Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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The ShortChainger

Device which helps you rein in your spending.
  (+7)
(+7)
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The ShortChainger is a retractable keychain type device which attachs to your cashpoint or credit card. A wireless connection to your bank account lets you set a weekly or monthly spend limit which is automatically loaded onto your card. Every time you spend some money the chain gets shorter, in synch with your remaining budget, which provides a tactile reminder that your available balance is shrinking - similar to [not_morrison_rm]'s Variable Weight cashpoint card idea [linked].

It would become more and more difficult to spend money until eventually you couldn't even remove the card from your pocket. A supplementary incentive to reduce your spending would be the public humiliation of forcing you to contort your pelvis up near the cash register's scanner as the ShortChanger advertises your diminishing financial resources to the world in general and the cute cashier in particular. [EDIT] added an "i" to "Changer"

AusCan531, Apr 23 2012

Variable weight cashpoint card Variable_20weight_20cashpoint_20cards
This idea provided the spark of inspiration to come up with something more plausible to actually create [AusCan531, Apr 23 2012]

[link]






       sp: rein   

       Reign is to rule. Rein is to control. Rain is to precipitate.
UnaBubba, Apr 23 2012
  

       Geez, you're quick [Unabubba]. I posted the idea then took 9 nanoseconds to proofread it and you had already struck. Impressive reflexes.
AusCan531, Apr 23 2012
  

       I'm getting my groove back, it seems.
UnaBubba, Apr 23 2012
  

       Long may you rain.
AusCan531, Apr 23 2012
  

       "It's reigning men..." (I'll get back to the idea a little later.I'm on a train for 2 days and I've got lots of time to kill).
blissmiss, Apr 23 2012
  

       "It would become more and more difficult to spend money until eventually you couldn't even remove the card from your pocket" At this point removing your pants would be the only way of paying for the train ticket home.
erenjay, Apr 23 2012
  

       Knowing [blissmiss], that could have been her plan all along.
Alterother, Apr 23 2012
  

       //At this point removing your pants would be the only way of paying for the train ticket home//   

       Ah, a story as old as prostitution itself. Like the posting says, a disincentive to spending down your balance too far.
AusCan531, Apr 23 2012
  

       Erm.. That's not what I meant to imply. I was merely suggesting that public disrobing whilst entrained might be conducted by certain parties or persons purely for porpoises of personal entertainment and enlightenment, involving no profit or professional pursuit, per sé, pursuant ex extremitus, etc.
Alterother, Apr 23 2012
  

       //.I'm on a train for 2 days //
My commute feels like that sometimes too.
TolpuddleSartre, Apr 24 2012
  

       I've had exes pursue my extremities before...
RayfordSteele, Apr 24 2012
  

       How is the delightful Lorena these days, [Rayford]?
UnaBubba, Apr 24 2012
  

       //Knowing [blissmiss] ...//   

       {shoots [Alterother] an old-fashioned look}
pertinax, Apr 25 2012
  

       I've been shot at by worse. Okay, I don't actually personally know [blissy], but which Halfbaker _doesn't_ enjoy removing their pants aboard a train?
Alterother, Apr 25 2012
  

       Apparently John Wayne still sent her flowers from time to time after he became half the man he used to be...
RayfordSteele, Apr 25 2012
  

       Well howdy, ex-pardner.
UnaBubba, Apr 25 2012
  
      
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