The Recovering Spender

July 31, 2016 by Susan B.

017: Post Interview Thoughts, Lending Money, Painful (Inconvenient) Honesty, Online Group, & Reading 7/31: “Sisterly/Brotherly Love”

In this Episode:

00:00 The Podcast is Now on YouTube
Just to let you know, I’m starting to post some episodes on YouTube. What’s cool about it is that if you click on the time stamp, you can go right to that section. Still just the audio, but this way, if you get bored, you can just move right on to the next section! Click here to go to my YouTube channel.

02:42 Thoughts about my conversation with Lauren Greutman
Feedback from a listener shifted my perspective!

25:26 Lending Money
Thoughts on lending money when you are a compulsive spender, underearner, and/or debtor.
lending3

29:38 Painful (Inconvenient) Honesty
A story about my bottom line.
Continue reading →

July 24, 2016 by Susan B.

016: Interview with Lauren Greutman & July 29th Reading: Fear of Creditors

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

In this Episode:

[Note: This podcast is longer than usual, nearly an hour.]

00:00 Introduction to the Interview
Where I introduce my guest, Lauren Greutman, author of the upcoming book, “The Recovering Spender.” I talk about my trepidation regarding the interview, and explain why I decided to proceed.
Continue reading →

Posted in Podcast Episodes | Tagged Chip and Joanna Gaines, compulsive spending, daily reader for compulsive debtors and spenders, Fixer Upper, IamTHATLady.com, konmari, Lauren Greutman, Marie Kondo, recoveringspender.com, spending plan, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, The Recovering Spender, YNAB, You Need a Budget | 2 Comments

Support our work

Click here to find out how you can support the podcast.

Search

Books by Susan B.

"Daily Reader for Compulsive
Debtors and Spenders" (Print & E-Book)

Filled with practical tips, inspiration, and a thought for each day, the Daily Reader will encourage and motivate you to stay on the path of recovery.

Click here to read more, view sample pages, or to purchase.

Get Our Five Year Recovery Journal FREE! (A $9.99 Value!)*

*Click here for a description of this invaluable aid!

This 250 page book can be used for all types of addictions and for those who suffer from multiple addictions. It’s fun and easy to use. Just one sentence a day, or even a little drawing, will give you a profound picture of your recovery over time.

CLICK HERE to Get the PDF version of the journal as our FREE gift!

12 Step Recovery Programs for Compulsive Spenders, Debtors, & Shopaholics

All three of these programs can help you recover from this hopeless and demoralizing condition. Check out phone meetings if there are no face-to-face meetings nearby:

Debtors Anonymous
(Please don't let the name deter you. You don't have to have debt to find recovery in this program. Remember, a spender is just a debtor who hasn't run out of money yet.)

Underearners Anonymous

Spenders Anonymous
(No phone meetings ... yet, but they provide everything you need to start one.)

Non-12 Step Resources

These are not 12-step programs, but I think these sites can be of value to those in or out of 12 step programs:

Getting Out from Going Under: Guide to Recovery for Compulsive Debtors and Spenders
This was Susan B.’s original blog (created in 2012), where she shared her experience, strength, and hope. Contains lots of step-by-step instructions and tips.

GreenPath Financial Wellness
They are the only debt consolidation company I trust because I know three people who were helped by GreenPath and got out of debt. In addition, I had two sessions with them, but by that point, I had already consolidated and they weren’t able to do anything more. I was very impressed with them. They are a non-profit. And here is the Consumer Affairs website where they have an overall five star satisfaction rating.

RecoveringShopaholic
Debbie Roes provides very helpful information for shopaholics. While she is not 12-step focused, Debbie offers a lot of helpful information based on her own experience, strength, and hope.
(I wrote an article for this site awhile back on why Debtors Anonymous is not just for debtors.)

Site for compulsive shoppers (part of the Shulman Center). Though the site is called “Shopaholics Anonymous,” please be aware that it is not a traditional 12-step program, but part of the Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft, Spending, and Hoarding. I have spoken at length with Terrence Shulman, read his book, and believe his heart is in the right place, and he has a lot of good information to help compulsive spenders and shopaholics.

Spending Plan Software

There is no shortage of spending plan software. I haven’t even heard of many of them! I may test and review them in the future.

YNAB
(YNAB stands for “You Need a Budget”)
This is the spending plan software I use. Note: If you use my link, I will get a free month if you sign up. However, you get 34 days free to evaluate the software.

Other spending plan resources:

Excel Deluxe “Envelopes” Check Register Spreadsheet
(with One-Click Sort, plus Reconcile Section): $11.95
I played around with this and found it to be a really great option. The only downside for me was that you are limited to only 50 categories. You can test it out with the free version, which only allows five categories.

Every Dollar (Dave Ramsey’s solution)

There are plenty more … just ran out of energy. 🙂

If you know of any others I should add, please let me know!