But when I graduated I had 17000 in credit card debts and a job that paid $35,000. It was soooo annoying to see all that debt and have to take money from “the now” to pay the past. That’s when I realized that credit card debt is a loan from the future, and that the “fun” of buying now will be completely over when the bill comes in the future. It’s kinda like getting totally drunk when I was young — fun at the time, but hated the hangover the next day.

So I budgeted like crazy by figuring out how much of each paycheck I needed to put on the card each week while still having money for normal expenses. And I paid off that debt in just over a year. That year of sacrifice changed me. Even after paying off the debt and getting a job that doubled my income, I still budget religiously. I found the key is to give yourself a weekly spending budget that allows you to live comfortably but doesn’t make it seem like you’re counting pennies (that’s torture), and the budget must include an element for savings (saving makes you feel good). Then you can still “live life” but you stay within the budget. Each night I record in a spreadsheet what I spent, subtracting from my budgeted max for the week. When I come under the budget by the end of the week, I actually feel rewarded — “Wow, I saved $100!”. But if I blow the budget, I feel bad. In that case, I take the excess and subtract it from the next week’s budget as a penalty to myself. But usually I’m under budget — at the end of the month I transfer that money to another account for savings only. This works.

If you still feel like you really want it, why don’t you opt to try and sell your Xperia for a good price, then look for a used, good condition iPhone 3GS?

Personally I don’t think you’re missing out on the iPhone. If anything, you can put your mindframe into waiting for the next edition or the next “must-have” smartphone (e.g., the real Google phone).

ex. budget (checked and can afford or will hustle to afford)
significance (don’t know yet)

i have an xperia X1i just bought it last april and I am craving to get that new iphone 3GS….waaaaaaaaaa….i really don’t know man….having second thought thou…help help help….

It also helps to picture the thing you think you want through its whole life cycle–including going out your door in a box to Goodwill, into the trash, or whatever. It can help you disconnect from the “I must have it now” to mentally say goodbye to it while picturing it worn out or used up when you won’t want it anymore.

As far as this article goes – great.

I haven’t read any of the above comments, so I don’t know if this has been mentioned or not…but another HUGE reason for impulse buying and ‘crap buying’ in general can be emotional stress. I know I personally ‘reward’ myself when I’ve had a particularly trying day, week, month…hour, half of a day, etc.

What ends up happening is that I completely say ‘screw you’ to my budget and am bent on feeling some sort of emotional satisfaction from purchasing something I want. And because I do this often, I never have the money to purchase really nice things that I want like an Xbox 360, a weight bench, or even to get cable in my bedroom. I end up buying absolute crap like an old PS2 video game I wanted 3 years ago and find out that meh, I don’t really like it anymore. Or I’ll buy food. Food, food, food. For myself. For others. For stray dogs. Seriously, I spend more money on food than ANYTHING else outside of scheduled budget expenses. A round of cream sodas here. Let’s go out to Olive Garden or the chinese food buffet…ON ME!

These outings and stupid purchases might provide a bit of instant mood lifting, but when I sit down to my Excel sheet titled ‘Budget’….I’m sick and stressed out all over again.

It’s a never ending cycle. And today with so much in life to cause gray hairs, its so easy to fall into this buying crap to feel better mindset.

I don’t really have any advice for it…since I’m suffering from it myself. So maybe you can touch on it one day, Cap?

Be well, everyone. And I wish you all better luck with your budgets than I have.

“Many Americans have not seen outside world. Where people are dying for the want of water. Families go without food – for one day, two days, three days, four days, 1 week…and then the mother let the 3 year old baby die – just like that! The baby who was dearest to her…dies…Next time you want to supersize that burger, splurge on that Prada, call for digital plan, go to French Riviera or buy that “rock” – look that this picture.”

I’m not sure how our buying crap is even tangentially related to lack of good water in 3rd World countries. In fact, I would say that the very reason that formerly dirt-poor countries like China and India are just now getting their heads above water, and even becoming huge Big Emerging Markets, is because we buy crap, and lots of it – which they make.

In my personal experience and education, it seems like most countries that experience true deprivation have seriously corrupt officials who a) divert any profits to their own wallets, and/or b) steal foreign aid and then sell it off to their own poor. Oh, and btw I’m one of those Americans who did leave America for the 3rd World, and has seen this first-hand, to great frustration and anger at people who inexplicably think riches are more important than the lives of people. So I get your anger, but I think if you are going to be angry at anyone, look to your own government before looking across the ocean.

So I guess the method is – don’t go to the store – find another way to spend your time.

(1.) Get rid of the crap you already own, i.e., old clothes, nick-nacks, etc. (get receipts from donating for tax puroposes).
*This is very liberating and frees-up space in your home.

(2.) Budget, budget, budget…(did I say budget?)
*This is hard to do at first, because it will open your eyes to how much you’re REALLY spending (Ouch!!), but it is critical to gaining control.

(3.)Use CASH FOR MOST OF YOUR PURCHASES.
*This rule alone will save you a bunch of money. You’ll think twice before buying that gizmo, doodad or soon to be out of style clothing item if you have to lay out cash! (ever wonder why casinos use chips instead of cash!!??)
(4.) Eat out less.
*Steak dinner for two: out ($75.00 and up)
*Steak dinner for two: home ($25.00 avge.)
Nuff said

THINK ABOUT THIS:

THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD REALLY MATTER TO US don’t give a crap if we drive a Mercedes, Hummer, or Corvette–or wear the newest/expensive styles in clothing!!!

HERE’S THE KICKER:

THE PEOPLE THAT DO CARE (prioritize) WHAT KIND OF “STUFF” WE OWN AND WEAR SHOULD BE AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE ANYWAY, RIGHT!!?? THESE ARE SHALLOW FOLKS, KIDS.

DOC