We have all been there before — we see a deal that’s too good to be true, and we can’t help but spend our money.
We spend a good amount of money each month on items we don't really need. Whether it’s clothes, entertainment, or something else — unnecessary spending can add up over time. While it can be challenging to resist the urge to buy something, there are ways to prevent unnecessary spending.
This article will discuss 14 ways to prevent unnecessary spending. Keep reading to get to know all the tips!
14 Ways to Prevent Unnecessary Spending
Meals, shelter, electricity, essential clothing, and transportation are necessities of modern life. Everything else may or may not be deemed necessary. That isn't to say you shouldn't spend your money on things you desire. Instead, make a budget for all of your expenses to know what you can and can't afford.
When you have a budget, you’ll know what to do with non-essential expenses. The cash envelope system is a method that proved to be handy in this situation.
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Put Your Bonuses Into Savings
You know that feeling of finding $20 in an old jeans pocket or while you’re cleaning out the car? Instead of spending it, consider depositing it in your savings account. Also, do the same with more significant sums, such as tax refunds and year-end bonuses.
If you’re a parent who thinks of their children's future and wants to save money, consider checking out this Life Insurance for College Savings article.
We know it's easy to spend when you don’t hold yourself accountable and set limits. A trick to improve this is to start using apps that track your daily, weekly, or monthly spending habits to see where your money goes. Of course, if you are an old-school type, you can use a pen and notebook to track your spending. You can also learn awesome things from personal finance books.
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Keep Your Credit Card at Home
How to stop spending money on unnecessary things? Keep your credit card at home! You can avoid buying something not in line with what's best for yourself and your bank account by taking your credit card out of your wallet before heading to a store. This will help keep distractions at bay and give you plenty more room for thought about whether or not the purchase is worth it.
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Make a List Before Spending
If you have ever gone to the grocery store without a list or when hungry, you know how tempted you are to buy more food than you actually need. Pre-plan your meals for each week so that you avoid extra spending.
Planning plays an essential role in saving precious time and money, ensuring you don't forget anything important, like ingredients needed for dinner tonight.
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Limit How Much Cash You Carry
Another great tip is limiting the amount of money you carry around. For example, don’t take all the cash you have if you go to a shopping mall. Just bring the amount you will actually need as pre-planned. You can also plan how much money you can spend per day, so you can carry just that amount of cash with you.
Walking brings many benefits and is another excellent way to save money. For example, you’ll save on gas and lower monthly auto maintenance costs. You will also avoid paying parking fees and will be able to put that money in your savings account. Additionally, you will shop less if you go to the store on foot since you won’t be able to carry a lot of shopping bags. And most importantly, walking is beneficial for our health. According to the stats, all U.S. states and territories have an obesity rate of over 20%.
To avoid the temptation of ordering take-out or eating out, try making your food at home at least twice per week and then slowly build up from there. On Sundays, make sure you prepare some easy dinners for the week so that when Monday rolls around, all you need is an appetite. This way you will save a lot of money since the home-cooked meals are way cheaper than the ones at the restaurants.
The DIY option can be a great way to save money on your next home renovation or addition. The 2018 report stated that homeowners who did all of the work themselves saved an average of $20,000 — a huge amount of money, especially for a family on a budget.
To make sure you are making the right decision for your pocketbook, institute a waiting period of at least 24 hours before purchasing anything expensive.
If you keep yourself busy, you will probably not have time to go shopping or surf online shopping websites. However, keep in mind that hobbies sometimes require some money spending.
Additionally, check out this article if you want to know what hobbies can make money.
As we’ve already said, ongoing activities will keep your mind off the shopping fever. But remember that your activities should not require spending money, so consider going for a run in the park or reading a book.
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Resist Online Impulse Spending
What is not a good way to prevent unnecessary spending? Online shopping! More often than not, impulse shopping ends with unnecessary purchases of things that are rarely used and sometimes even harmful. However, you can resist this trend by putting your money to good use — paying off debts or depositing it in your savings account instead.
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Plan and Think About What to Do With Your Spending
Planning your finances is a key to money-saving. Try keeping a diary of your finances, your income and spending, and then set your goal. You should always spend less money than you earn to save some cash.
Bottom Line
While it may be challenging to break old spending habits, there are ways to prevent unnecessary spending and save money in the long run. By tracking your expenses, setting a budget, and being mindful of your triggers, you can take control of your finances and start saving for a brighter future.
