Do I need one?

Wow, how do I follow that? I am not used to so many comments. Fiftyone up to now on yesterdays post, I am gobsmacked, and a little bit chuffed as well, ha ha. Thank you all very much for contributing and adding your experiences. If you haven't read all the comments I urge you to do that now. There are so many inspirational stories on there. I love it when my blog becomes a place where like minded people come together and share their experiences. There are some who have had it far tougher than I have, and they've still managed to turn their life around for the better. I salute you, keep on doing what you are doing. Let's all kick consumerism into touch, and aim for a simpler and happier life.

If anyone is about to embark on this money saving journey towards a frugal and simple life, it's a bit like going on a diet is the best way I can describe it. Yes, I have been on some diets in the past, I put a fair few pounds on when I was sat on my backside all day, scoffing chocolate and crisps, and swilling pints of beer down my neck at night. I got to almost 11 stone, and my bum was well spread out, ha ha. Thankfully I have seen the light and eat very little of the naughty stuff now.

What is the first thing you do when embarking on a weight loss diet, you start thinking about food a lot more often, about counting calories, or points if you go to Weight Watchers. You think about all the foods you can eat as part of your diet. You are constantly looking at your watch to see if it is time to eat. You become more focussed on food than you ever were before. Food is always there at the back of your mind. You are on a diet but start to crave all the food you shouldn't eat. It gets harder and harder to resist, and then you crack and fall off the wagon, and binge on stuff you shouldn't be eating, next thing you know is that you are out of control.

There are lots of things we can become addicted to, certain kinds of food, massive amounts of food, booze, smoking, drugs, sex, to name a few, and of course, shopping. If you are a shopoholic people make jokes about it, but it is no laughing matter when you are racking up loads of debt to feed your addiction. Trying to stop yourself from going shopping, is as hard as cutting down on the beer and fags.

I was reading a thread on a forum once, a woman was going to start a spending diary to help her keep tabs on where her money was going, as she couldn't understand why she was constantly running short. Guess what the first thing she did was, she went out and bought a notebook. SHE SPENT MONEY. Grrrr, I wanted to scream at her. Isn't there enough scrap paper floating around that you could use.

Someone else on the forum was recommending a great book she had found, all about money saving ideas. The book cost £17.99. She could have immediately saved £17.99 BY NOT BUYING IT, plenty of free information on the internet. You pay for your broadband so why not get maximum use out of it, it's like having a library at your finger tips.

The only way to be a true and dedicated money saver, is to consider each and every purchase very carefully. Think, think, think, before you open your purse, hand the plastic over the counter, write a cheque, or sign up for direct debit or standing order. Question yourself each time. Do I really need this? Will my life be better if I buy this? Can I manage without it? And Can I buy it cheaper elsewhere?

Yes it's very hard at first, especially if you are feeling low and want the boost that spending gives you. It's easy to slip back now and then, but the more you practice the easier it gets. Eventually you are able to ignore all the chocolate that is deliberately placed next to the checkout at the supermarket. Good for the purse and good for the diet.