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[alexseanchai]

Dead comm is dead. *pokes at it*

Hi, I'm Ellie, and I have problems with buying things on impulse. This may be related to my thousands of dollars in credit card debt. I have a full-time job which, after monthly expenses, gives me four hundred a month to pay down credit card debt with. Somehow the debt keeps not going down. Does anyone have suggestions for ways to convince myself I don't actually need any of the books and probably don't need any of the crafting supplies I buy?

Comments

[vass]

Kareila is right about the merits of compulsive wishlist-keeping. I have a Delicious tag called 'shopping' in which I bookmark everything have a passing urge to buy, as a surrogate for actually buying it. When I have the money and want to splurge, or when someone asks me "what do you want for your birthday?" I then consult the shopping tag and see what still appeals to me and is within the budget. I also keep a wishlist at the Book Depository.

What also helps me is to think of it as a fun challenge, not deprivation. I like to see just how cheaply I can get something. For instance, if I want a book, first I check the online catalogue at the two nearest library systems, then friends and family who could loan it to me, and if they don't have it I'll compare AbeBooks and the Book Depository and see which one has it cheaper, including shipping.

For CDs and DVDs, if the library doesn't have them, online is usually cheaper than brick and mortar stores, so I just don't browse in brick and mortar stores any more.

For craft supplies, how's your stash? Could you work on trying to use it up before you buy anything more? Or if that's too hard, make a rule that for every new project you buy, you have to complete two existing projects?

[alexseanchai]

I don't have existing projects as such. I do jewelry, and if I put the project down before I'm finished, all the beads slip off the cord or the pin or whatever and then it's all to do again and also there are beads underfoot and I'll never find them all. My stash is fairly substantial but it never seems substantial enough.

Ooh, challenge to see how cheaply something can be gotten. I like that idea.