Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
Your fingers grasp that object of your desire. It’s the perfect color. It’s the perfect size. And it’s on sale! How could you resist?! Somewhere deep in your stomach you feel a rumbling and you know it’s not from that banana you had for breakfast. Your gut chimes in what you already know.
It’s not in the budget.
These are the moments that make being an adult so difficult. Balancing the world of needs and wants is challenging. In a world of constant marketing, combatting the temptation to spend money you don’t have can be an everyday experience. And it stinks.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” The Message
To me, it’s so reassuring that 1) What we’re facing is nothing new and 2) God doesn’t leave our side.
But sometimes that’s not enough to help us to actually flee from making unwise financial decisions. Here are some practical ideas to spark your creativity when it comes to overcoming the temptations of overspending.
The 24 Hour Rule
Time always brings clarity. Want to snag that dress on sale? Think you “need” that new stereo? Press pause. Wait a full 24 hours to make the decision. Simply removing yourself from the retailer can help you decide whether or not you truly can afford the purchase. If you come back, can afford it, and someone else has bought that item, you can rest in knowing that it was never meant to be (or perhaps search for it on the internet because you can almost always find another one out there).
Go on a Party Fast
Money Saving Lords and Ladies, you are always going to have a friend who sells something. Purses, oils, kitchen ware, makeup, food, jewelry, nail wraps, kids clothes, and more . . . I’ve talked about how you can’t buy from every fundraiser before and this principal holds true for parties, too. If you go to every trunk show/cooking demonstration/makeover night out there, you will be as broke as a joke. I know you love your friends. I know you go intending to not make a purchase. I know that the products really are high quality and you love them. I get all of that. But sometimes the best way to save money is to take a break from these types of gatherings. Six weeks, six months or forever, some of us need to just say no thank you when it comes to these types of events.
Stay Out of the Store
I like to joke that my best money saving tip is to stay out of the store. Sometimes shopping – especially browsing with no particular purpose – can cause us to realize all of the things we don’t have and think that we need. Shopping should never be listed on your resume under hobbies. Keep your trips limited to reduce your spending.
What’s the Shelf Life Question
I can get tripped up on small purchases more than major ones. After all, if it’s only a dollar what does it hurt? However, sometimes the cheapest products end up in the trash can before you can say $0.99. Always evaluate every purchase you make with a long term eye. Ask how long it will last and how much use you’ll really get out of it before you put it into your cart.
Don’t Use Coupons as An Excuse
You know how much I LOVE a good coupon. Coupons can definitely help us save money. However, we have to realize that they are marketing tools. Companies don’t want to be your friend or keep cash in your pocket. They want you to try their new product and if they need to cut the price to get you to put it on the conveyor belt, they will. So quit using coupons as an excuse to overspend (harsh, I know). You don’t have to abandon coupons (I won’t!) but you should think twice before you use one.
Pray
I know, I know. It sounds so cliche. Praying for God to deliver you from the temptation to overspend seems like a waste right? There are plenty of people in the world with “real” needs who certainly deserve divine intervention more than you deciding to buy that Snickers bar at the last minute. However, God does care about the most mundane details of our lives. Consistent overspending reveals something about the nature of our souls, too. If we are leaning on things to have enough, it will never be enough. If Jesus encouraged us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” we should probably do it more often.
Ask For Help
Problem areas of our souls are best solved through community. Obviously, we all make small financial missteps every now and then. However, if yours is an every day or even every week occasion you might want to consider asking someone else to help you. Whether it’s the permission to text you on a regular basis, getting together to comb through your receipts and finances, or simply asking someone to pray for you, you need to bring a trusted friend, spouse, or family member into your battle with you. If a relationship causes you to consistently to make unwise money mistakes, you also may need to have a difficult conversation or scale back your interaction with that individual.
When it comes to the temptation to overspend or purchase things we really don’t need the struggle is always real (even for a bargainista). Intentional practices will serve you well but don’t discount the Divine. God longs to help you in the simplest of ways. He brings hope for the hopeless and strength to the weary. All you have to do is call out to Him.
What would you add to this list? How do you battle the temptations of spending more than you make or buying items you really don’t need?
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
