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Overspending is a hard habit to break for some. In fact, it’s a widespread problem that can affect one’s ability to spend their hard-earned money wisely and save up for the future.
If you want to stop spending on unnecessary things and start saving, you need to learn how to quit living paycheck-to-paycheck. It’s crucial to be serious about saving and be proactive about it. If you’re having a hard time getting started, these tips might help.
Leave your cards at home.
When going out, avoid bringing your credit cards and stick to using cash. There’s no other way to put it: credit cards encourage you to overspend. It gives you the idea that you can buy something now and just pay for it later.
You see, if you can’t afford to buy something in cash now, then you’re obviously overspending using your credit card. While credit cards are great for high-value purchases, taking them with you all the time enables you to buy things that you don’t really need.
Only bring your credit cards if you’re planning to buy high-value items, such as big appliances or furniture. If you can afford to pay for what you need in cash, do so.
Shop with a list and stick to it.
Retail and grocery stores are traps. If you’re a serial overspender, you’ve probably already experienced going to the mall or supermarket to buy a few things specifically, only to end up with bags and bags of items that you didn’t really intend to buy.
To combat this phenomenon, make a list of things that you need to buy and make sure that you buy those only. As much as possible, don’t let yourself be tempted to buy something that’s not on your list. If you find something that you wish to buy, save it for your next shopping’s list. This way, you’ll have time to assess whether you really need or want that item. You can also evaluate if your budget allows you to get it.
Give it time.
Did you see something online or in-store that you want to buy? Don’t do it right away, especially if it’s a big purchase like a new phone or other electronics. Give yourself at least a day to think. Did you sleep soundly without thinking about that item over and over again? If you answer yes, then you probably don’t want or need it that badly.
If you wake up the next day still wanting to buy it, give it another few days until a week. If, after a week, you still feel the need to get it for some reason, make sure you have enough cash on hand to pay for it and do not rely on your credit cards.
Find a strict shopping buddy.
Talk to your mom, dad, sibling, or a close friend and tell them about your goal of minimizing your expenses. Then, enlist their help when you go shopping. Ask them to be firm about not letting you give in to your shopping impulses.
Get someone else to shop for you.
Got your list and your cash? If you can get someone to shop for you, you’ll be saving yourself from temptation and still get the items that you actually need!
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