Comments for SelfHelpMe http://selfhelpme.net Making Life Awesome One Overpriced Book at a Time Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:07:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on How to Overcome An Obsession with Consumerism by beentherebefore http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/08/how-to-overcome-an-obsession-with-consumerism/#comment-174 beentherebefore Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:34:31 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-174 Some time ago I had been through an extended prior compulsive spending period. Luckily it was mostly smallish ticket items, but it did all add up to several maxed out credit cards. One then has to carry the burden of a guilt complex about on your shoulders, and one day I just decided to do something about it. I MADE MY OWN PLAN OF ACTION, a goal to work to. No more credit card spending until it was all paid off, no matter how long it took. I became obsessive about it. I surprised myself by reaching my goal in only 18 months, and it was fun and satisfying. Think yourself lucky, todays lifestyles are full of every type of temptation and pitfall, you could have been an alcoholic, a gambling addict, a drug addict a vagrant sleeping on a park bench, or a criminal locked up in jail. So tell yourself things could be a lot worse, and there is still hope for you, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is bit like giving up smoking or any other vice or compulsion, only you can decide to fix it. AA has a plan of action, so you must have a plan or goal. Most of us love to respond to a challenge or a goal. I use various tactics now! I have amassed some money, in the bank and a cash stash. Always keep track of your stash, like Scrooge, it helps. I pay cash for everything (no credit cards). Temptation to spend then makes you feel guilty and makes you resistant to digging into and reducing your cash stash. If you do feel the urge to splurge/spend, adopt some strategies to keep it under control. Why not defer any large ticket purchases for say six months. This gives you an anticipation and something to look forward too. It also slows your spending rate, and gives time to save up so you can pay cash. Or, defer the purchase until you have saved say 120% of the money, so that the extra 20% goes into you cash stash (not to be used). As you cash stash grows it will give you pride and more motivation. If you have do splurge occasionally, why not restrict youself to some small ticket items. this satisfies the urge to spend and limits the financial damage, even if you buy absolute junk. A PLAN OF ACTION IS THE KEY! Some time ago I had been through an extended prior compulsive spending period. Luckily it was mostly smallish ticket items, but it did all add up to several maxed out credit cards.
One then has to carry the burden of a guilt complex about on your shoulders, and one day I just decided to do something about it.
I MADE MY OWN PLAN OF ACTION, a goal to work to. No more credit card spending until it was all paid off, no matter how long it took. I became obsessive about it.
I surprised myself by reaching my goal in only 18 months, and it was fun and satisfying.

Think yourself lucky, todays lifestyles are full of every type of temptation and pitfall, you could have been an alcoholic, a gambling addict, a drug addict a vagrant sleeping on a park bench, or a criminal locked up in jail.
So tell yourself things could be a lot worse, and there is still hope for you, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It is bit like giving up smoking or any other vice or compulsion, only you can decide to fix it.
AA has a plan of action, so you must have a plan or goal.
Most of us love to respond to a challenge or a goal.

I use various tactics now!
I have amassed some money, in the bank and a cash stash.
Always keep track of your stash, like Scrooge, it helps.
I pay cash for everything (no credit cards).
Temptation to spend then makes you feel guilty and makes you resistant to digging into and reducing your cash stash.

If you do feel the urge to splurge/spend, adopt some strategies to keep it under control.
Why not defer any large ticket purchases for say six months.
This gives you an anticipation and something to look forward too. It also slows your spending rate, and gives time to save up so you can pay cash.
Or, defer the purchase until you have saved say 120% of the money, so that the extra 20% goes into you cash stash (not to be used). As you cash stash grows it will give you pride and more motivation.
If you have do splurge occasionally, why not restrict youself to some small ticket items. this satisfies the urge to spend and limits the financial damage, even if you buy absolute junk.

A PLAN OF ACTION IS THE KEY!

]]> Comment on How to Overcome An Obsession with Consumerism by neonfoxtongue http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/08/how-to-overcome-an-obsession-with-consumerism/#comment-168 neonfoxtongue Fri, 16 May 2008 12:15:42 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-168 I'm generally responsible with money, but art and craft supplies (including books) are definitely my weakness. I’m generally responsible with money, but art and craft supplies (including books) are definitely my weakness.

]]> Comment on How To Manage Your Professional Persona by Nicole http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/30/how-to-manage-your-professional-persona/#comment-157 Nicole Thu, 01 May 2008 17:03:37 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=53#comment-157 you should write a self-help book srsly you should write a self-help book

srsly

]]> Comment on How to Inspire Yourself by stephanerd http://selfhelpme.net/2008/03/25/how-to-inspire-yourself/#comment-154 stephanerd Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:21:23 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-154 Lori: I believe we all deserve such lofty titles. And no prob -- I love the blog! Lori: I believe we all deserve such lofty titles. And no prob — I love the blog!

]]> Comment on About Moi by Lori http://selfhelpme.net/about/#comment-150 Lori Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:29:42 +0000 #comment-150 I also love 80s dance movies! :^D I also love 80s dance movies! :^D

]]> Comment on How to Inspire Yourself by Lori http://selfhelpme.net/2008/03/25/how-to-inspire-yourself/#comment-149 Lori Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:27:30 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-149 lol - The Blog Master?! - i love it - thanks so much for the link love and the cool new title - i would put it on my business cards if i had any! :^) lol - The Blog Master?! - i love it - thanks so much for the link love and the cool new title - i would put it on my business cards if i had any! :^)

]]> Comment on How to Achieve Self-Enlightenment by hoolybop710 http://selfhelpme.net/2007/11/21/how-to-achieve-self-enlightenment/#comment-148 hoolybop710 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:42:20 +0000 http://selfhelpme.net/2007/11/21/how-to-achieve-self-enlightenment/#comment-148 Lately I have been trying to find any kind of information for my project, but unsuccessfully. Now it seems like I finally found a lot. This is the greatest site among all internet-sources. Lately I have been trying to find any kind of information for my project, but unsuccessfully. Now it seems like I finally found a lot. This is the greatest site among all internet-sources.

]]> Comment on How to Overcome An Obsession with Consumerism by BDO http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/08/how-to-overcome-an-obsession-with-consumerism/#comment-147 BDO Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:35:19 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-147 Nice Pic. Consider posting on: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beatingdebt . Nice Pic. Consider posting on: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beatingdebt .

]]> Comment on How to Overcome An Obsession with Consumerism by The Psychology of Spending « Rook’s Money Blog http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/08/how-to-overcome-an-obsession-with-consumerism/#comment-146 The Psychology of Spending « Rook’s Money Blog Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:59:26 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-146 [...] saw stephanerd’s blog post about her trouble dealing with her overspending and it brings to light an issue in how consumers - at least US consumers - view spending [...] [...] saw stephanerd’s blog post about her trouble dealing with her overspending and it brings to light an issue in how consumers - at least US consumers - view spending [...]

]]> Comment on How to Overcome An Obsession with Consumerism by rook http://selfhelpme.net/2008/04/08/how-to-overcome-an-obsession-with-consumerism/#comment-145 rook Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:38:42 +0000 http://selfhelpme.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-145 One thing that always works for me is tracking my net worth; now, wait, hear me out. The idea is that if once a month you track your net worth (not counting your primary residence), you will start to think twice before buying consumables. The question is, "will this purchase make me richer or poorer". Of course an expert rationalizer can get past this, so the point of the 'tracking" exercise is to put it down in writing. There are web sites where people track their net worth online, and it can be shocking. You will put in your age and salary, and you will see others who earn the same as you, same age as you and have a million dollars in the bank. One thing that always works for me is tracking my net worth; now, wait, hear me out. The idea is that if once a month you track your net worth (not counting your primary residence), you will start to think twice before buying consumables. The question is, “will this purchase make me richer or poorer”. Of course an expert rationalizer can get past this, so the point of the ‘tracking” exercise is to put it down in writing. There are web sites where people track their net worth online, and it can be shocking. You will put in your age and salary, and you will see others who earn the same as you, same age as you and have a million dollars in the bank.

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