How can I stop being impulsive with money and sugar/food?

Question

I used to online order all the time but I stopped. But now I really love going to grocery stores and I always spend like 124 or 157 and I only make 300 a week since im a part timer now. I also can’t seem to give up sugar and food lol. I also think it’s my anxiety causing this I struggle breathing I think almost daily.

VIVANT · Accepted Answer

Make LISTS beginning of each week, follow this list & do NOT deviate under any circumstance -except true emergency. A great sale is not an emergency 😂 I know it can feel like bargain in the moment, but I think sticking to you plan is more important with more benefits, long term.

Take out money each week and ONLY the amount you are allowed to use snd do not use your cards. It’s much harder to ignite spending when you see it and feel it. Have an end of week reward for sticking to your budget. Have an end of week consequence for not sticking to your budget.

like someone suggested, replace unhealthy activities with healthy activities. Make go- to exchange lists for that too. Give yourself multiple options so it won’t get boring.

It’s a good chance to get to know yourself better bc you are numbing yourself right now by consumption, food, objects, etc, without purpose / need, consumption passive & robotic. but as you lift that veil by replacing reflexive consumption, with mindful creativity, you become active and soulful & learn more who you are ♥️

AmandaYVR · Accepted Answer

It's interesting you say "I also think it's my anxiety causing this" because if you have anxiety (which can be intermittent and not a permanent condition), you really need to cut out all stimulants that spike your energy and blood sugar. Like sugar, caffeine, alcohol.

The advice professionals would give you, in addition to the above, is to replace the craving, the feeling, with something else. So if you feel anxious and want to eat but you know you're not actually hungry or due for a meal, you go for a walk outside or do some exercise instead. If you crave shopping for new clothes, instead dig into your closet and see if you can put any new outfits together, things that you haven't tried together before. (Like, don't be so matchy-matchy; try two bold prints, or something; or mix high with low.)

If you're wanting sweet, have a piece of fruit instead. It won't spike blood sugar in the same way.

Adam_INTJ · Answer

Set a goal. Measure input. Measure output. People who track progress toward their goal are almost twice as likely to achieve it, regarding weight loss. (Brendon Burchard, High Performance Habits)

Your weight can be a customizable feature of your life. It is for me.

For food/sugar:

Set a goal
Do you want to gain weight at a certain speed? Do you want to lose weight? Do you have an ideal weight that you want? Write it down.

Measure input.
Use a calorie/micronutrient tracker. Measure what you eat and add it to your app (guestimating doesn't count).

Measure output.
Weigh yourself daily. Calculate your average weight, and acess if you're progressing toward your goal.

For money:

Set a goal. Maybe it's how much you want saved. Maybe a certain rate of saving. Maybe a certain regular amount of investment in Retirement. Maybe you want to pay off your debt (do this first!) Write it down.

Measure input.
Download the EveryDollar app. Budget your expenses and leisure spending.

Measure putput.
How well are you keeping to your budget? Are you getting close to your goal? Check your investments, bank account, and spending regularly.

Also look into Dave Ramsey's stuff. He gives good advise. But it can be bitter to realize that you need to make choices like eating at home and downgrading your car. It beats being poor for life though.

NathanDavis · Answer

if you are lacking self control... and this is all about that, self control... then you might want to ask for some help and support, from your boyfriend perhaps, give him your credit cards, or your cash or any way in which prevents you from spending that much money on your own...

if you ever really need to spend and buy something, that is absolutely a need, then have him help you and go with you because right now, you could have the best ideas and advice from many people but knowing them it does not mean you can actually follow them if you lack self control, so... try to get your boyfriend to help you with this and to really commit to help you with it

WindAtMyBack · Answer

That's quite a bit to spend on food. I don't spend much more than that in a month.

It's all about self discipline. There might be some tricks to help out, but it's always about self discipline.

Every time you pick an item up, ask yourself if you really need it. Ask yourself if you went home without it, would you take the time to go back and get it.

Before you go to the checkout line, pull ten items from your cart and put them back on the shelf.

Maybe try not taking a card with you and only pay cash. That way you can limit how much you spend. If you only take $80 then you can't spend more than $80.

RealMarek · Answer

If anxiety is the culprit, there is not much better than exercise. It can burn off stress, which can help you with the compulsive eating. Try stretching and breathing routines after exercising. Also, keep eating a variety of food but increase the amount of salad because it is high-volume and can give help you feel full without so many calories. With sugary food, try cutting down to one serving a week or go cold turkey for awhile before gradually adding some back in. You can replace sweet snacks with berries and perhaps a small amount of nuts.

hahahmm · Answer

At this rate you will be broke soon & when you're broke you won't be able to afford to eat junk food so... give it time.

Or if you think about what I just wrote maybe you'll realize it's more important to reduce spending now than to delay action.

Anonymous · Answer

you spend more than half your paycheck every week on food (that you may not even need, since you said you're being impulsive)? cut back, buy cheaper and less food, put some money in a savings account. don't you want to be able to be independent?

Danny_dan92 · Answer

I have a sweet tooth as well, what helps me. Is resisting eating sugar in the morning. Cause from experience if I consume any sugar in the morning, my insulin levels will spike and then alll throughout the day I’m craving it, ending up eating more and more of it.

Best thing to do, is resist it. Drink water when you crave sugar. Then when you eat your meals you’ll notice you won’t be craving it.

driven159 · Answer

first off make a list of what you really need not junk stick to the list look at the store adds and see if some of the things on your list is on sale stop eating out make food at home make meals that you can get more than one meal out of it I guy day old French bread to make garlic bread I make a whole loaf of it so i have some for every meal AND MOST OF ALL STICK TO THE LIST!!!

Levin · Answer

Sometimes people hoard through an unconscious sense of lack. Like if you've experienced poverty or not having before, or it's in your family line. The same emotions play out from childhood.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Whenever you get the urge to buy something online, just think of how that money would have been better utilized buying things for your baby.

EaterPeter · Answer

Stopping something completely is almost impossible to do. Have a plan and a replacement. If you eat proper food before going anywhere. You will be able to manage your sugar intake and money better. A person who goes to grocery shopping at empty stomach ends up spending more and buying unneeded unwanted things.

Guardian45 · Answer

Eat in moderation the full color spectrum of fruits and veggies. Limit red meat and fish to twice a week. Eat chicken, turkey, tofu, soya, lentils, dark green veggies. Limit eggs, milk, butter, cheese and yogurt. Switch to goat or sheep or oat or almond milk (even better is camel or zebra, but they're impossible to get!)

Exercise daily for 45 minutes.

Stay away from sugar, processed and fast foods. Shop the edges of the grocery store, not the middle aisles!

TallAnon · Answer

Set realistic goals and track it, if you're behind schedule, you can't spend/eat anymore.
For example, I set up my expected earnings for the month I am moving (6 months from now), based on me spending at most 40 a day. I ended up spending 41 for some reason? Tomorrow 39.

Anonymous · Answer

Go see a doctor. Maybe he can straighten you out with some healthy lifestyle tips. The only person who can truly help you is you. Maybe some reinforcement would help. Tell yourself you are gonna go to the gym and change your diet from now on. Speak it into existence.

genericname85 · Answer

it only takes like 1-2 weeks for me personally to completely change my nutrition habits to the point where i don't even crave sugar or junk food anymore. but these 2 weeks, you gotta be very strict with youself.

CallmeTheKnight · Answer

Make a list of what the things that you paid for throughout last month. Add up them all up, expenses and neccessities as well. Subtract the junk food, fast food, and crap, then you can see how much extra money you wasted.

242plusInfinity · Answer

You don't have an impulsive problem, you have a self-image problem.  The fat person doesn't have an eating problem. That is just a symptom. They have a self-image problem.

duttyjamagyal · Answer

Yeah I used to buy mad takeout but I'm running low on cash which is why stopped, so I don't know but hey I think Wellbutrin helps as like an appetite curber or something

Staximus · Answer

There are feel breathing and breath holding exercises for anxiety. Research it. Look up Wim Hof too

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Sometimes Anxiety can make us crave sugar and buy foods not healthy for us.

Iron_Man · Answer

Try to overcome impulse buying just get what you need and look for sales buy one get one free

Wise4myage · Answer

Self discipline and moderation, and learn how bad sugar is for your body.

Still-alive · Answer

maybe hide your money or debit card away so its harder to get to?

Deku2009 · Answer

Teaching yourself, some self control, by slowly stopping what ever your doing

Subarugirl · Answer

It’s called self control

LemiaOfThunder · Answer

Budget yourself to certain amount.

Zolly99999 · Answer

All I can say is good luck lol

saffoler · Answer

Budgeting.

ArtemisSilver · Answer

Get a guy to findom you

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