by Arlene Mae

Created on: September 21, 2010

How to avoid buying things you don't need, is a simple matter but requires strong will power.  Of course there are a variety of ways to stop the endless spending on unmeaningful items.   The most effective answer is quite simple, almost too simple, like flossing your teeth. 

Take 30 seconds when the thought to buy comes to mind, stop and ask yourself if the item is a want or a need.  If its a want, its a no buy, unless you budget for it.  After all the name of the game is not to punish yourself but allow wants based on a knowledgeable and well thoughtout decision and the purchase is cash only. 

Other ways to avoid buying unneeded (wants) items would be:

Do not watch shopping shows on the television

Do not frequent malls or stores

Do not shop on the internet 

Do not socialize with shoppers (i.e. get more consciouse friends)

Find some morals

Ask yourself why you have this need and work on what is really driving this behavior

Help those less fortunate then yourself  (your priorties may shift if you are not so focused on your wants and gains)

Find something else that brings you joy

 Ask a friend (trustworthy) to hold your wallet and checkbook and to only give you money for needs.

Avoid making purchases on credit for wants, it is obvious you don't have the money and will fall into personal ruin if you continue at that pace.

Hopefully you are reading this article in time to help yourself. If you have already gone done the financially over run path, then contact  a Consumer Credit Counseling Center immediately, They train you on how to avoid buying wants and help you set up a budget.  They will work with your debtors to set up payment plans.  It may take a while but there will be financial gain in the long run.

Otherwise if you have the will power you can prepare your own budget and put in the line item for unneeded purchases, also include all of your costs to live;  costs such as rent, insurance, groceries, fuel, eating out and  dry cleaning to name a few, keep thinking, everything needs to be on the budget.

Live by your budget and if it allows a purchase of a item that is wanted versus needed then go ahead and purchase it.   This could be a monthly or yearly purchase, the longer time between the bigger purchase. 

Not all the ways to avoid buying unneeded items may apply to you but one or two do, then make a plan to counteract this behavior, nut do not forget to also reward yourself.

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