One Simple Way to Curb Spending

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

25 Apr 2008 04:02 AM

It isn't hard to spend money, but it can be difficult to save. Here is one simple way to curb your spending and save. In fact, this method is so simple that you just might not believe me when I tell you that it works. But, it does.

Don't shop unless you know exactly what you want. If you know what will truly satisfy you, you can focus on that item and ignore all of the rest of the distraction. Did you know that most of the shopping that people do today is spur of the moment? We'll wander into a store, perhaps to get one or two things, and we will come out with several things. Or, we may wander into a store because we want to be entertained, and we will come out with "something" we didn't have before. One study states that 53 percent of groceries that are purchased are impulse buys!

We humans can get overwhelmed when it comes to choices. When given a choice, we often don't know where to begin. Or, we can't really make up our minds, and we wind up buying more than we need.

Imagine a favorite restaurant that makes an amazing omelet. You have been looking forward to having brunch at this restaurant for some time. When you finally do visit, you order the omelet and go home happy. Now imagine that the next time you visit, that same restaurant decides to offer a breakfast buffet. Rows and rows of food lay before you, from five different kinds of muffins, to fresh strawberries and succulent pears, crispy bacon, tasty sausage, bagels and cream cheese, etc. You still have the option of simply ordering the omelet. What would you do? Would you load up your plate with all sorts of things you didn't have any intention of eating when you arrived? Your waistline would certainly suffer, but wouldn't you have been just as satisfied with that omelet before you saw the buffet?

So my advice is to be firm about what you want or need before you shop. Do your research, make a list and stick with that list. When you finally get something that you have been looking forward to getting, you'll be more likely to use it more and enjoy it more.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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