spent a lot of money a couple of years ago on knitting supplies when I was learning to knit, and the year before that I spent a lot on jewelry supplies when I taught myself to make necklaces, and in both cases I kind of built a stash and then was able to stop buying everything that looked shiny (because I knew I had nowhere to put it!) Now I try not to go in craft stores at all unless I need something specific for a project, and I always make sure I have a 40% or 50% off coupon - all the big box craft stores put these out regularly.
no subject
Books - borrow from my local library if they have what I want. If not, request it from paperbackswap.com or look for a used copy locally. Only buy new for certain new releases. Look for discounted or free (non-pirated) ebooks. Read a certain number of books before allowing myself to buy another one.
Music - shop the daily and monthly deals on amazon's MP3 store - often they have albums I want for $5 or less. iTunes has 90 second song previews, NPR.org streams whole albums before their release date, and I just signed up for Spotify which also lets me stream whole albums.
DVDs - again, local library and Netflix - I hardly ever buy DVDs any more.
I am also a compulsive wish-lister. It's cheaper than being a compulsive buyer! Every month or so I will buy $25 worth of stuff for myself from my wish list (that's the amount for free shipping from amazon). If something stays on the list for over a year without me buying it for myself, I probably didn't want it that much!
Cutting back on crafting supplies is harder if you're an active crafter. I spent a lot of money a couple of years ago on knitting supplies when I was learning to knit, and the year before that I spent a lot on jewelry supplies when I taught myself to make necklaces, and in both cases I kind of built a stash and then was able to stop buying everything that looked shiny (because I knew I had nowhere to put it!) Now I try not to go in craft stores at all unless I need something specific for a project, and I always make sure I have a 40% or 50% off coupon - all the big box craft stores put these out regularly.
Hope that helps!