So I put myself on a quarentine, put up goals and budgets and limits. I still get my “latte” but instead of one every day, it’s one every week.

I think we need to be wise. We need to control our money and not the other way around. I know people that are so frugal they won’t buy anything and are miserable. and then there is the other side of the coin, where people will put themselves into debt just because somebody in a commercial said “they needed that.”

Prioritize and stick to your priorities. I like scrapbook papers. I don’t buy every one that comes out… I choose one or two lines that I really like and I set myself a goal. For example, I need to get rid of some of the stuff I already have and make an extra $200 and then I will buy those 2 lines of papers I want. When I delay my purchase sometimes I will even decide that they are not really worth it. I end up creating and re-creating some of the papers I already have.

Delay gratification is one of the best things to really evaluate a need. Wait 24hs before making a purchase, wait a month. If the item is still available, the funds are there and the desire is still there then go for it.

Your need won’t be filled by a thing. That is the one thing we really need to understand. My fulfillment comes from my relationship with God only. All else always fails.

BTW, great article. http://www.thethriftyscrapper.blogspot.com

Yes, that’s true. Almost all of our spending beyond base survival needs is emotionally motivated. (Actually, so is our base survival spending. But that is motivated by more basic emotions more closely related to survival, like fear). What happens if you have the strength to stick to your financial discipline is, when you don’t buy that latte, instead of sitting down with the latte, you end up sitting down by yourself with that hole in your emotions. And you eventually figure out that that hole in your emotions has nothing to do with a latte or a flatscreen or a lunch or dinner out. And if you really experience the truth of this and sit with the hole in your psyche, you will begin to change on a deep level and the latte, the flatscreen, and the lunch or dinner out will stop being invested with such importance.

BTW, When your car get to be 6 years old and a larger repair billcomes up, the correct thought is “Oh, I was *expecting* that. That’s a normal expense for a 6 year old car, it’s not the end of the world. And while I’m having that done I’ll have them change the timing belt.”

ok, the 24000 you get from selling your car, less the $5000 for buying the new one leaves you with 19,000 to invest. So go invest it. If you really think what you did was a mistake and you want to make better decisions, take action now

It’s an excellent point, but I don’t like either one of those cars. I could have kept my ‘99 Miata for a few more years, but just after I bought this car it required $1765 in repairs — and it will need more to get the A/C fixed. Older cars are sometimes more hassle than they are worth. Your point is worth considering for those who don’t mind cheaper cars.

-Erica

Then again, I just bought a $30,000 car. So we all have some priorities.

A blog post on the 10% return thing is coming up. I have it slated for April.

Oh, and because as a photographer, it does make me look cool to my clients. When I flip it sideways while sharing photos with them, if they haven’t experienced it before, they oooh and ahhh.

I guess in a way I am using their marketing to enhance my marketing — and I am a brand of me, so it is really important to me that I do that.

At the same time, I follow the “don’t enter stores until I need something” rule, because it keeps me out of trouble. Especially at Target – that store has some power over me. Other stores, like Best Buy, I can go into and leave without purchasing anything.

In the end though, it really is about knowing yourself and being aware of what you are doing and the WHY behind it.

Now how do I get those 10% returns on investments?