Think it’s easy to control your spending? Every day there are more influences bombarding you, affecting your thinking. Learn to control emotional spending. Know how you’re going to pay for that? Whatever it is you’re thinking of buying next. Do you really need those things that you just have to have? Are you spending as much time convincing yourself as others about why a purchase is required? Thinking about a second job to help make ends meet? If any of this is ringing true for you, there is a very good chance your spending is out of control. Actually, it is just out of your control. The reality is all the purchasing activity going on in your life may have control over you. In order to get your spending under control check out the following 5 issues to determine if any (or all!) have you in a choke hold.

  1. Buying On Impulse: You’ve been exposed to it ever since your first trip with your mother to the supermarket. All that candy on the shelf right at your itty bitty eye level. That was no accident. And if you’re parents are like the vast majority, you most likely got what you saw (and wanted). At least once! Impulse items don’t have to just be in the check out line. Any purchase you’re getting ready to make should go through at least a 24 hour cooling off period. Maybe a week. Maybe longer. The point is, the longer you consider whether you really need that shiny, new thing, the less you probably really need it. Hold off. Wait. If you still have the need, the urge to have it, chances are you really need it. Martini’s, however are not in this category!
  2. Mad Ad Men: Rest assured there are some very diligent, focused and smart advertising folks in our world that will find a way to make you aware of the fodder they are spreading. Think about DVRing your television shows simply so you can speed past commercials. Magazine pages are more than half filled with ads begging for your attention. Buy me. Buy me. That’s more of what they are about than the publication’s actual subject matter. Do you get catalogs (by the truck load!)? Cancel them. While you’re at it, cancel those bi-weekly email offers from your favorite online vendors. You know where to find them when you need them.
  3. Tempting, So Very Tempting: Spend a lot of time “researching” on Ebay? Limit your time there and at other online destinations where you may be tempted to bid on something because its going to be gone in 3 days 27 minutes! Same goes with your visits to the mall, hobby shop, shoe store. Whatever your vices you know that if you’re smack dab in the middle of them, there’s a high likelihood you’ll be pulling out your credit cards.
  4. Accounting For Your Accountability: Hoping to get out of debt? Tell you loved ones and best friends. Make them promise to smack you upside your head when you are about to purchase those Manolo Blahniks. Outline your plan to get out of debt and post it up in the bathroom, or in your cubicle next to your computer monitor. Sticky notes where made to be placed on your credit cards reminding you what you’re financial goals are every time you take one out of your wallet.
  5. Failure To Get Jiggy With It: Like most containers, time needs something to fill it up. Need some entertainment, spend the small amount of money for a movie ticket before you buy a new home entertainment system. Keeping your time filled with interesting activities which enrich your life is a sure way of controlling those spending urges.

You’re never likely to stop spending money completely. This article’s not about that. It is about helping you come to terms with what’s happening in your life when the end of the month arrives, but the end of your money left the station days (or weeks) before. You can control your spending and develop your budget. Understand the urges which affect you will help you find success in your personal financial situation. How have you been affected by an uncontrollable spender?

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