How To Stop Overspending

Are you like the Rebecca Bloomwood from “Confession of a Shopaholic?” Do you feel that shopping lifts you out of stress and gives you a kick? Do your local stores know you by face and give you credit within a second? Do you prefer shopping over a spa treatment? Is sale a festival for you? Do you prefer store credits as birthday present? If most of the answers are yes, then probably you’re one of the many victims of shopping addiction. You know that you shouldn’t be spending money, but when you are in the market, you feel that you owe a visit to the stores. Even if your house is filled with things, you keep on adding to them. Shopping addiction is a grave problem and should be taken seriously any time, not to talk about the time of economic depression. Here are some steps for you to follow to get out of this bad addiction and kiss goodbye to being in debt, for good. Read on an know how to stop overspending.

 

 

One of the main culprits, credit card allows you to spend now and pay later. It tempts you to go for impulse shopping, where you buy stuffs what you even don’t need and will not use in the near future as well. Shopping from credit card doesn’t give you an estimate of how much you are overspending.

 

Until you admit that you have a problem, no one can help you. So, confess to yourself or to anyone close about your addiction. This will help you see your problem from a different perspective and force you to find the causes for it. The next time you shop, your mind will urge you to buy less.

 

Plan your monthly budget and stick to it. You don’t have to be miser about it. Allow a general allowance, but not so much that it disrupts your whole month’s saving. Open different saving accounts and keep a part of your earnings in them, helping you save money for the future.

 

The policy is not to ask money from anyone. Debt is bad in any case, but it becomes worse when you ask it for shopping. When you go in debt, you have to return it too and it disrupts your whole budget. Also, if you’re not able to return the money on time, you would lose face in front of the lender.

 

Plan your purchases, even the small ones, in advance. This will give you an idea of how much you are going to spend and in that case, you’re more likely not to cross your limit.

 

If your limit is to spend a certain amount of money on shopping, try not to spend a penny over that. Remember that you will regret spending more, when your shopping spree gets over.

 

Slash the problem from the root. When you are carrying more money, you will spend more. So, carry a limited amount with you, in accordance with your daily necessities.
 

When you’re free, you would crave shopping more. It is like any other kind of addiction. Therefore, you need to keep yourself busy and avoid the temptation to shop altogether.

 

If you want to stop drinking, you have to keep out of the brewery. The same formula works in case of shopping as well. Don’t frequent markets without any apparent reason.

 

Have a look at all the things that you bought in past, but were never able to use. It will remind you of the money that you spent on unnecessary things, when you could have saved the money for future.

 

Don’t take excessive shopping lightly. It’s a disorder and should be cured. It may be an emotional void that you’re trying to fill or that you get a buzz out of it. Even if you want a relief from stress, overspending is erroneous. If you feel that nothing is working out and find yourself in increasing debts every month, don’t hesitate to consult a therapist.