Save A Chunk Of Change By Shifting Spending Habits
We all wish we had a little more to spend. That’s undeniable. Besides basic amenities, such as rent, food, clothing, electricity, and such, there is a truly boundless world of luxuries and experiences.
All that said, it isn’t easy to get what we want and exactly the amount of it we want, especially with credit being an enticing option for those who want to buy now but pay later.
So how do we ensure that we get what we want but don’t ruin ourselves in the process?
Planning Makes Perfect
It’s safe to say the folks at companies’ advertising departments are getting their due pay, especially looking at how much we are being exposed to products practically screaming at us to buy them every day.
From algorithms that learn your browsing history and interests and thereby offer you the statistically most optimized products you might buy to ads disguised as entertainment, it really is a minefield even for the most conscious buyers out there.
That is why for your average consumer, the best weapon they’ll have against multimillion-dollar research and development departments is planning.
For example, there are many different, at first insignificant sounding tips that might save you a pretty penny over the long run.
There is an ancient Babylonian saying that one ought to save one-tenth of what they earn and never spend it unless it's an emergency.
While generally good advice, a more modern tip would also be to plan what you go out to buy when out in town.
Malls - Money Pits!
Malls - the quite popular center for all kinds of shops, are the most dangerous in this aspect.
If you think about it, a shopping mall is essentially just a city block, but where all apartment doors are, instead, shops.
The moment you walk out of a store, another one immediately faces you.
It’s an ingenious design, which, if convenient, is made to squeeze the most out of you, and all in a way you don’t notice, or if you do, doesn’t even feel forced.
A simple way to stay immune to these powerful effects is to plan exactly what you need before you enter a space in which you might be susceptible to subtle marketing.
This isn’t as extreme as it might sound. For example, instead of “going out to buy some new clothes,” go out to get a new shirt, skirt, jacket, tie, or overall one specific piece of clothing.
If you’re fashion savvy and coordinate your wardrobe well, this will be even easier, as you’ll already know what will match your other pieces.
Thrift.
Another also great tip in the fight against excessive spending is to thrift or shop secondhand.
In certain parts of the world, this is looked down upon and maybe even seen as cheap, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Of course, multimillion-dollar corporations wouldn’t want you to reuse old articles of clothing and constantly buy more. It wouldn’t make any sense for them not to stigmatize thrifting.
But if you look at it from the perspective of “if this shirt lasted 30 years and still looks this good, then that’s proof the material is of a really high quality”, rather than just “old.”
These tips might be focusing on clothing particular, and that’s because in no small part it is a huge section of what we people spend more money on than we most likely ought to, but you can relate these to computer parts, books, food and much more, with the same basic principle - planning makes perfect.
Emergency Fund
Another thing to realize that may shift your spending habits for the better is that money is also a valuable resource for emergency situations.
It's easy to get caught up in the idea that we need to spend money to enjoy life.
But what happens when an emergency comes up?
A broken car, a job loss, or a medical emergency can quickly put a dent in our finances (or our credit score, if we have no personal finances to cover the expenses.)
That's why it's important to have an emergency fund - a savings account that you can dip into when things go wrong.
An emergency fund can help you avoid going into debt or using high-interest credit cards to cover unexpected expenses.
So next time you're tempted to splurge on a new outfit or gadget, remember that your emergency fund is there for a reason.
After all, peace of mind is priceless.
Final Thoughts
So, what have we learned? We know that spending habits are often ingrained and difficult to change.
But by implementing simple things, such as planning, avoiding money pits, and saving up for emergency situations, you can easily shift those habits for the better!
And if you need a little help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out for some guidance.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember one thing: You are in control of your own spending destiny!
What changes do you want to make in your spending habits? Comment below!
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