It’s fun to go shopping and buy things. For some people, it’s a form of recreation. I certainly understand that, but a lot of money gets wasted. I believe in spending, but I don’t believe in wasting (regardless of whether or not you can afford it).

So, how can you curtail your urge to spend?

1. Don’t spend as entertainment. Go to the store when you need necessities or something specific. Don’t window-shop for entertainment - that’s a killer. When I was in graduate school, my rule was if I had anything left over at the end of the month after carefully taking care of bills all month long, then it was splurge time.

2. Don’t spend your time browsing online retail sites. It is so easy to just hit “order” with one click.

3. Keep a piece of paper and write down the circumstances where you get the urge to spend. Maybe it’s boredom, unhappiness, anger, or frustration.  You’ll find out a lot about your emotions and your lifestyle, and you’ll then be able to deal with those emotions.