What you’ve shown is that it’s a problem that is only obvious to us (usually) when we have a crisis or change of situation that removes the ability to immediately feed that little monster that wants us to spend.

My guess is that there are way more addicts out there, it’s just that they don’t know it because they’ve never faced a situation where they’ve had to actually face the little monster.

Flendolyn, it doesn’t suprise me that it’s harder to give up than smoking. Smoking is largely an internal fight for many now, as opposed to the spending addiction which is simply a part of our culture. We’re bombarded with messages to buy all the time. Our culture necessitates the use of money through purchases both big and small. To be western is to consume… we’re raised to do it right from the word “go”. It’s wired into us through messages before we can even talk, whereas things like smoking and other addictive substances are generally introduced later in life.

By fighting the spend, we’re fighting something that is part of the western citizens cultural hard-wiring. That’s a tough fight.

I can see how your rating system would work for you and it’s one I’ll certainly use when looking at larger items.

Apart from the laptop, I haven’t acquired a gadget or big ticket item in a long time. I don’t have any compulsion around big spends.

That’s good. One unnecessary PS3 will undo abstaining from 250 unnecessary coffees!

My problem is with the big things. I’m pretty tight on treats but have strong urges to shell out $26k for a not-really-necessary new car. I have to rationalise to stop these kinds of purchases. Not carrying around cash helps me with the small items.

Also, (and this probably sounds really anally retentive) my wife and I give ourselves a weekly allowance that has to cover clothing, beer, golf membership, etc, etc. That helps reign in the spending a bit.

I’ve got no issue when it come to refraining from spending on gadgets… and yes, the laptop is as useful as I thought it would be… though I don’t have the Mac. I’m using it at work at the moment since my desktop gave up the ghost… they haven’t been able to replace it yet.

Apart from the laptop, I haven’t acquired a gadget or big ticket item in a long time. I don’t have any compulsion around big spends.

My issue is more the day to day spend on small things – that daily feeding of obsessive consumption as opposed to the intermittent desire for expensive items.

I learnt a valuable life lesson recently. I was told that when I really wanted to buy something I should write down how much I think I’d still be enjoying it (perhaps on a scale of 1 to 10) in two month’s time. And then go ahead and buy what it was I wanted and revisit how I actually feel after two months.

I’ve done this now on a couple of recent gadget purchases and have to admit that the difference between what I perceive my enjoyment will be and what it actually is is around 4-5 points. Nowadays I’m trying to mentally pre-adjust before deciding to rush out to get that gizmo-gadget that I really MUST have.

Really, try it sometime. It’s a great way of circumventing that all-too-human shortsighted lust for goods.

I don’t see giving to aid agencies as the same thing as purchasing… one is about getting stuff for one’s self, the other is working towards helping others.

This isn’t about the broad topic of simply using money, it’s about consuming and using money to that end.

But I have been cutting down on things I don’t really need.

What about when we have an employment shortage for aid agencies because too many people are giving haha