I do sometimes. Once I bought myself a real cartier wallet on credit, and then got a 100 dollar highlighting treatmeant. All this in one night! I've had other spurts too..

Grin

been there done that

I'm a controlled spender....such "bag lady in the street" fears that I don't overspend...BUT sure spend a lot of time in the malls "browsing".....

YES!!! Sometimes I'm very cheap with my money..like I get in moods. I'll want to buy something but I just don't. However, I don't usually even think twice about spending money on others. And at times I'll spend so much money, its crazy! I tell myself, its just money, enjoy life, you only live once! Then usually I get depressed about it alter and regret it. I wish I was able to control this, I'd have so much money money and wouldn't struggle from month to month....

if I have it I spend it! but, usually on good things, tools, supplements, yet, I wish I could save. Everything just seems so important! "Prisoner of the present"???

I'm also the sort who will do a lot of browsing without buying anything; but occasionally I, too, go on impulsive spending sprees. It is rather strange when you think about it, isn't it? :)

So I try to remember to save the sales slips just in case....the item doesn't seem so wonderful the day after...:)

Sometimes I'll be real controlled about my spending. But the next thing I know, I'm out there impulsively increasing my debt in leaps and bounds! aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!

Mostly with expensive things. Over the past 4 years, I've bought and/or leased 3 Corvettes and 2 trucks.

A friend always asks people: "There are two kinds of people, those who spend and save, and those who save and spend, which are you?"

Jon

Personally, I have my spending under control but I have been known to do some silly things with my money. One time I had one motorcycle, but I wanted a different one. I bought a second bike before the first bike had a buyer, so I had two bikes for about a year, while in college making minimal money. That was on borrowed money, so I was paying loan interest and insurance on two bikes....what a waste...but it was fun.

Other times, I find a sale, and go nuts buying things on sale. One time, my first time in a Lord and Taylors, I went in to buy one shirt on sale, and bought a dozen, along with a robe and pj set by Kalvin Klein. But again, I'm a smart shopper, and my bill came to exactly 300.00. Let me see anyone match that, a dozen shirts and a Kalvin Klein robe and pj nite set, for $300 from Lord and Taylor. Ofcourse, all those shirts have to be drycleaned! lol

Jon

Along with curbing impulse buying, I could never create a useful budget. I was always in big-time debt.
Since I have been married to my wife Annemarie, I was blessed with a partner who was a wizz at budgeting & saving. She handles all the finances, and now I always have extra cash and can afford things I never could before.

I have never had a credit card, I think I could controll myself as I am carefull to have enough to pay my monthly bills. But just in case I don't want to find out. There are so many hobies I need things for, and I can not think of a better use than these things. My problem is I can't plan ahead, except bottom line survival, home, vehical, a way to earn money. It ends there. Aside from feeding and schooling, and toys for my kid. Stuck in the present, I am lucky I can earn a living! (Knocking on wood)
j9

I've never thought of myself as an impulse spender as I don't come home with $500 dresses, a new stereo system etc. However, I am always perplexed that I have no money and we seem to live paycheque to paycheque. My husband and I make a decent living so where does it all go?

It has only been recently that I realized that it isn't the $500 purchases that kill me, it's the many of $29.99 purchases. They really add up!

I'm a sucker for craft supplies, impromptu activities with the kids, rolls of wallpaper, tins of paint, trays of flowers, little treats here and there - you know.

I can't tell you how many budgets I've drawn up over the years, but I can tell you how many I've stuck to - 0. I don't plan for the future so when it comes time to pay for something large (new roof etc.), there's no money put aside.

I'd love it if someone would come in, take over my finances and just give me a weekly allowance so I can't' get into trouble!!

SEM

SEM: If you're serious about that, you could always hire a financial planner....a reputable one with experience. You could get a referral...As soon as I start working, that is definitely my plan. I need someone to show me how to start running my financial life. I haven't a clue really..:(

Sounds like a good idea - as I really haven't a clue either. Unfortunately, my husband has the same financial skills I have, so the pair of us get into trouble.

I can look for a financial planner, but in order for it to work, I would have to follow it. You know what I mean?

Yes I do...the follow-through is EVERYTHING! Which is tough for us ADD-ers...but thanks for admitting you don't have a clue...It's nice to know I'm not the only one. It seems as if everyone "out there" knows what they're doing with regard to their money$$$.

So both you and your husband work outside the home?

Yes - we work outside the home.

As for "everyone else out there" knowing what they're doing, I feel that way too. I look at people my age who have paid off their homes, cars, cottages - whatever and I wonder how do you do it?

I sometimes wonder if everyone knows the secret of handling money and I'm the only one who hasn't figured it out. Until I realized that this was a real problem for ADD'ers, I felt like a failure for not being able to sort out my money. I find it a relief to know that I'm not the only one.

SEM

That's what happened for me too. Realizing a lot of my problems and struggles with life (including money) are due to my ADD...which I hadn't understood for a long time....No you're NOT alone...believe me. And at the same time, thank God we are teachable...with the right teachers. I will have to find a financial planner who won't mind explaining something to me ten times, if necessary:)

I don't think my parents were good at financial planning, and I know they didn't really teach any money skills to me. Same for the public school system. So when I went out in the working world I spent whatever I got, nothing was put into savings. Probably a combination of ADD (which was unknown then) & just believing there's always time for saving later.

All of us need to be properly instructed first and early BEFORE we make a mess of it. On the job training on finances can be bad because by the time you've learned the lesson it may be too late.

But I agree KNOWING and DOING can be two entirely different things! If hiring a financial planner is a do-able option I would recommend it. But do a good check on them first...remember what happened to M.C.Hammer!

Thanks CNW. Do you know how I can do a good check on a financial planner? What credentials should I look for? What should I ask when interviewing one? And so relate. My parents didn't teach me squat about money. Yes they have it but didn't teach me about it. And of course neither did the schools.

I think that I take impulsive spending to a whole new level. Two weeks ago I went to buy a new bikini for the beach and came home with 10...oops. I am slowly..very slowly starting to get things under control but probably the best thing I have ever done was getting a bowl of water dropping all my credit cards but my gas card in it and freezing them. I also dont take my check book into the mall with me. Just the cash for what I need, that way when I pick up stuff that I want I dont just write a check or pull out the plastic. Its amazing how when i find something i really want I can pull out that hunk of ice start letting it thaw and then after 45 minutes of waiting I dont really want the stuff anymore......Thats giving the phrase freezing you assets a whole new meaning!:D

Bombshell~

Oh, WOW! I am sooooo gonna do that with my credit cards!! THANK YOU for the idea!

smoo

joanrdtobe,

Finding a good financial planner can be a real challenge. Not because they're dishonest but because the one you pick will need to understand WHY you are requesting assistance and will need to understand that you may not always be able to follow their instructions if not given properly. I know if someone is explaining something to me that's complicated and not very interesting I "phase out" and retain very little of the parts I did hear.

Seems to me I recall you once saying you were in the medical field, is that true? If so perhaps there is some doctor you are aquanted with that uses or has used a planner that they might recommend.

I do spend a lot of money and buy a lot of things on impulse, but I do also have a lot of expendable income so I'm not sure if that counts or not..

I tend to want to buy more than one of something.. If I find something I like, I usualy want to buy more than one of that item for some reason.. I don't know why, but I often feel I need more than one..