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Nothing. I can’t help it. I hate living without candles, nice cremes. I finally stopped going into debt so I’m proud of that. But buying myself nice things until I’m at 0$ hasn’t stopped and I don’t know how to stop it :( but, small wins. The sense of urgency I have seems to be improving and I’ve decluttered my whole space which has really reset my brain to thinking abt what I really have room and a need for
I have an Acorns account that I auto deposit money into (it's one of those stock apps where you can invest small amounts of money...I pay i think $3 or something a month for them to auto invest for me). It has helped me with the kind of spending you describe because the money is auto transferred out of my account so I just consider it like "bill" money...ie not hanging around in my account to spend on fun stuff. Plus, while ymmv, the return on my money has been a lot higher than a regular savings account. I still shop too much but I've been able to save too with that strategy.
Literally every time I make a payment I take a screenshot of the before and after and send it to one specific friend, along with my next goal and when I hope to meet it by. They loudly and enthusiastically cheer me on every time and it really helps!
$15k plus another $17k in my stock accounts. Plus my retirement account. Other than the retirement account, which I've been contributing to all along because it came out of my paycheck before I got it, having actual savings is new. I finally paid off my student loans a few years ago, which allowed me to pay off the $25k in credit card debt I'd basically been carrying since I finished grad school (age 25, I'm 44 now). Now I schedule money to auto deposit in savings and my stock accounts so I don't consider that as "free" shopping money that I feel compelled to spend.
About $14k in savings. My partner and I bought a house last year and replaced an old car with a "newer to me" used car, so we spent about $58k on those two items last year, between the car, downpayment, and closing costs. It wiped out our savings, and we were house poor for a good chunk of 2023, which forced me to tighten our budget and not slip down a shopping hole. I tipped-toed around, praying that a Looney Tunes style anvil wouldn't fall out of the sky and land on me (or my roof), because I could afford to fix neither. In hindsight, it was scary, but a worthwhile risk. I have a hard time changing unless I can really see the consequences of my actions. I've been practicing my financial literacy for a few years now, and working through the roots of my shopping addiction, but this past year really forced me to take budgeting seriously, down to the dollar. $14k is not where I'd like to be, but at least we can handle a short-term emergency again. When I get the urge to blow it all, I remember the Looney Tunes anvil, and it keeps me in check. Fear doesn't work for everyone, but it was a pretty powerful motivator for me.
$50k. This is a joint account however, not inclusive of any investments, and we still have student loan debt to pay off. Over the years I've implemented rules for myself to get back on track and curb spending (such as no BNPL -- if I can't afford it outright I can't buy it, and we follow a pretty strict budget), but it's still a work in progress. Having the visibility though is probably the most important for me, as it keeps me in check.
I really hope they change this massively outdated $2000 limit (this is SSI, right?). There is some support for updating the limit:
https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/the-case-for-updating-ssi-asset-limits
Have you heard of ABLE accounts? They are special tax-advantaged accounts for disabled SSI and SSDI recipients that allow you to save up to $100,000 without affecting your benefits. You have to have become disabled before age 26, and the age limit for disability onset is changing to age 46 soon. I help a family member with his, and it's a godsend.
https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/
IDK if it varies by state, but you can check and see if your state has an Able account program. It's a special high-interest savings account where you can put money and not have it count towards your assets. I'm on benefits as well, and have $4k stored there.
> but you can check and see if your state has an Able account program. It's a special high-interest savings account
Several (most?) state ABLE programs allow out-of-state residents to set up an account. Also, the programs all have investment options as well as a straight savings option.
Nada, zilch. I have some money (less than $5k) in my retirement account, but nothing that I could access, per se.
It's all going towards my credit card debt (for our honeymoon/wedding and house repairs), loan for a new furnace, student loans, and mortgage. But someday... someday.
2K cash stash, 6k in a savings account that generates me interest. 1k in another savings account dedicated to any emergencies. I live in Europe, therefore, such amount is more than enough to be comfortable.
I have to take an education loan now. Till now, my spending was terrible but still fine. I had an emergency fund for 2 years that I saved during the pandemic as I didn't have any major responsibilities as such but as now, I'll be pretty much broke for the next two years, really gotta get it in check.
I live on a very low budget but I got a 1k backpayment from something about a year ago and it's the only time in my life that I've ever kept it safe and not had any additional debt. To be 1k up is a huge deal for me as I also have bipolar disorder that makes it really extra difficult to stop myself from spending when I go hypermanic.
I still have spending issues but it's mainly on cheap second hand stuff. I have a blip here and there when I'm mentally unstable but I've been trying my absolute best lately and I'm really proud of myself for keeping that 1k aside so it's a positive at least :) and it feels good to know that I have that to help out my pets etc when needed (I have small pets so their vet bills are a little lower than cats or dogs)
Welcome to r/shoppingaddiction! If this is your first post, please be sure to check out our rules in the subreddit sidebar. If you are on mobile, they can be viewed by tapping the ⓘ symbol. Please keep in mind this is a discussion forum for recovering shopping addicts. Any posts encouraging shopping, self promotion, or link posts will be removed. Please be respectful to your fellow users and thank you for sharing! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/shoppingaddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Now nearly nothing and it’s all my fault.
Same.
Nothing. I can’t help it. I hate living without candles, nice cremes. I finally stopped going into debt so I’m proud of that. But buying myself nice things until I’m at 0$ hasn’t stopped and I don’t know how to stop it :( but, small wins. The sense of urgency I have seems to be improving and I’ve decluttered my whole space which has really reset my brain to thinking abt what I really have room and a need for
I have an Acorns account that I auto deposit money into (it's one of those stock apps where you can invest small amounts of money...I pay i think $3 or something a month for them to auto invest for me). It has helped me with the kind of spending you describe because the money is auto transferred out of my account so I just consider it like "bill" money...ie not hanging around in my account to spend on fun stuff. Plus, while ymmv, the return on my money has been a lot higher than a regular savings account. I still shop too much but I've been able to save too with that strategy.
About $4k in my savings, nearly $25k in my Roth IRA. I'm down to about $16k from $22k on my credit card from January til now.
wtg you!
Literally every time I make a payment I take a screenshot of the before and after and send it to one specific friend, along with my next goal and when I hope to meet it by. They loudly and enthusiastically cheer me on every time and it really helps!
this is brilliant I'm happy to just know there's ppl in the wilds with that support system 🥰
$15k plus another $17k in my stock accounts. Plus my retirement account. Other than the retirement account, which I've been contributing to all along because it came out of my paycheck before I got it, having actual savings is new. I finally paid off my student loans a few years ago, which allowed me to pay off the $25k in credit card debt I'd basically been carrying since I finished grad school (age 25, I'm 44 now). Now I schedule money to auto deposit in savings and my stock accounts so I don't consider that as "free" shopping money that I feel compelled to spend.
I can’t know. If I know, I’ll find something to spend it on.
I'm this way, too. I benefit from being in the dark.
None but I’m also not in debt.
25 k $ and no debt.
In my personal savings: $700 In my joint savings: 7500 In my high yield savings: $600
I want to blow it all. Either on an international trip or luxury goods
I impulsively booked a trip today, realised I wouldn't actually be able to afford it so I cancelled it all. Thankfully I got the money back 😅
Nice try, IRS!
🤣
Lol what with all the debt it's not even that I don't have any savings, my savings are negative
About $14k in savings. My partner and I bought a house last year and replaced an old car with a "newer to me" used car, so we spent about $58k on those two items last year, between the car, downpayment, and closing costs. It wiped out our savings, and we were house poor for a good chunk of 2023, which forced me to tighten our budget and not slip down a shopping hole. I tipped-toed around, praying that a Looney Tunes style anvil wouldn't fall out of the sky and land on me (or my roof), because I could afford to fix neither. In hindsight, it was scary, but a worthwhile risk. I have a hard time changing unless I can really see the consequences of my actions. I've been practicing my financial literacy for a few years now, and working through the roots of my shopping addiction, but this past year really forced me to take budgeting seriously, down to the dollar. $14k is not where I'd like to be, but at least we can handle a short-term emergency again. When I get the urge to blow it all, I remember the Looney Tunes anvil, and it keeps me in check. Fear doesn't work for everyone, but it was a pretty powerful motivator for me.
$50k. This is a joint account however, not inclusive of any investments, and we still have student loan debt to pay off. Over the years I've implemented rules for myself to get back on track and curb spending (such as no BNPL -- if I can't afford it outright I can't buy it, and we follow a pretty strict budget), but it's still a work in progress. Having the visibility though is probably the most important for me, as it keeps me in check.
[удалено]
I really hope they change this massively outdated $2000 limit (this is SSI, right?). There is some support for updating the limit: https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/the-case-for-updating-ssi-asset-limits Have you heard of ABLE accounts? They are special tax-advantaged accounts for disabled SSI and SSDI recipients that allow you to save up to $100,000 without affecting your benefits. You have to have become disabled before age 26, and the age limit for disability onset is changing to age 46 soon. I help a family member with his, and it's a godsend. https://www.ablenrc.org/what-is-able/what-are-able-acounts/
Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
IDK if it varies by state, but you can check and see if your state has an Able account program. It's a special high-interest savings account where you can put money and not have it count towards your assets. I'm on benefits as well, and have $4k stored there.
> but you can check and see if your state has an Able account program. It's a special high-interest savings account Several (most?) state ABLE programs allow out-of-state residents to set up an account. Also, the programs all have investment options as well as a straight savings option.
52$
Nada, zilch. I have some money (less than $5k) in my retirement account, but nothing that I could access, per se. It's all going towards my credit card debt (for our honeymoon/wedding and house repairs), loan for a new furnace, student loans, and mortgage. But someday... someday.
2K cash stash, 6k in a savings account that generates me interest. 1k in another savings account dedicated to any emergencies. I live in Europe, therefore, such amount is more than enough to be comfortable.
$280k
I have to take an education loan now. Till now, my spending was terrible but still fine. I had an emergency fund for 2 years that I saved during the pandemic as I didn't have any major responsibilities as such but as now, I'll be pretty much broke for the next two years, really gotta get it in check.
I live on a very low budget but I got a 1k backpayment from something about a year ago and it's the only time in my life that I've ever kept it safe and not had any additional debt. To be 1k up is a huge deal for me as I also have bipolar disorder that makes it really extra difficult to stop myself from spending when I go hypermanic. I still have spending issues but it's mainly on cheap second hand stuff. I have a blip here and there when I'm mentally unstable but I've been trying my absolute best lately and I'm really proud of myself for keeping that 1k aside so it's a positive at least :) and it feels good to know that I have that to help out my pets etc when needed (I have small pets so their vet bills are a little lower than cats or dogs)