Saving money is not really something you can avoid forever and although it’s never too late, the sooner you get started the better. There’s no getting away from the importance of money in this world for a secure future, and so the best thing to do is play the game as best you can by following a few guidelines and setting budgets and rules for yourself in order to reach your financial goals.
People are often very motivated to save money, but what often gets in their way is good ol’ fashion temptation. We’ve all been there. It’s hard to avoid the marketing and sales sometimes, but it’s those of use who do that benefit the most in the end.
Here are a few tips that will help you avoid temptation to a point where it gets you into trouble and stops you from saving money.
Avoidance
If you completely take your biggest temptations out of the picture then it certainly makes it easier to not spend the money. For instance, if your biggest weakness is buying shoes that are on sale, then simply don’t go to shoe stores. That doesn’t mean you never buy shoes, but only go when you need them and they’re within the budget that you’ve created for them.
Save on groceries
Bring a list to the grocery store and only buy what’s on the list. Do not give in to temptations in the snack aisle (or any other aisle). Creating a grocery list with a predetermined budget will help you prioritize the foods you really need and will help you stick to your plans and save money.
Leave credit at home
When you’re going shopping to buy specific needs, bring enough cash and leave credit cards at home. If you are tempted by sales on items you don’t really need, you won’t be able to purchase them with your card if it’s not in your pocket. This is a huge reason why people fall into the credit card debt trap.
These are just a few of the common temptations that people succumb to with their money. You may have specific temptations that create obstacles in your saving money plans that need to be stopped, but you can probably use the info above and apply it to your situation. The idea is to budget, plan, and set goals. Then, practice self-discipline. You will be greatly rewarded with a financially secure future.
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October 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Avoiding the temptation is easier said than done. I had to work hard to get through the emotional spending habits I had. It wasn’t easy. Now I know all the tricks. Many of us are living our financial lives according to what others will think. We let others control our money. When you can learn how to become happy with yourself is when you can start to curb the temptations. Do your homework and stop worrying about what others think about you. You will lose thousands of dollars by letting other people control your spending and 20 years from now, those people will be gone from your life.
My wife and I like to push the cart through the store and really think hard about every item in it. We go through a check list in our mind to see if each item is an emotional purchase, and if it is, we put it back. We think first. and we think about our future.
By the way, very nice blog.
Dave Drew
Money Saving Author
changeforus.com