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In last week’s post, I talked about the 9 Signs That You’re Overspending. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out here.
I didn’t want to give you the signs without giving you tips on how to stop overspending.
Taking the steps to get in control of your spending will help you achieve the money goals you didn’t think were possible.
Here are 11 ways to stop overspending.
TRACK YOUR SPENDING
One way to get an understanding of how and where you are spending your money is to track your spending.
When you are tracking your spending you can’t fool yourself about much you are spending.
You could use a small notebook to track your spending, but I am a fan of using technology.
One way you can track your spending is by using the apps on your phone.
You can set up tracking tables in the Notes apps or the Evernote app.
You can also use Google Sheets, the columns you should add are the date, place and amount but it would be even better if you tracked the reason for the purchase, how you feel and if it was a want or a need.
RELATED: How To Track Your Expenses
FIGURE OUT YOUR SPENDING TRIGGERS
If you are tracking your spending and your mood you will be able to see what triggers you to spend.
For example:
Do you feel the need to spend money because your friend is shopping too?
Instead of shopping, you can be the stylist and help your friend pick out a complete outfit.
You can also suggest other activities that don’t cost as much money, so you are still having fun with your friends but still saving money.
Do you shop when you’re upset or stressed out?
What are some other ways you could do to relieve your stress that doesn’t cause you to spend money or gain weight?
You can go for a walk, go to the gym, listen to music, vent to one of your close friends or journal about it.
RELATED: 9 Signs Your Overspending
SWITCH TO AN ALL-CASH DIET
Have you heard of the envelope method?
With the envelope method, you are assigning dollar amounts to each budget category and putting cash in the envelopes to pay for your expenses.
By switching to a cash diet you are not going to be as willing to spend money frivolously because you will be able to see how much money you have left after each purchase.
Now in order for this to work you will need to take your debit and credit cards out of your wallet and place them somewhere safe (safe deposit box, maybe) where you will not pull them back out randomly.
GIVE YOURSELF FUN MONEY
Fun money is money that you can spend with no questions asked.
I love the whole concept of fun money because I think that it keeps you balanced.
You're able to still spend without feeling restricted but you're also able to allocate the money you need towards your bills and your financial goals.
The best way is by choosing the amount of fun money that you would need on a weekly basis and to withdraw it as cash or put it in a checking account just for fun money.
RELATED: Why you need FUN Money
WIPE THE HISTORY AND DELETE THE HISTORY ON YOUR COMPUTER
I know you didn't expect this one but your computer can hold your credit card information if you have saved it to your favorite shopping websites.
In order to help you avoid temptation, the best thing to do is to wipe your history on your computer and delete those cookies.
You should also remove your credit card information from Amazon and Paypal.
Technology today makes it so easy to be able to make purchases without your debit or credit card so it’s best to limit all of those options.
CREATE A BUDGET
Creating a budget gives you a plan for every dollar that you have coming in from all of your income sources.
Most people think that budgets are strict but you can actually build all of your fun into your budget, which includes going out with your friends, a little shopping, trips and whatever else you enjoy.
You just have to create a budget that fits your lifestyle and not the lifestyle you want to have.
RELATED: How To Create A Budget
BREAK DOWN ALL OF YOUR PURCHASES BY HOW MANY HOURS YOU NEED TO WORK.
By breaking down your purchases by how many hours you would need to work to cover that purchase it makes you aware of how much money you are actually spending and whether or not you want to spend money on that particular item.
For example, lets say that you see a shirt that’s cute but you don’t need it.
The shirt is $50 and you make $25 an hour.
You would have to work two hours plus the taxes to pay for the shirt.
Is the shirt worth 2 hours of work?
If you really broke down how long you would have to work to pay for an item, you will probably only purchase items that you really want.
SET SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS
Setting short-term financial goals will motivate you to change your spending habit to reach your goals.
Make sure that your short-term goal is considered a SMART goal so that it is specific measurable attainable realistic and time driven.
An example of a SMART goal is, I will save $300 within the next 3 months, by saving $100 each month.
Make sure you get an accountability partner to help you stay on track.
RELATED: 4 Steps To Reach Your Money Goals This Year
IMPLEMENT THE 24-HOUR RULE
By implementing the 24-hour rule when you see an item you would like to buy leave it in the store and give yourself 24 hours to decide if you really want to purchase the item.
When you leave something in the store and you're not thinking about it anymore after you leave the store then you really didn't want it in the first place.
But if it is still on your mind go back the next day and if you get the item then it was meant for you to have it.
What I think you will realize is a lot of things that you thought you needed or wanted, you didn’t want once you gave yourself 24 hours to think about the purchase.
So make sure that you implement this rule, especially for larger purchases.
UNSUBSCRIBE FROM STORE EMAILS
I feel like you have heard of this one before and didn’t do it.
Sorry, it works.
This is another great way to avoid temptation.
When you are not getting those daily and weekly emails from your favorite stores you have no idea when the sale is happening.
So you won't be shopping when you really don't have a reason to shop.
And yes, I realize that you will go back to that website and possibly purchase something but that's okay when they send you that first email after your purchase receipt just go ahead and unsubscribe again.
GIVE YOURSELF REWARDS
With all of the items that I mentioned above to help stop overspending, sometimes you can feel a little restricted but if you set up rewards for your actions at the beginning then you have something to work towards and some motivation.
You can give yourself rewards for achieving certain things like using all cash and not your cards, or achieving your short-term savings goals, tracking your spending or even leaving that nice pair of shoes that you really didn't need in the store.
Your rewards do not have to be the purchase, but it can be a particular drink at Starbucks or maybe it is a massage.
Your reward does not have to cost a lot but it should make you feel good.
