Practical advice needed

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Hello escapists its me Dr.poisonfreak, haven't made a thread in a few weeks but i desperately need help so i figure what better place to ask than the escapist?.

I work part time in a retail store near where i live, and as such only make about £600 a month (about$750 i think ).
Anyway, i got paid last Thursday (the 28th Oct) and am now down to about £90.

I am just curious if you escapists can offer me any practical advice? every time i have money it seems to burn a hole in my pocket.

So yeah any spend curbing tips would be very helpful.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Not much info. What do you spend the money on?

 

[Blackadder51]

Make a budget

 

[Jedoro]

Get groceries instead of eating at restaurants, and only buy something after two weeks have passed since you first decided to get it. That cuts out a lot of unnecessary buying.

 

[ottenni]

If you drink or smoke, cut down on them.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Look online and find a good local bank, and set up an account. If really necessary, establish one with a chequing account and/or Debit Card.

 

[The_Healer]

When you get paid, place your money in a giant pit of used syringes.

Good way to discourage impulsive spending.

 

[firedfns13]

Get groceries instead of eating at restaurants, and only buy something after two weeks have passed since you first decided to get it. That cuts out a lot of unnecessary buying.

Only buy things 2 months after wanting them...
or am i just really stingy?

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Not much info. What do you spend the money on?

Absolutely sod all, crap mostly, although this month it was engagement ring a holiday and new mp3 player that only came to £210 so 300 has gone somewhere

 

[wildpeaks]

The lack of girlfriend/boyfriend also help save a ton of money.

 

[Flishiz]

Spend on things you know will last you. If it's games, go for the behemoths of RPGs like Fallout, since it can be extended limitlessly with free mods.

If you drive, try and cut back on it. I hear paying for gas is a ***** in Europe.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Stop spending money.

That's all there is to it. What helps to make yourself stop, is to put a lot of it aside on a savings account when you get your wage. Every time I get paid I dump about 50% of my wage on my savings account and keep the rest for spending. If you make sure you don't have access to the cash, you can't spend it.

 

[Inverse Skies]

I know the feeling, rent burns through what I earn like nothing else. You've just got to be really careful, only buy necessary groceries and whatever if you need to save some cash. It's about being diligent with your money... and it's hard to do I know.

 

[UnravThreads]

I recently got my first "proper" paycheck too, last month. About £360 once tax was deducted (tax I must get back, actually). £200 I had to give to my mum in rent/stuff I owed, had to get some christmas presents, and God knows where the rest is.

Think I have £30 left I do know what it's like though, as soon as you get money it sometimes feels like you just have to spend it. You'll get that game you wanted, then that book, then that boxset, then you'll treat yourself to a McDonalds, then you'll go out for a night, and before you know it, bank balance = £0.27

 

[inglioti]

i'm a student currently at university with a part time job. i've set up a netbanking account, so as soon as i get paid (i get it transferred into my account) i move it immediately into a linked account with more interest.

when i need money, i move it into my keycard/debit card account. by moving small amounts at a time - $20 etc - you seem to keep track a lot better.

it worked until i took out $300 to spend at the casino on friday though. but otherwise, it's been pretty good.

 

[Jaythulhu]

I got a second bank account that has no card, phone or web access. The day before my monthly payday, I make a "per week" budget (including an allowance for fun/wasting). Any difference between what I have to outlay to cover my budget and the total I got paid gets put in to that bank account. If I want to spend it, I have to go in to the bank and make a withdrawl.

Has helped me save a bit of cash and get past my wastrel ways.

 

[sms_117b]

Open multiple accounts and have the money automatically transfer into them on pay day, or get online banking and move the money into the various accounts yourself, helps it last a little bit longer.

 

[tk1989]

A study proved that if you watch a funny show, such as peep show or friends, before you go out shopping then you are less likely to spend money. It puts you in a happier state of mind and it helps curb spending habits!

So my advice, watch Peep Show!

 

[ma55ter_fett]

Plan out your budget for the month.

 

[Kif]

Make a budget for a typical month and stick to it... make sure to take into account monthly outgoings, debt payments, rent etc etc and prioritise what's important (debt payments, bills and rent obviously being more important than pub money).

Also, have some self restraint; you're clearly aware of the situation therefore when you find yourself wanting to buy something you should be capable of asking yourself 'can I really afford this and then survive until the next pay cheque?'