When you go shopping...

I used to spend without a care. And then I got into debt - and that was for kidding myself with credit cards. But now that I'm married and have kids - and especially since I'm a full time mom and not the bread winner of the family, I have to be careful how I spend our money. We are on a budget, and yes, I do have a set budget when I go shopping. I only pay by cash now . . . so if I run out of money from my wallet - that's it - hee hee. I don't think we set a budget per item - but certainly we allot ourselves X amount for groceries, X amount for gifts, etc etc. If we go overboard on an item, we cut back on something else.

ooh... this is difficult... :-D there are times that i do set a budget, and there are times that i don't. Budget can be per item, for example a shirt or a pair of jeans, which should not exceed a certain amount/price. But of course it depends. If I find something that I really like and I've been going/checking out that item everytime I go out, then it's a sign that I must buy it, disregarding the budget issue. :D

i tend to be pretty careful when i shop, but if i see anything at a really good price, i may get it. i also shop at a lot of thrift stores so the price is a little better.

I don't set a budget but I bring a list and try to stick to the list which is about the same thing...when I go shopping on a whim I try to keep a certain level of spending....that way I won't go into shock when I unload the car! LOL

It depends what the numbers in my checkbook say. If its right after payday and I have all the bills written out - when I go to the grocery store and such, its kidn of a free for all. Not that I go hog wild, but I have an idea of what I'm going for and I know what I'd like to spend... but I don't really set a budget in my head. I know that if I want my 12 pack of diet coke... it's probably going to be close to $4.00. I HATE spending that and try desperatly to wait for it to go on sale - so sometimes I get fed up and keep walking and sometimes I say "screw it! I'm buying my stinkin' diet coke!" If I'm on a Walmart run and short on cash, I know what 'sections' of walmart to avoid... because its where I'm more likely to spend my money - women's clothing, children's clothing, make up/hair accessories, house decorations (table cloths, curtains, bathroom stuff, etc). Those are the things I like buying - so if I'm closer to broke, I just don't go there. lol lately I've found myself doing a lot more price comparrison and instead of looking at the overall cost of, I dont' know, laundry detergant - I've been getting my calculater out and figuring out what the cost per oz is, etc so I know if I truely am getting the better deal. I like it! Happy shopping!

Yes.. i set a budget for the day and i make a specific list of items that i am shopping for so i will not include anything that i do not need.. this saves time and money when you are organized with your shopping. if i also give myself a maximum of 20.00 set forth for items that are not on my list that i think i may need or want. if the item exceeds the 20.00 amount, then i simply include the item on my next shopping list so i can include the price in the total of my purchase.

I dun shop much.. BUt if i were to shop, i will make sure i spend what's within the cash limit in my wallet and not more.. haha =D As long as i have uased up the cash in my wallet for the day, i wont be drawing mroe to use, or try to pay using my card.. IN a way, i'm saving on the unnecessary buying.. Besides, i know i wont be going back to the same place again the next day, and thus there's no temptation to buy on impulse.. haha =D

Hmm yes I usually have to set a budget for myself unfortunately..Oh how I wish I could just spend, care-free of what my checking account is going to look like afterwards.. . But no, in order to keep my finances striaght, I definitely have to budget and watch how much I spend when shopping.

It's definitely hard because when you are going out into the world to buy something as simple as a gallon of milk and you know you just got paid it seems like everywhere you look. you see something you want and that makes you want to buy it. because you know you can afford to buy what you want at that particular moment. you are not thinking of the bills or any unforseen emergencies that you may have to use that money for all you see in your mind is those brand new shoes in your closet. i try to always make a budget and if i get to a point where it gets really hard to stick to it i think do I really NEED it right now?? or can it wait till I have a little more saved up.