How to Spend Less Money

Feeling short of cash lately? There are some changes you can make that will make things more bearable.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A new attitude

1. Having made a good income all my life, I was used to buying pretty what I wanted. Then I retired and went through a nasty divorce. Add to this our present economic situation and I found I had to make some changes. I had to say good-bye to impulse spending.

2. 
    
   The Worst Sort of Impulse Buying

   I got rid of all of my charge cards save one, which I put in a place I wouldn't be tempted to use. I also took it out of my wallet and never took it shopping. It's just too easy to use plastic when you don't have the money, and if you don't have enough to pay your bill a the end of the month, then you pay outrageous interest.

3. With the credit cards essentially gone, I switched to cash or check transactions. I thought this would limit me terribly, but it didn't. What it did do was force me to budget my money - something I had never really done before. I had to withdraw enough cash to see me through a week, or else be at the mercy of the ATM machines and possibly having to pay a $2.00 transaction fee which I resented horribly. Not everyone would accept or cash a check, so I had to have some cash. It was definitely different. In the end though, the money became more real and I spent less. A lot less, and what I spent, I spent much more wisely.

4. I stopped eating out as often, even fast food. I now eat out once a week, at most. My grocery bills have quadrupled, but my over all spending has dropped a great deal. I'm eating healthier. I'm also getting to be a good cook again, something I'd lost interest in since the divorce.

5. Instead of going to the movies and getting popcorn, I rent and eat pretzels, probably adding five years to my life in the process.

6. Lastly, one of my biggest changes and biggest savings has been to stop shopping on the internet. Unless the item is something I must absolutely have and is only available online, I don't but it. It's all too easy to spend a lot of money this way, as I can attest, and this is probably the hardest change I've made, but it's been worth it. I now use the internet for more worthwhile endeavors than shopping, and next to the money I've saved by eating at home, this has been the biggest money saver.

Tips & Warnings

• All these changes were hard at first, but they get easier over time. I now look forward to shopping for meals and cooking them, etc. Maybe I sound like spoiled brat, but I hope I helped someone.
• Spending money is a way some people use to make themselves feel better and can become an addiction. If you frequently buy things you don't really need and can't afford, or if loved ones have expressed concern over your spending habits, this may be your problem. Seek professional help. This can be treated.