I've Lost Control Of My Spending
the need to get everything done right now
I thought I was on track with my finances. I have a visually pleasing financial budget spreadsheet, which I updated to version #4? during my Money A Love Story reading last year. I had reworked my budget, simplifying my sinking funds and allowing me to save more.
Having found this update, I naively thought I was in a good patch with my finances. I brushed past the doom-scrolling purchases and went into my ‘cushion’ overdraft multiple times. I did not admit that I was reverting to my impulsively overspending ways. I declared that I wasn’t saving as much as I would have liked because I was trying to save across multiple saving pots simultaneously. This is true; however, I wasn’t saving as much because of my impulsively overspending ways.
Some of my spending was on practical items, and I am using them, but they could have waited. Other moments were spent on items I would eventually use but were nowhere near ready. I’m thinking of my overflowing skincare products here. The rest of my spending was on things I saw and purchased right away because I loved them at the moment without considering whether and what I needed instead.
If I had paused some of my spending in January, I could have paid off the debt I owe my mum and put a third instalment in my National Trust fund.
I may have stopped making doom-scrolling purchases on social media, but that hasn’t stopped me from purchasing items through YouTube ads, things I’ve seen in Substack posts, and impulse purchases when shopping. I have even used financial credit to buy a washing machine. I could have waited until next year or even longer before buying a new one.
Although I have removed the majority of social media from my life, I forgot to mention in the linked post that I still use YouTube. With less social media to use, my awareness started to creak, but I was still in denial about losing control of my spending. At the latter end of the month, buying items through pots designated for other things opened my awareness. I couldn’t hide away from my impulsively overspending ways any longer.Â
If I want to achieve my financial goals, not just the one I’m currently working on, and live the life I’d like around my values and desires, I need to curb my spending before it gets worse.
To get back on track, I will jump on the low-buy-year train everyone on YouTube seems to be doing in 2025. I’m doing this to ground my financial mindset, pull back the rains on my impulsively overspending ways, and achieve my financial goals more intentionally.
To help me throughout the year, I have made a traffic light system to refer to when I need a reminder of my grounding financial low-year goals.
Setting financial goals is easier for me than personal goals; however, they are more challenging to achieve. With this low-buy year, I’m hoping to reset my financial mindset, and having a visual of what I can and cannot focus my money on will help me reframe my spending priorities.
A big test for me will be going shopping with my best friend after I've been paid. To hold me accountable, I’ve already sent her a photo of my overflowing skincare container. I've stated that toothpaste is the only thing I’m allowed to purchase in this area. I’m on my last toothpaste, and to prevent me from going shopping again after this trip or buying online, I am using this opportunity to get my 1-1 replacement.
I went shopping with my bestie, and I think it was successful. Yes, I spent money, but I came back with half my fun pot. I’ve gone over and into other pots on previous trips. One of the items I purchased was the glass topper on my planned purchase list above. Since my friend's birthday is next week, I treated us to lunch as her gift. I feel good about what I did purchase, and I learnt to say no to myself when it came to others.
I may have had one successful shop, but my mind still wanders to other purchases I’d like to make. I have a lot to work on when it comes to spending or not spending in this case.
How do you feel about your spending? Would you complete a no-buy or low-buy day, month or year?
Happy Saving
Tami