Posted on December 4, 2007 at 12:21 pm I have a friend who loves to shop, and she used to drag me out with her all the time.  Even when I didn't plan to buy anything, I'd generally come home with an item or two that I couldn't really afford.  When we were on our shopping outings, we always ate at nice restaurants and sometimes took a break to see a movie.  She gave me a bad time when I told her I wanted to stay in touch but couldn't keep spending money I didn't have.  Have you had friends who pressure you to spend more than you are comfortable with?

Posted on December 4, 2007 at 3:09 pm Not to that extent, but just about every place I've worked it seems the people I work with always want to go to lunch at a nice restraunt.  I'm all for getting out most days, for the mental release of leaving the office, but I'd much rather eat a $5 hamburger combo than pay $12 at a sit down restraunt.

Posted on December 4, 2007 at 7:09 pm I did know people who is like that. But i always manage to keep my emotions and buy thing not intentionally been on the plan. But i do have friends who will ask to go out and have a drink and i end up paying the bills afterward.

Posted on December 4, 2007 at 8:30 pm Not good also to have this kind of friends. During study time, yes I do have this kind of friends who always like to go out for shopping. And same to me, even have no much money I still buy the things I don't really need. But after earn my own money, I mean after got a job, I left all this stupid habits. Even go out with friends, I don't simply but things that not important for me. So far I can control myself now, from being the previous person I do before. Luckily I can manage my money well now.

Posted on May 29, 2008 at 8:06 pm I've always tried to stick with friends who have similar values about the types of activities we enjoy doing... most of my friends have been more inclined to hit the thrift stores than the mall.

Posted on June 5, 2008 at 3:09 am Luckily I don't have friends like that. If I do, I think I will be broke right now. I guess I belong the frugal group of people who take money as very hard to come by. We use every single cents wisely and rarely buying things on impulse. By this way, we are still able to keep our head above the water all these years even with the current economy downturn. 

Posted on June 8, 2008 at 3:30 am I had a boyfriend pressure me into debt, it was a slow going thing, but it spiralled out of control in the end. Never a good thing to do, but when you are in a relationship it is easier to let it happen, especially when the two people have entirely different spending habits.

Posted on August 18, 2008 at 10:04 am I have been lucky that i dont have such friends. but i have a wife and maintaining her is a BIG issue for me. she loves to shop, she loves to eat out. after she became pregnant, she had left the job. now my son is almost 3. and she is still interested in sitting at home. iam trying to convince her to take up a new job, that ways we will earn more and she will have less time to spend my hard earned moneyVik

Posted on September 24, 2008 at 11:54 am I don't have friends that pressure me to buy things- But I still over buy when I'm with them.  It's crazy- I go in knowing I'm not buying a ton- and then we shop and shop and I end up spending too much money. It actually happens a lot.

Posted on October 2, 2008 at 6:56 am If you don't want to lose the friendships, but you can't afford their lifestyle, challenge them to walk in your shoes on their next shopping spree.  You set the agenda by planning the day - give them a written schedule of where you will go and what you will do.  Make a game of it and include things like: 1.   A visit to your local second-hand clothing shops, where they must purchase a complete outfit for under $20, and be prepared to wear it. 2.   Ask them to bring a lunch for themselves that they are prepared to share with others, then choose a park where you can have an old-fashioned picnic.  With everyone sharing each others food, there will be plenty of variety and interest.  You can make it fun with a few physical games to get them ready for the next activity. 3.   Each person must find a venue where you can get drinks for under $10.  The venue with the lowest price is the one where you all meet after lunch. You get the idea - the only limit is your imagination.  If you do it well, you will all have fun on a shoestring.  And you are doing your friends a favour by showing them that happiness and enjoyment come from the company you keep, not how much money you have to spend.