Tools to Curb Your Spending Habits? and How Long Have You Been a Member on OzBargain?

Lhalley on 05/01/2023 - 10:21
Last edited 05/01/2023 - 14:00 by 2 other users

I have been in a long process of curbing my spending habits.

To do so, I have been deep diving into all the variables related to my spending from both a data driven standpoint (discretionary spend per month/year, shopping activity online, etc). And also looking at an internal standpoint (emotional regulation, what am I running away from/numbing by spending, are there any patterns with my shopping, where in life did this habit start forming… etc)

One of the things I decided to have a look at, was how long I've been active on Ozbargain as a member.

I've been a member since 01/02/2011. That is 11.92 years as of today. This is quite a long time browsing Ozbargain and spending. Nothing to be proud of and nothing to be shamed of.

I do admit, I have saved a lot on items using this website. On the flip side, probably more than half of the stuff I have purchased via deals on this site aren't necessities. Ozbargain isn't to blame. It's just a tool I use amongst many other sites/things to get that dopamine hit when adding to cart and checking out.

I throw myself a battery of questions when I am about to buy a non-essential item:

  • Honestly, do I really need this?
  • Do I have something else similar to it which works just fine?
  • If I'm upgrading, is it worth the upgrade?
  • How long and often am I going to use this? Will this just be a phase?
  • Am I buying this because it's been upvoted over 100+?
  • How am I feeling right now? Am I buying this to numb/run away from something? If so, what is it?
  • If I am going to eventually buy this item, can I sell something else?

And many more questions….

So, are their many others here on Ozbargain in the same boat? Anyone else trying to actually curb their spending habits?

How long have you been a member (or how long have you been actually active on Ozbargain) and anyone have any personal tools they use to regulate their own spending?

General Discussion

Comments

  • holdenmg on 05/01/2023 - 10:26
    1. Time is Money
    2. Ozbargain allows me to save money.
    3. Therefore it is time well spent.
    • 87percent on 05/01/2023 - 10:44
      +1

      It’s only a bargain IF you intended to buy the item. If you decide on a whim to buy some torch because it’s “$x off until Thursday”, it’s just wasting money

      • holdenmg on 05/01/2023 - 11:40
        +1

        Once you start on Torches, then you are on an Eneloop buying thing…

  • SF3 on 05/01/2023 - 10:29
    -1

    Tools to Curb Your Spending Habits?

    A CFO Wife.

  • Neoika on 05/01/2023 - 10:31
    +2

    Only read negative reviews.

  • Stopback on 05/01/2023 - 10:45
    -1

    Sometimes I post random items to ozbargain to see people buy random shit

    • Nugs on 05/01/2023 - 11:09

      You are 'mok'ing them
      .

  • Gunnar on 05/01/2023 - 10:50
    +1

    I spend more time looking at ozbargain forums than ozbargain deals.

    The amount of stuff I’ve bought recently has plummeted more than Tesla share values.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/01/2023 - 11:18

    Nah everyday FOMO missing out on sick deal

  • ihfree on 06/01/2023 - 10:06
    +1

    For Ozbargain:

    • Visit the site less and use alerts
    • Buy gift cards only for services you use
    • Hide certain categories

    Other stuff would be

    • setting up multiple bank accounts
    • Set up a fun budget and stick to it
    • run an ad-blocker so products don't follow you around the internet
  • Autonomic on 10/01/2023 - 15:59

    Write down every purchase you make (how much, what and when). It's a technique a lot of people and does 2 things:

    1) Allows you to look back at what you spent
    2) The act of writing it down makes you reflect on what you spent and why

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