by Angela S. Young

Created on: May 27, 2007   Last Updated: December 17, 2011

Credit cards, online spending, and other technological innovations have caused a separation between what a person has to spend and what they actually spend.  Can't afford it?  Well, slap down a credit card or put it in lay-a-way.  When people buy items on credit, a disconnect often happens wherein they are unaware of how much they are actually spending until the bill comes in.

Mindless Shopping

Most people have walked into a store such as WalMart with the intention of buying a few things.  When they finally arrive at the check-out, sticker shock sets in as they realize how much they have placed in their cart. It's called mindless shopping, and too many of us are guilty of engaging in it.  Despite good intentions, items catch the eye and call out to be placed in the cart.  Even small things add up quickly, and the budget takes the hit.  This shopping qualifies as mindless because it is done without awareness or keeping track of what is spent before arriving at the cashier's station.  People seldom put things back once they have all their items added up.

Cause and Effect

Budgeting and awareness work in tandem to help people know how much they spend.  A budget sets out the amount available to spend for various things.  Awareness, with a bit of pre-planning, help them to stay within the budget.  So many find themselves in a predicament because they have over spent and wind up in debt or unable to buy needed things.  Overspending is the cause of most budget busting.  Accounting for spending allows one to stay in budget and avoid the problems that come with going into a debt cycle.

The Calorie Connection

The calorie connection is an analogy.  Anyone who has tried to diet without watching calories understand how easy it is to eat extra calories and blow the diet without even realizing it.  To accurately count calories, one must keep track and write it down.  The same is true of spending.  Keeping track of spending keeps us aware and accountable, helping us to stay within the bounds of our budget.

Responsibility

Unless you have an unlimited amount of money to work with, responsibility with money just makes sence.  Spending all of it because you didn't keep track does not make sense, and can be dangerous when funds dry up.  When a person is responsible with his or her money, it will go a lot farther, and even allow for a cash reserve for emergencies, retirement or even

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