How do you stop spending money?? Like I swear, I’m buying something every day. How do I train myself to be more mindful and frugal?
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Budget essentials and fun money if available, also cary a little pad of paper and write down every time you spend .
If their is no fun money, then no extras!
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My bank has the option to lock/unlock the debit card attached to the account with no fees or holds. If you go in and lock it, you have to make a conscious effort to go online and unlock the card if your shopping online or in store. If you can do that, use those extra steps to decide if it’s a want, need, or just because your bored.
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Write down every expense! It will really open your eyes on the stupid stuff you buy. Give yourself an allowance. Only pay with cash.
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Get rid of debit/credit cards so you HAVE to pay cash. We’re less likely to spend when we have to actually spend cash. Cause we see it leaving and can’t spend what we dont have.
Send part of your pay check to a savings account or if you have 401k put more in it
Don’t go to places when you don’t need things.
Treat your self once a week. Set a price limit.
Do up your budget pay your bills then take out what you feel is necessary in cash and forget the debit card. If you have $1000 cash then just keep a $100 or $200 on you. Im much less likely to spend when i physically see the money disappear.
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Ask yourself if you really need it, don’t buy “wants” only buy what you need
Work on holding yourself accountable for your spending. Don’t make any impulse buys. After 24 hours, a lot of things you want to buy have left your mind. Set money aside for buying stuff. When it’s gone, then you’re done buying for the month. Also put $1 in savings for every $1 you spend
I used to be like that when we made more money but now we can only get necessities. It’s not hard when you’re broke lol I just only think about what I have to have.
Carry cash only and leave your bank card at home. Figure out exactly what you need to buy and only bring that much money.
My husband and I have separate accounts for different things. We have a bill account (every bill is auto drafted out of it) savings (for emergencies) and our checking. The only account that has a debit card is our checking. We don’t transfer money between accounts. Specific amounts are deposited into our different accounts every week. Our checking is our “fun money” - dinning out, meaningless target trips, coffee. The only time we use a credit card is to pay for something online and that gets automatically transferred into the bill account. Once the checking is empty we’ve had our “fun” for the week.
Make a budget for a week or month and don’t go over it unless it’s an emergency.Before buying something,ask yourself if it’s a need or a want, stick only to the needs.
Plan one day to shop. Make a list and plan meals. I shop once a month for essentials such laundry soap, body wash etc. Grocery shop once a week. Meal plan.
I’m the same Im literally the person that spends it till it’s gone don’t get me wrong pay my bills cupboards full but with what’s left over I’m like o what can I buy it’s hard to cut it out I’m slowly getting better lol it’s just will power I make myself just go home 
Well maybe start donating to those in need maybe if you shop with that in mind it might make you feel better for shopping 
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-If your bank has this feature, print a picture of something you’re saving for on your debit card.
-Definitely remove your cards grom online shopping platforms. It can make you think twice about spending when you have to go through multiple steps to make a purchase.
-Make a list of what you need and take enough cash to the store to get that, but no more. You can’t overspend if you don’t have the money!
-Create a “zero-based” budget that incorporates savings and a little splurge money, as well as all your bills and regular expenses. That way you know how much play money you have to spend; then when it’s gone, it’s gone!
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I make an oath to buy nothing unless it is absolutely needed. I do that for a period in time. One month for example. Pretend you don’t have an income. How would you live. Amazing how much you will save
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Not sure if anyone mentioned using envelopes- for gas, groceries, kids lunch money, utilities, restaurant, etc. when your gas envelope is empty then no unnecessary trips(especially to the store for one gallon of milk). When your grocery envelope is empty you cook something you already have, etc. All money left in envelope at the end of your pay period goes to vacation fund or clothing fund
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Before I buy anything or put anything in my cart or hands I ask myself ’ look Jess do you really need this or is this a want?’ If its a want then I won’t buy it. Or only use the money you have in your wallet not the card.
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Use cash whenever possible, make and stick to a list at stores. Coupons and buy what’s on sale but only if you truly need it. It’s hard but give yourself a goal. A vacation, new outfit or something you can not afford right now. See how much you can save each week. If you’re married or living with a partner, get them on board too. Hard but totally worth it it.
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Ask yourself before you buy anything is this a want or a need. If it’s a want skip it force yourself to skip it.
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Someone told me many, many years ago that if you want to buy something, wait three days. Most of the time, I have forgotten about it altogether and probably never think about it again. If I haven’t forgotten it, do I really have the money for that, do I have the space for that, do I have enough of those, will I like it as much next week? By next week we will have wondered why we were so enamored with it. That really does work.
Only use cash. Seeing the money makes you think
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I used to be the same way and finally I came up with a plan that worked for me. I went from payday to payday and spent as little as possible on food, gas anything controllable. When I got paid again, whatever amount of money I had left from the previous paycheck got split, half into my savings account and half to treat myself for having money leftover. After a while I developed the habit of being frugal tp the point that I don’t even think about just blowing money because I have it any more.
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I pay all bills annually not on auto pay. I save thru the year for 13 months of services and write the checks on January 1 st for everything. Grow our produce on our 1/4 acre vegetable garden, shop in 3 month intervals for all meats, chickens, fish and dry goods. I could literally stay in my home for 4 months with my family and not need anything but milk ( as I don’t have a cow) but raise chickens. It’s a lifestyle that you create. Going to the stores makes for unwanted purchases. Fast food is a draw that is hard to break so meal plan for those lazy days you don’t want to cook. Freeze and can as much as reasonable. Good luck
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A few years ago about this time i decided that in January i would not go anywhere or spend any money on Sunday…but i did say if it involved family i would and i have done this ever since…its a small start…food is a necessity but try not shopping when hungry that way you wont binge buy or buy snack foods…clothing is where i fail but this coming year it will be a need or want decision…good luck
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Right absolutely everything you spend down, make a budget, use cash as much as possible. I personally used the envelope budget when I was younger now I don’t have to use envelopes anymore, I just mentally know how much I can spend each week. I still do monthly budget to make sure I’m on track.
I’m getting ready to get prepaid cards for my kids to help them learn to budget. My oldest said it would even work in the snack machines at school so I wouldn’t have to have change for her daily.
I have learned to budget each month. Like I was able to treat my family with a vacation this past summer cause I stuck to it. I didn’t buy of I didn’t need it. Bought only what was needed. I also bought a new car. I saved what was on my card and used cash when needed. Put some in savings. I also learned that the more I was saving by shopping for groceries was going to places that had sales and coupons. It is almost like shopping for your kids. Little ones tend to grow so fast. Find where you will get quality sales and coupons for. I noticed that when I was shopping for my kiddos. A lot of different places were having great buys for my kiddo’s. Like take children’s place they had a 2 for $8 sale on tops and pants back in September I took advantage of that for my youngest cause she grows so fast and the quality of the clothes are awesome for the length of time she wears them which is usually 6 months. Then at the outlets there was a new balance outlet and they had shoes in sale for $20 to $40 dollars shoes. I said yup I will do that. I ended up spending at that store $80 for 4 pairs of shoes. My family of 4 needed sneakers. So I was like that’s right. I also shop at the dollar tree for things like some foods and some household stuff like cleaners cooking spoons. I also get my shampoo body wash make up and glasses for the kitchen kitchen towels at the dollar tree. I don’t like spending big especially since I love to budget even if I have more money to count for it’s worth it in the end
Use cash. Freeze debit/credit cards in water. Only way to use them is to wait for them to thaw. Log every dollar spent.
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I constantly tell myself and others that I’m broke so that they don’t try to convince me to buy stuff and so that I can keep in mind that I don’t have loads of money to spend…even if I’m not actually broke - just budgeting money. I’ve never made a budget. But if you convince yourself YOU NEVER want your bank account below $500 and then the next month $600 and so on, you save around $100 a month and it adds up!
Only go to the store when you need something.No window shopping.
Every time you go to buy something ask yourself, do I NEED it or just want it.
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Stop eating out, budget your gas, food. Use Ibotta and coupon for things you typically buy already. set up a by item for savings. Like, set up envelopes for future car payment, home repair, vacation, vet bills, etc. put a set amount away in an envelope each month, seal it and put it in a lock box.
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I use cash the biggest part of the time. If I see something I think I’d like, I’d think about it for a while & if I still want it, I get it. Beats getting it & realizing that you really don’t care for it down the road.
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All these are good suggestions but I’ll add one that hasn’t been mentioned. Clothing is usually a large part of a woman’s budget. Learn to mix and match your clothes. Don’t buy anything that you can’t wear with something you already have—don’t buy something just because it’s cute! Also look at the long-term wear you will get out of it. Everyone wants to be trendy but save trendy for accessories. Buy quality, not quantity. If you have things in your closet that no longer fit take them to the resale shop or list them online, or donate them to charity. Have a budget for clothes and stick to it.
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Ask yourself do i need it or do i want it if it a want then no you are not going to. Buy it if it is a need food wise. How bad if can do with out then do without
Use cash instead of a card. Its harder to let go. Check out Dave Ramsey’s books it is very helpful, and makes you become aware of ways to save
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i am just as bad ::: I try to leave the money in the bank ::: but the only way i don’t spend ::Is to just stay home ::: for the whole day :: save my dollar that way ::: it is real hard not to go spend a buck here and there ::It is hard for me for sure.
When you start to believe there’s an end and you won’t get it back that worked for me… I could have millions and still fear the day it’s gone and that alone prevents me from overspending I’m very frugal
Start writing everything down on a note pad as your buying everything even tips, at the end of the week look at the list and see what you could have skipped buying, and take that amount and times it by 52 and think what you could have bought! A vacation, a boat. Car payment??
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I just think about how I would feel to be broke again and don’t want to be that way again. That helps me to not overly spend.
Yes. Use cash no debit or credit card. You lose track of how much money you have spent. Not the same as taking cash out of your purse!!
I have jumped on the minimalist train. Im getting rid of thi gs a d organization . It really makes me want to nit buy a lot if stuff.
I guess it depends what you’re buying.
Look at money spent as time… how long does it take to earn that $100 dollar item is it worth the time it took to earn it ?
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I always think to myself “what’s more important, this item, or a future bill?”
Stay off buying sites until you have a list.
Before buying anything price it from at least 5 locations to compare.
I think about how hard I worked for the money and decide if I really need/want it…9 out of 10 times it’s a NO…
Cut up cards and pay for everything in cash. If you don’t have the cash, you can’t buy it.
Learning the difference between want and need
Budget. Only carry so much cash and leave the cc and debit card home.
Hide your access to money so you can’t charge or spend. Break the habit!
Work more. The more time at work the less time to spend 
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Its called discipline!
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Stop spending. Are you a grown ass adult? Just stop
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Go to the library and check out Dave Ramsey’s financial piece University I guarantee you they have it if not you can look it up online the basic budget and things like that for free the baby steps that you have to do it’s awesome
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Look into taking a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace course.
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I had to teach myself to sit down every week and do a budget. I opened a separate bank account for both my spending money and my savings. I put my bill money in one account, savings in an account and spending in a 3rd account.
I never touch my savings account, I don’t have an ATM card for that account, I have to physically go to the bank to get money from it ( gives me time to talk myself out of touching it).
My bills are all pulled from my 1st account and I don’t ever spend any money from that account on anything but bills.
My last account is the total amount of extra money I’m allowing myself to spend. I buy my groceries and fill my gas tank first then anything left is for extra spending, dinner out, online shopping, gifts etc… once that money is gone, I have to wait until payday to have more, so I spend wisely.
I have found that if I make coffee at home and take it in a to go cup with me I save almost $6 a day just in coffee! Packing your lunch for work can save you close to $10 a day! I always cook just 2 servings extra for dinner, I make a to go plate for both myself and my husband, we use those plates the next day for our lunches… no prep time before work! Just grab and go! I save almost $80 just being frugal and making coffee and lunches at home!
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Do not take money with you .
You can give me the money lol
Back to basic accounting. Sit down with your bills and debts!!! Make a list of how much is due and when! Get a shoebox with envelopes and start organizing your receipts for items daily! Get a notebook and write down monthly categories of expenditures! After you get set up give yourself2 months to view lifestyle patterns and costs. But the quickest way to find more money is stay away from convenient store coffees or grab and goes!
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Allow yourself a cash amount weekly and stop using your debit or credit cards. Only purchase what you have enough cash to cover.
Start by fixing up some of the things you have…most of us have more than we need or even use…perhaps before you buy anything new, you sell something you already have. AND DEFINITELY CREATE A BUDGET. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is a great class…not only does it help you budget and save…giving is part of it as well…they use an envelope system: we have an envelope for groceries, one for gas, one for restaurants and ‘blow.’ The ‘blow fund’ is the amount you are allowed to spend on impulse purchases. It is also suggested that you have an envelope for clothing. Hope this helps.
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Cold Turkey . Throw away those catalogs that come in the mail . Don’t open emails for offers and don’t go to stores except grocery shopping. That’s how I did it . Also put your credit cards away .
Give yourself an allowance for the week
Just don’t do it. Don’t buy sh-t you don’t need and don’t buy stuff you do need but can’t afford. When you are considering buying anything, consider what it cost and how long you have to work to make that much money. Then ask yourself, “are these shoes really worth xxx days, weeks, months (whatever) of my life”?
Use the 10-20-70 method.
10% of your check goes to charity
20% of your check goes to a savings account for you to invest
70% is what you use to live.
Wise words from wife’s grandfather who became very wealthy using this method.
Get busy doing something
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Great question and great advice
Read Dave Ramsey’s book TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER. It will change your life.
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it’s a mental thing . Keep asking yourself do I really need this or can I live without it . Having a financial goal as to where you would want to put that money towards instead. humble yourself and don’t compare yourself to others . Once I started doing that I understood you can never keep up with the Jones.
As far as being more frugal thift store or hand me downs my fave or even some mom group offer free items . Someone old trash is someone new treasure. Goodluck
I always have the mindset of do I really need this or is it a want. Make a list of needs like utilities morgage or rent water bill food then make choices according to that.
Make a budget and put cash into envelopes for each item on the budget each week. Only use the money in the envelope for what it is labeled for. No borrowing from one envelope for something in another category. Once the envelope is empty for an item you go without until it is filled again. Pay with cash as much as possible. Credit cards are for emergency purposes only. Should strive to have one envelope with at least $1,000 cash for emergencies. No buying on credit.