Frittering
I am a fritterer. I don’t spend large amounts on single items – I spend small amounts on the odd bit or bob here or there. And so. Friends. I have decided to try a new method of saving money.
First of all let us understand the byrne-mind.
I love getting things by post (I really really love this)
I love frittery-type shopping
I love having pretty, nice things around me.
My spending is mainly done online while at work.
My level of indulgence depends on my bank balance.
I rarely spend more than £15 at a time. And often less than £10.
Most of this frittering occurs on ebay. Runner up is wool shops.
I know I don’t need anymore wool. Or Japanese fabric. Or purses. Or anything else.
I want to save money for a really splendid holiday which would involve surrounding myself with a lovely place and probably buying lovely things when I am there.
So…..the plan.
Try to stop idle shop-surfing
When this fails, carry on but just think about the holiday and go to a holiday site instead.
When I see something I *need* think about how much I want the holiday instead and immediately transfer the amount of money it would have cost (plus any p&p) to savings account. Hence bank balance goes down as if the money had been frittered.
Think about holiday some more.
Continue steps 1-4 ad nauseum, remembering not to actually buy anything.
Only ever estimate how much has been put into savings account – do not work out properly as I will then fritter exactly this amount of money.
Open a post-office account or get an ISA.
Have no cash/debit card for this account.
Periodically transfer money saved to this account.
Be strong, byrne.
I’m wondering whether I should grant myself an allowance for frittering so as not to have to go cold turkey but then this would be open to abuse as well. I’ll try this for now and see how it goes.
Incidentally this will only actually start on 25th Jan when I get paid. La lalalala
No No NO, bad byrne. Will start today. Even though you kidn of actually maybe sort of did need that fabric you bought on ebay yesterday....you'd have more crazy patterns to choose from in Japan.