How do you fight expensive spending urges?

[Deleted]

Im fighting the urge to buy a new car.  I really need to wait until next March when I get my bonus.  But I can't stop thinking how nice it would be right now!!!  

Im trying to suppress the urge but it keeps popping in my mind.  Im trying to stop thinking about it!

[konapoppy]

My husband struggles with this (e.g., car sized urges), but I keep him grounded/say no. I am much more likely to blow $200 at a time on clothes etc, which can seriously add up. YNAB and monthly net worth calculations have helped us both.

For cars, at least wait until the end of the year- there are normally great deals

[imojoebunny]

We just keep shopping for them and looking for reasons not to buy. It is working a bit to well for us right now. I need a new car (mine is going away, and I will drive DH's, which is not really functional for my kid filled lifestyle.)

I really wanted a Mazda 5, but it failed the front crash test, so now I have to find something else I like.

If it is not better than what I have and/or exactly what I want, I don't buy it. This is for most everything. I had the Golden Girls sofa for 5 years until I had cash to buy a really nice leather one.

[ellipses84]

I just keep telling myself I just bought new tires and my car is running fine, so I should at least keep it until I need new tires again.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2015 22:06:42 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Where would the money come from? What other goals or enjoyable pursuits would you have to delay or cancel if you bought the car now?

I bought a new car last Nov because it was time, but the $$$ reliably coming out of my account every month kind of hurts if I think about it.

It would come out of money I could be saving every month.  Right now my vehicle is paid off and I think that's the only thing stopping me.  I don't have a car payment.  If I can hold off until March my car payment would be minimal.  Logically it totally makes sense.  I'm fighting the urge pretty good.  I want the urge to go away though!!

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2015 22:15:39 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

I just keep telling myself I just bought new tires and my car is running fine, so I should at least keep it until I need new tires again.

This is funny bc I just bought new tires today.  And I keep telling myself too to get to 100k miles (I've never done that before ever and I'm at 90k now)

[egeiger]

I shop online and never checkout. Build a few cars with perfect specs. Browse craigslist. Then, walk away.

[yentl]

Delaying the impulse helps so much for me. I find if I wait awhile, the urge fades considerably for most things. Also thinking of all the downsides vs. the positives. I also want a new car right now. But I'm basically lazy over all else, so I try to think about how much work goes into getting a new car and all the down sides vs "OH fun new car!" and that keeps me driving my beater for awhile longer.

[mbcdefg]

By not having any money, lol. 

[sfy]

Jun 3, 2015 6:59:15 GMT -5 egeiger said:

I shop online and never checkout. Build a few cars with perfect specs. Browse craigslist. Then, walk away.

I do this, too. So many full carts lol. If the urge is really bad and persistent, sometimes I treat myself to something cheaper. For example, new car, no. Detailing, yes.

[genet313]

Jun 2, 2015 22:12:02 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

We just keep shopping for them and looking for reasons not to buy. It is working a bit to well for us right now. I need a new car (mine is going away, and I will drive DH's, which is not really functional for my kid filled lifestyle.)

I really wanted a Mazda 5, but it failed the front crash test, so now I have to find something else I like.

If it is not better than what I have and/or exactly what I want, I don't buy it. This is for most everything. I had the Golden Girls sofa for 5 years until I had cash to buy a really nice leather one.

I really like this approach!  I'm going to start doing this.

[anna7602]

We think about stuff like this for a good, long time. Especially when it comes to something like a car or a new house, it requires (for us, at least) research and cost comparisons and figuring out what other expenses we would need to cut to make it happen.

If you can make a $20,000 impulse purchase without it affecting your bottom line, then more power to you!

[IrishBelle]

Jun 3, 2015 8:05:49 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jun 3, 2015 6:59:15 GMT -5 egeiger said:

I shop online and never checkout. Build a few cars with perfect specs. Browse craigslist. Then, walk away.

I do this, too. So many full carts lol. If the urge is really bad and persistent, sometimes I treat myself to something cheaper. For example, new car, no. Detailing, yes.

Yep, this. I'm a fantastic online window shopper.

[aspentosh]

I window shop A LOT. I put stuff in my cart, apply all the promo codes I can find, and usually it's more than I want/need to spend so I close the window.

I'm not into big splurges most of the time ($200+) so this works for me. H is the big money splurger, but we talk about our wants (i.e. new deck) and it usually puts a pause on his desires.

[sfy]

Jun 3, 2015 9:09:42 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

I window shop A LOT. I put stuff in my cart, apply all the promo codes I can find, and usually it's more than I want/need to spend so I close the window.

I'm not into big splurges most of the time ($200+) so this works for me. H is the big money splurger, but we talk about our wants (i.e. new deck) and it usually puts a pause on his desires.

Same, but I leave the tabs open and just move on lol.

I haven't seen you in forever-- hi !

[aspentosh]

Jun 3, 2015 9:13:06 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jun 3, 2015 9:09:42 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

I window shop A LOT. I put stuff in my cart, apply all the promo codes I can find, and usually it's more than I want/need to spend so I close the window.

I'm not into big splurges most of the time ($200+) so this works for me. H is the big money splurger, but we talk about our wants (i.e. new deck) and it usually puts a pause on his desires.

Same, but I leave the tabs open and just move on lol.

I haven't seen you in forever-- hi !

Hi! I was reading about your "GBCN" earlier and so glad it was just a name change. I'm usually on MM Moms. I'm a one trick pony!

[soso]

I think about the tradeoffs... and I like to delay until I cannot - kwim? Then I know it's the right time.

Plus, if I pull the trigger too soon, then I have nothing to look forward to. I have limited opportunities for large splurges so I like to delay delay delay!

[SJ]

I just stall DH as long as possible. He's the one who gets expensive urges. Right now he's obsessed with buying some $$$$$ pinball machine.

I can hardly think of something we need less.