The Debt Diet

So I'm on a diet. The debt diet. I saw it on Oprah. I'm forever striving to be better, and finances are one place that I really fall short. I'm a money spender, big time. I took the little quiz on her website and found out that I'm the worst kind of spender, I'm a compulsive spender. I buy things really for no reason other than having them. I'm constantly thinking of new things I want. And when I'm shopping I can't help myself. I grab for things here and there and walk out of the store with a WEEKLY shopping bill of $200. That's insane, were a three person family. The thing is I get nervous, I get this hot flushed feeling, and suddenly I'm thinking, "What else can I buy?" It's wierd, it's like an evil spirit takes over my body. And in reality I suppose it is an evil spirit because being a gluton is a sin. So here I am trying to be better. I made a shopping list today and I hope to stick to it tomorrow. I don't want to spend more than say $120. And I won't buy things that I don't need. No clothes, no toys for the kids, no make-up or girly things. Then, and here's the big one. I won't spend more than $25 dollars next week. You see I have this internal fight going on. I got my best friends son a firetruck for his birthday. It's cute and everything, I think Chi would love it. Shipping is going to be pretty high though, and a pain to find a box and all. Plus I bet he(the birthday boy) would benifit a lot more from clothes. Not a fun gift, but practicality has it's pluses. So I might go and get him some clothes and keep the firetruck for Chi. That will be where my 25 bucks gets spent. But then no more. So I guess I should set some goals for myself. Here they are; 1) Limit weekly spending. Cutting it off completly won't work because lets face it, I'm not that good. So maybe 20 bucks a week and that's it. 2) Put $20 aside each week for presents, that way I'm not in the quandry I am this week. Then when Christmas comes along I'll have gift money and won't have to resort to credit cards. 3) Eat at home, lunches included. Maybe eating out for lunch once a week is okay. 4) Remember to shut off lights and turn off the water and things of that nature to save money on bills. 5) Stay home more. It will help with the gas bill 6) Cut out projects. They are fun, Ilove them. But they suck up a big chunk of money. I think I spent $50 or more on paint last week for Boy #1's room. I'm going for a few things in this quest. 1) Pay off bills. No more credit cards, no more loans, no more car payment or student loan. And then attack the huge mortgage we have. 2) Set aside money for taxes so we don't dip into savings 3) Put more in savings 4) Teach my son that we don't need material things to be happy or entertained. 5) Have a more profitable future So that's itt in a nutshell. Let's see how much I can cut the fat.