This is just a small example of impulse spending. It can get way out of hand with much larger purchases.
Answer these questions truthfully:
1.)Does your spouse or partner complain that you spend too much money?
2.)Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives at how much more you charged than you thought you had?
3.)Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?
4.)Do you own every new gadget before it has time to collect dust on a retailer’s shelf?
5.)Do you buy things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?
If you answered “yes” to any two of the above questions, you are an impulse spender and indulge yourself in retail therapy.
Unfortunately, this is not a good thing. And again, unfortunately this is a difficult habit to break. It will run you up in debt, cause arguments with your significant other, cause buyers remorse, and a handful of other emotions and actions that just aren’t worth the purchase.
It will prevent you from saving for the important things like a house, a new car, a vacation or retirement. It will prevent you from paying off your debt!
You must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don’t matter in the long run. When you start to use a budget, you will notice many different expenses that make you go… “What he heck?”
These are the expenses that you can eliminate immediately! You will be very surprised about the other trends budgeting will bring to light.
Impulse spending will not only put a strain on your finances but your relationships, as well. To overcome the problem, the first thing to do is learn to separate your needs from your wants.
Advertisers blitz us hawking their products at us 24/7. The trick is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you have not planned for.
When you go shopping, make a list and take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy. Leave your credit cards at home.
If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without.
Keep your receipts. I am telling you that those little pieces of paper have saved me from continuing the dumbest purchasing decisions ever made.
By following these simple solutions, you will mend your financial fences and your relationships. Not to mention you will put more money in your pocket so you can immediately turn and pay off your debt!