Impulse buying or a frugal shopper?

I'd love you to tell me how you did it, so I can teach my wife. She can't help herself when it comes to shoes and cheap jewelery. We all need to pull our belts in in these difficult times, so good for you

sometimes, im still an impulse buyer especially when i see some things nice for my kids...

I have never really been an impulse shopper. At least not for myself. Never really had enough money for that. However since my daughter was born 5 1/2 years ago, things changed just a bit. If she really would like it, I may get her a little something now and again.

Being on a tight budget in this economy at the moment, I guess I am a frugal shopper. I do have impulse buying moments, but they aren't for things that are really expensive. Just things I really want but don't really need and shouldn't really spend the money on at the moment. Good for you. I would think that is a very hard habit to break, and it sounds like you have done it!

i am an impulse buyer especially when i know that i have an extra money! i get to buy things that i see and want but i am trying my best to stop this because it has been affecting me financially

I am definetly an impulse buyer :P I NEVER shop alone. I always need someone with me because if im alone im tempted to buy things i dont need lol.

i always try to avoid impulse buying because it will make you a creditor and unnecessary expences. i shop frugally!

I am a very frugal shopper, when I do buy. Which is not often. I use coupons any time that I can and shop at places like the dollar stores around here whenever possible. I think that finding deals and being a frugal shopper is a good thing, especially because it can make it possible to save money for other things you might need.

i have tried both impulse and frugal shopping in the past, and i have learned to be a practical shopper. but frugal shopping can be fun, when you go bargain hunting and buy the most with your money and buy lots of great buys. sometimes i enjoy browsing thru thrift stores and swap meets and flea markets.

I have always been a frugal shopper, even when I was a kid. If someone gave me money, I wanted to save it, not spend it. I hate eating out...when it's cheaper to eat at home. And I truly hate shopping - for groceries or clothes or anything.

Oh life is hard and with so many people lacking I believe we have to think twice before buying any stuff we don't even need. I used to be an impulse buyer before just like you. But I'm glad I have learned to be wiser as the years go by. I noticed so many items I bought out of impulse did not really serve any purpose for me and were actually just excesses in my home and dressers. Impulse buying happened during SALES when items are on a 50% to 70%. Of course, I'd be so attracted. Imagine how much money I could save with the items on Sale. It is only after sometime would I learn that I really did not save but rather wasted my money becasue I did not really need those items I bought at discounted prices. So now, I am using my brains. I have a list of what I need to buy whenever I shop and even if I buy some stuff not in my list, I always make it a point that those are really needed and not just bought out of impulse.

Hello gracetreyes, well I am a born Capricorn and I have more of a tendency to be frugal, when I go buying. However, although I dislike shopping and go seldom alone to the big stores in the city, I do have one quality which can mean that I spend a lot on those rare occasions - this is that I like good quality clothes and I won't be put off by high prices, if I think that the suit (or whatever it is) has that extra touch of class. You used the correct word, which was "trigger" and that is exactly what I need to open my wallet and start spending. All the best. Umart

I used to be an impulsive buyer but when i had my own place, i've learned how to value money.. you know, we should learn how to prioritize things now that prices of basic goods and commodities have increased over the past few months.. we should buy something that we really needed like food and water..

im a frugal shopper because youre buying too many overpricey things if you are an impulse buyer. If the economy drops lower and your boss gives you a pink slip, youre gonna become poor.

I am both I guess. I try to find the best price on stuff and shop at dollar stores for as much as possible but I still tend to go overboard with buying stupid things I don't need that second. I have always been like this. I am trying to change but its really hard cause then I feel deprived.

You are not alone grace! I've always been an impulse buyer and sadly find myself in dire straits these days. It's a hard habit to break, however it is necessary in order to survive. I like you have also established a system. First of all, I don't carry any credit cards with me to avoid temptation. Secondly, I'll only go to the stores if I have to buy something, and then only go where I need to go and leave immediately. Cash purchases only. This is the only way, to start working on those credit card balances. Try to earn a bit extra and put all that extra money towards the cards. Work on the lowest balance first. Send minimal payments to the rest and put everything toward the lowest one. Once that one is paid, it gives you additional incentive. Take that payment and apply everything to the next one. It's slow going, but it works. Too much credit is what has got us into this economic mess to begin with. Have a great day!

This gives you a leg up ona lot of of other people. Most people havewn't figured this out yet. This is what is happeniong to a lot of our economy. Sales are way down on junk items and this is taking a lot of money out of our economy. This will get a lot worse as more people wake up to the fact they can no longer afford all the junk. his will put our ecomnomy even deeper in the hole. You ar one of the smart ones to figure this out early.

I used to be an impulsive shopper. I got a job which pays around 2000 per month (my country's currency, not USD) after I graduated. I used to be such an impulsive buyer that there was this one day, I walked pass a shopping complex and saw a new shop selling watches. The shop was having sales. I went in, found a watch I like and swiped my credit card - cost me 900. 2 days later, I went to another shopping complex and saw the newly released Nokia N70. My phone was problematic then and it did not take long for me to decide to buy the phone. I ended up spending 2200 for the phone. And 2 weeks later, I realized I needed a home desktop. I spent 3200 on the new desktop. I nearly die of hunger than month because my credit card bill was more than 3 times my salary! Fortunately I have a 1 month annual bonus which helps paid off the bill a little. I've since changed a lot. Now, I only buy assets and not liabilities. LOL.

I do both but I use cash so it is not quite as bad on the credit cards that way. I only buy what I can afford from my bank account. So not as much as I would like to.

I am more of a wise frugal shopper. I dont buy stuff that are not on sale. I think first before i buy something. i cant just shop till i get my credit card limit. It upsets me when i see my high credit card bills.