Sometimes, the thing that makes us go over budget are certain triggers that take away our self control. You know, those things that send you into a spending frenzy or make you overpay for an item when it’s just not worth it. There is one way to stop them and that is to do your best to avoid these triggers altogether!
Take a look at the list below to see if you relate to any of the spending triggers and learn how to stop impulse spending:
Stress
One main trigger is stress, being aggravated, feeling down, or on edge. Seeking out shopping as an outlet while you are on edge or upset is completely normal. BUT it’s not healthy and really leads to a lot of impulse buys. Try to find a new outlet for your emotions, something like yoga, walking, doing puzzles, a long hot bath, or even playing with your kids. It might take awhile to retrain yourself, but if you keep at it, you can nip that bad habit in the bud.
Boredom
Just like with stress, many of us use shopping to fill the void of boredom. We aimlessly browse the aisles or online to kill time and it ends up leading us into many purchases we might not otherwise make. If you are shopping simply out of boredom find another way to relieve the boredom – read a book, take a walk, have some friends over or clean out a closet and donate a bag full of items – what a great way to reverse the spending!
Addiction
Plain and simple, shopping can be an addiction. Those sparkly shoes fly into the cart, that butter soft purse goes right on top, and heck, toss in that new set of towels. Everything you like is getting tossed into that cart…and it feels great! Shopping can be a real high for some but unfortunately, like all highs, the euphoria is short lived. Especially once you realize the balance of your credit card or bank account. If this sounds like you, look for healthier alternatives, like sports and exercise, to get that same rush of excitement, or this trigger can ruin your life.
Celebration
Maybe it’s not some “bad” emotion or stress that is causing you to spend impulsively, but something fabulous that happened. Maybe it was that raise you finally got at work, or you finished a semester at university with top marks. While rewarding yourself for big things can be important and a great motivator, it’s important to keep your rewards in check. Instead of a big spending binge, try taking yourself to the movies or grab an ice cream cone. Small rewards can feel just as great as big ones.
Sales
Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean it is necessarily a good buy. Do you really need it? Will it get used? Is it worth the sale price? The lure of a sale can make us buy things we wouldn’t normally buy just because it looks like a deal. Look carefully at your motive behind the impulse to grab it. If the item is something you would normally buy, you can still take a little time to comparison shop and make sure you are getting the best deal.
Kids
Sometimes it is impossible to get to the store without kids but if you can, I suggest you do your shopping without them in tow. Grocery stores and every other kind of store is intentionally designed to turn them into materialistic begging little children. Candy…right at the checkout with other items like trading cards, as seen on TV items, and little toys that call out to our kids, and they listen! But even as you stroll the aisles it could be a special box of cereal, a treat, just one lunch pack, one convenience food, etc.. and we add way more to our cart than we would if we were alone following our carefully crafted list because we love those little children of ours!
Convenience
Too tired to cook? Just pull up the Domino’s app and pizza dinner will be at your doorstep in minutes. Convenient yes but does it lead to needless overspending? I think so. As convenient as they may be, when you have Domino’s, Amazon and other similar stores apps on your cell phone or tablet it makes it too easy to make impulse buys. Consider deleting all your shopping apps and maybe taking the extra step to get on the computer or phone will cut back your spending. In both instances there’s a disconnect between us and our purchases and it makes it so much easier to part with our hard earned money.
A great way to pinpoint your spending trigger is to stop every time you want to make a purchase and try to figure out why. Do you really need it? Are you just bored? Are you only buying it because it’s on sale? Keep track in a notebook, you might be surprised at what triggers you to spend.
What triggers your impulse spending? How do you try to deal with those triggers?
Credit card debt is something that millions of Canadians struggle with. It’s like a vicious cycle that never stops, unless you can get rid of the credit cards. However, it’s no secret that emergencies happen and sometimes those credit cards can be a lifesaver. Check out these tips for avoiding credit card debt this year.
Use the Cash Envelope System
If you have never used the cash envelope system, it’s definitely worth trying! Basically, you create a budget and use the cash envelopes as a way to hold the money for your various budget categories. For example, in your budget, you might have allotted $50 for eating out for the month. That $50 would go in your eating out envelope and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Set Up That Emergency Fund
It’s absolutely nearly impossible to stay out of debt if you’re not able to pay things off when they arise. Start setting up your emergency fund now, so you can stay out of trouble later. It’s recommended that you have at least three months of living expenses saved up, but you can do what you feel is best for your situation.
Cut Up the Credit Cards
Of course one of the most common sense ways to avoid credit card debt is to cut up the credit cards. Instead of relying on credit cards, you can build up a savings. Having your emergency fund in place will help you avoid using a credit card when emergencies arise.
Avoid Big Purchases
Many people use their credit card to purchase bigger items that they cannot normally afford. Friends, this is called living above your means. You probably don’t need a new television or a bigger bed if you cannot pay cash for it. Sometimes avoiding these big purchases can help you be thankful for what you already have. Instead of using a credit card, start saving cash for your next purchase.
Don’t Put Someone Else on Your Credit Card
For some reason there is an option that allows you to put someone else on your credit card. This will rack up your credit card amount fast. The only one who should have access to your credit card is you. If your credit card gets lost or stolen, this can mean big trouble for your finances. If you’re trying to avoid credit card debt, it’s probably best to not put someone else’s name on your credit card.
Know the Details of Your Credit Card
There are some credit cards out there that come with a hefty price tag. They lure you in with their lovely interest rates and then pounce on you whenever the promotional interest rate is up. Always read the fine print to your credit card.
Do you have some credit card debt to work off this year? How are you going to accomplish that? What are your tips for staying credit card debt free?
How to create a simple budget plan for debt repayment
A budget plan can easily help you to overcome past debt issues and pay down debt so you can become financially free. There are many ways to accomplish this, but a simple and straight forward budget plan will help make it even easier to manage. These tips for how to create a simple budget plan specifically for debt repayment will help you to get out of debt easier and faster than ever before.
Take a serious look at all expenses.
The best and most simple budget plans begin when you get serious about what you have coming in and going out each month. It’s time to get serious and focus not only on your expenses but also on what you can do to increase your income.
If you see that you are living outside your means no matter how you arrange your budget, it’s time to start downsizing or making major changes. Unfortunately, this can mean a second job for some people. For others it may mean cutting out a gym membership, special events, eating out or even selling the second family car. Whatever you do, you need to look at each and every expense and evaluate the necessity and ability to change it to improve your budget plan for debt repayment.
Make savings a major priority.
A savings account cannot be an option. It has to be a must-have and a priority on your list. For most people, the lack of savings is what has resulted in higher debt. If there was more money in savings, many expenses would not have occurred and would have easily been provided for. A savings account should be set up to create an emergency fund and backup plan should anything happen where you have unexpected expenses.
You can easily set this up by having funds direct depositedout of your paycheck. If you feel there is no room in your budget for savings, look to some of the things mentioned above to eliminate some expenses to create a savings budget. Even if you can only save $25 a week or even a month, this is a great beginning to a savings account that can help save the day when something unexpected occurs.
Set aside 5% toward debt repayment to begin and move upwards.
It seems like a small amount, but if you make $3000 per month that is still $150. That amount can easily be set aside to pay off debt once you’ve assessed your necessary expenses. Over the course of one year, you can pay off $1800 in debt. That is a significant amount for many families.
As you are able, you can increase that monthly percentage in 5% increments. A 15% – 20% debt repayment plan can make a huge difference in no time toward your family being debt free.
Building a functional but simple budget plan is easy. You truly only need to know what your income and expenses are, then work those numbers until you are able to also make room for savings and debt repayment. The difficult part comes in ridding yourself of unnecessary expenses. Because really, that’s not fun, but I’m positive you will feel so happy once you get your debt payments rolling and knocked off!
If you are able, living below your means to pay off debt is a great way to make sure you are financially secure for years to come. This is truly one of the easiest ways to maintain a healthy financial outlook. Learning to live below your means gives you the ability to focus on bettering your life, saving for the future and become satisfied with what you already have.
Don’t upgrade even if you can afford to in your budget.
This is truly the biggest part of living below your means. When you can afford an upgrade, it’s hard to resist doing it. The truth is, very few upgrades are needed. A larger home is almost always unnecessary. A new phone every time the latest version is released is rarely necessary. Even new shoes, pants or seasonal wardrobes aren’t really needed for most people every year. Stop competing with those around you. Truly focus on buying only what you need instead of what you want.
Upgrades to avoid when you’re paying off debt:
New vehicle when your existing one is sufficient and/or paid for and able to be repaired for less.
Upgrade to larger or nicer home or apartment when your current home is sufficient for your family size.
Upgrades to cellular phones, televisions, gaming systems and other electronics
Upgrades to adult wardrobes when clothing owned is in good condition and wearable. Kids grow fast and upgrades are expected. Most adults can wear the same items for much longer than children.
Never pay full price for anything.
I’m always trying to share the best deals with you and of course, trying to encourage coupon use. Before you buy anything, from groceries to new clothing or a car, check for sales, coupons, rebates and any promotional discount available.
When you pay off a debt, apply that payment toward other debt.
One way to continue living below your means is to put any “extra” money toward other debt or savings. When you pay off one debt, it may feel like you have extra money to spend. Instead of looking at that money as more you can spend, look at it as if it is more to save. You can apply that money toward other debts, or directly into your savings account if debt has been alleviated. You can then continue as you are in your monthly budget, effectively living below your means and saving more for future needs.
Have extra wages directly deposited into savings.
If you receive a raise, or have extra funds in your paycheck each pay period that don’t apply directly to budgetary needs, then ask your employer to direct deposit part of your paycheck right into your savings account. This way you can create a quality savings account to help pay off debt or to be there for an emergency fund in the future as needed.
You can easily begin living below your means to help pay off debt even if your budget is paycheck to paycheck. Focus on what you can save and put as much as possible toward your debt payments to create a better financial future for yourself.
I’d love to hear your tried and true ways that you have used to pay off debt. Let me know in the comments!
There are tons of tips for how to live frugally to pay off debt out there. But today, I have gathered some of what I feel are the best ways for you to focus your income to get rid of debt and create financial freedom. Some simple changes in how you view money can truly make all the difference in the world.
Create a functional household budget.
A functional household budget is actually looking at your true reliable monthly income and true reliable monthly expenses. Fluctuating pay from part-time jobs that aren’t consistent, selling something online or occasional side jobs are not consistent and shouldn’t be included in your household budget. Focus on what is your primary income, then create a list of all your regularly occurring expenses. This list should include things like housing, utilities, transportation, health, savings, groceries and similar items.
A functional budget shows you what you have coming in and going out each month. If you have less coming in than going out, it’s time to look closely at the differences. Is the difference because your income is too low, or is it because you’re making poor spending choices? It’s often a combination of both poor spending habits and an income issue. If you cannot easily change your income status, it’s time to look at what your expenses actually are and streamline as much as possible. That means eliminating things that are not necessities until you are in the clear and able to meet your needs.
Understand wants versus needs.
This is one of the biggest things to understand when you want to know how to live frugally to pay off debt. It boils down to what is coming in as income and going out as expenses. Typically the expenses that are unnecessary are what have to go. What is necessary to some is not to others. For my online business I have to have Internet at home to do my work efficiently. Others can do with using their cellular phone carrier for using the Internet. What is a necessity to me is a want for them. Take the time to look in detail at each item on your expense sheet and determine what can be removed as a want until you are better able to afford it.
Things to consider that are typically wants and not needs:
Newer vehicle
Larger home or living space
Pampering like: manicures, pedicures, professional hair styling, massages or spa treatments
Eating out
Entertainment like: new video games, movie theater tickets, or amusement parks
Make savings a priority.
Ultimately if you want to live frugally to pay off debt, you need to also consider saving money in the process. For most families, debt racks up because of a lack of savings to pay for expenses that occur unexpectedly. A savings account is not just for vacations and future purchases, but for unexpected expenses. Job loss, poor health, vehicle repairs or even a new roof on your home can all happen out of nowhere and quickly incur debt if you do not have a savings fund in place.
Once you realize what you have coming in and going out each month, you can begin to focus on how and where to save money. Using coupons, eliminating expenses and cutting corners can all be done better once you understand what your true financial needs are.
Does it concern you that you don’t have an emergency fund? If so, it’s not too late to change that! Building an emergency fund can offer you peace of mind as well as the cash you need for a rainy day. Here are 5 ideas to help you easily and efficiently build an emergency fund. Here is how to get started:
1. Set your goals.
Write down what your goal is for your emergency fund. Start low so it feels like something within reach. For example, choose an amount like $500. This would be enough to cover the cost of an appliance if one were to die on you or an unexpected bill.
2. Start with “small change.”
Start your fund by collecting your change. Every time you make a purchase and have change from the transaction, save it. If you find change around the house, store it away and save it. After 30 days, take your change and cash it in. Take the cash and add it to your emergency savings.
3. Go on a week long spending fast.
For one week, vow not to spend money. Instead, pack your lunch. Make your own coffee. Don’t buy any new clothing or entertainment items. Then, take the estimated cost of these items and put it in your fund. For example, if you spend $30 a week on lattes, take that $30 instead and place it in the fund.
4. Set aside 10 – 15% of your weekly income.
When you deposit your paycheck, take 10 – 15% off the top and put it in your emergency fund. It will be easier not to spend it if you don’t even see it in the first place. As you get comfortable with this amount, you can bump it up to 20% or more.
5. Sell what you don’t need.
Do you have a bunch of items around the home you don’t use anymore? Sell them! Ebay, Facebook Buy & Sell groups, Kijiji and Craigslist are a great way to unload unnecessary items. Take the money you make from your sales and add it to your emergency fund.
When you give these tips a try, you can quickly and easily build your emergency fund! Having an emergency fund on hand can help you feel more secure and prepared for the future as well. Give these tips a try and see what you can save. You are sure to be amazed!
What are your tried and true ways to building an emergency fund?
