saving money is all about attitude

this is why alot of people hate shopping with me, because i will stand there for a long time debating on if i need or want the product im looking at. if its a need, and its alot i will purchase it, but if i want it then its like "do i have the money?" what happens if i buy it and it breaks or wahtever. its a war in my head everytime i shop. and when i bring my kids with me, oh goodness thats worse because you cant really think clearly. i tried using the envelope idea, labeling each envelope by items like baby essentials, and sticking the amount of money i want to use for that item into the envelope and coupons. but when i get paid its, cash out, money in, shop. so i never used the envelope saving idea. but this time i will when i get paid in april (i get paid once a month). i will bring my envelopes with me to the bank, and then divide up the money before i shop. then whatever is left over i divide by the weeks until i get paid again, which this upcoming paycheck will leave me with $20 extra a week to spend on sales and whatever i want.

I totally agree with your thoughts.Its all about attitude and greater the commitments and convictions, greater would be your savings.I have started using an android application to check on my spending habits and clearly making the changes as and when needed.It is a small step towards things.Like many out there, i am also guilty of spending money on things unwanted.But atleast now i am bringing things down as far as possible and hopefully i can get things moving in the right direction.I guess it is never too late.And considering some of the worst things, i think i did not go to those extremes.And sadly there are many things to be achieved.I am not yet financially independent.I guess my spending habits had a bad contribution in delaying many things for me including my dreams. I am not advocating frugal living, but then there are times we should know what to buy when to buy and restrict the hard earned money from going away from our hands.I have kept a target of an amount to be saved this year.Hopefully i can achieve that.looking forward to better spending control and earning and saving things well.Thanks.Appreciate your thoughts on this!

I always tried to use more positive words when my kids were little. I did not say "We can't afford ______" but rather we talked about "We are choosing to pay our bills first." Then we were in control, not the money. A few years back someone told me that money is just a way to keep score. . . and that is correct. For instance, my MyLot earnings are not a lot, but if I make payout in a month I have "won" and if not, I lost. It is more of a game. Now if I can put a weight loss spin on it, I will be happy. Speaking to the idea of savings, I also like to rationalize what is good about NOT spending as well as just the money. For instance NOT eating out is good because it saves money, but it is also good because it is healthier, and it is good because what I cook at home tastes better.

First you have to have money you can save. When you are on a low fixed income and half goes to rent or mortgage and the rest to utilities, gas for car and maintaince and food there is not much left to save. We don't go out or buy luxury coffee or anything. Someone gave us a gift card for my husband's birthday to a resturant we got to go out then otherwise we eat home and do not have money for extra or frivolties. We still try and save our loose change though. We count it up every six months and have around $30 worth sometimes more or less.

To save money we need to have a right control about our outcomes and how sever this control has to be, of course, depends on our character. But a right income is necessary too.

Do you think your ability to save and or getting out of debt can be affected by your attitude towards it? Yes, your attitude determines you success.And it takes a lot of discipline to do that.

It's absolutely about attitude. I used to advise people professionally about money and they would come to me saying they needed to save money and do this or that. I could tell which ones would succeed right away because of their attitude. When I asked them to list everything they bought for a week, some of them would be offended or say incredulously, "Even snacks from a machine??" They didn't consider that to be real money. Those who were willing to take an honest look at how they were failing to control their money were the ones who succeeded in getting on track with their spending and saving. I like to say I was born frugal and maybe I was, but even my attitude has changed over time. I no longer "need" many things that I thought I needed just a couple of years ago. It's all in the way we think about things.

I have always been a saver.....I started because I was the third of four. Everytime I wanted something new one of the older ones got it because they were bigger etc. I got the hand me downs....well I got sick of it and by the time I was in 7th grade I had my own checking account. My older sister is always in debt...always...her attitude is that she might now get something she wants if she doesn't buy it....she doesn't realize that if you save for it you pay much less then charging it....no interest!

I think its partially about attitude however i also think its about means to an end and income. If your attitude is that you want to be debt free and you are trying however you loose your job and are out of work it tends to put a damper on the process. You however can be making thousands of dollars a month and still be in debt because you don't watch your spending. Things can be done to change situations like work for the most part - part time jobs can be taken on or as Personal finance bloggers refer to some things "side hustles" can be started like like dog walking or helping with house keeping or selling on ebay etc. But it does take the attitude that one can do it to even try.

I couldn't agree more. All that you've said is right. To add to it, attitude is all we need not just towards saving money or doing things but the way we run our lives. Having a positive attitude towards our challeneges in life, towards our work and the way we live in short. It is easier said than done but when you have practice having a good reaction or attitde towards your way of living, it is lighter.

Thanks for bringing out such a wonderful discussion. I must agree with you that we should not punish our body to save money. After all we live to live this life to its fullest as much as we can. If something is blocking us from that 'fullest', that must be our attitude. Attitude only can not anybody rich overnight. I am not sure whether it is proper to bring luck at least a certain percentage along with attitude to make somebody rich. Instead of becoming rich by controlling expenses, I would prefer generating multiple sources of income. Not spending money is not the best idea for me to become rich. I do not possess this attitude.

hello 3SnuggleBunnies this si checkmail and me always do plan mine finances according to mine needs but do have short fall many time due to mine other little idiotic relatives.Most of them are mine little cousins and niece, they are really awesome at expenditure, thus mine all saving are sent on them though i enjoy their company so nothing much matters. Attitude don go along with savings or earnings, as both are economic factors and not personality.

Attitude is such a generic word. Bad attitude is also attitude. A better perspective might be discipline.

Yes, because it is very important the attitude. For example, I save money avoiding to buy my favourite things, like chocolates, icecreams, clothes, food, etc. I have a cold attitude towards those things. It is difficult but you have to be firm.

everything is about attitude, if you think you can't then you won't. I have had to save money to the point that I couldn't even buy a regular cup of coffee outside the home. I am better off now. but the thing is regardless of how much money you have or don't have, you should always consider the difference between actually needing something or just wanting something. for example do you really need a pair of shoes for every outfit you own, the logically answer is not you don't therefore you just want a pair of shoes for every outfit that you own and so on.

I totally understand the ability to save is based on a person's attitude. The person might be saving up for a large purchase like a second hand car or expensive home improvements for example. It is wise for the average person to have money available as an emergency fund like solving a disaster. It is easy for the average person to get into debt. I was amazed to see university students given credit cards very easily. Banks gave a present when the student customers opened a current account and put in their student loan. Everyone in my home country has a credit rating. To get a good rating the person must be on the electoral role and be up to date on any lending that he or she has taken out. It is possible to get a zero percent interest credit card for spending. It is easy to get balance transfer credit cards. Like zero percent interest for 17 months for example. On the average credit card the interest could be 17 percent. Savings rates are so low like 1 percent. A 4 or 6 percent savings rate are hard to find. I am saving up to buy a wheelchair accessible second hand car. My son is in a wheelchair you see. I often save up for traveling to different countries.

I agree all aspects in life depends on what attitude we have, how we handle discipline in our minds and in our doings. I remember a friend of mine ask me if $500 is enough for the monthly allowance for her daughter with all expenses paid including house and electric and water bills. The allowance is only for food and other personal needs. I told her I think it is too much or if she is wise enough she can save more. I made an example of my daughter who is working with a salary not more than $400 a month with son and also paying bills and house but they can survive. I was surprised with her answer that her daughter has a different lifestyle. Ohh! Well I just keep my mouth shut and don't comment. I still believe if we care too much of what we have we will survive without debt.

Our whole life is affected by our attitude. If we have a strong need to save we will do it, even if it's just a few cents here and there.

Yes saving money can be hard but the way i do it is with a mind set turned to seeing money saving as a goal rather than a chore,

I believe that saving money is about attitude. I try hard not to overspend and have been saving as much as I can, but it is hard with only one income (Randy's social security). I have been taking classes in making jewelry and sewing and am hoping that once I learn these skills I can create an online buisness where I can sell my items. I only eat out on Saturday's (but that is because we are out doing several errands and Randy is diabetic which makes it hard for him to go without eating.