5 Spending Habits You Need To Break

We have all been guilty of those bad spending habits. You order carry-out on a long day or go shopping when you need a pick me up. The problem is, all those small habits can really add up. Suddenly it's the end of the month and you are wondering where all your money went. Give your bank account a break by skipping these bad spending habits.

The Carry-Out Trap

It's been a crazy day and now you suddenly realize it's 5 o'clock. The last thing you feel like doing is cooking. So, you pile the family in the car and head out to eat or you grab that carry-out menu. Those dinners out can really add up. Meal planning is a fantastic way to plan your week so you don't have those carry-out traps. If you think it is going to be a busy night plan ahead and do some freezer meals. If you're not a freezer meal type person, then grab an extra frozen pizza at the store. It's way cheaper than carry-out.

The Good Deal

Have you ever noticed that everything in Ikea is a good deal? I have to constantly remind myself to put the stuff down and not buy it. Seriously, that store is awesome! 🙂 However, as cheap as everything is, it's not a good deal if I don't need it. If I am tempted to buy something I try to come up with where I put it or wear it. If I can't come up with a place, then I try to pass on it.

The I'm Bored

The mall was one of my favorite places to be when my kiddo was young. Stroller friendly, nice changing tables, our mall even had free valet parking. I could put my son in the stroller and shop the boredom away. The problem is I always ended up buying stuff. I think when we are bored we don't think as much about spending money. If this is one of your spending habits then try an activity jar. You can fill it with fun things to do when your bored.

The Ostrich

So, your bank account isn't looking too great? Are you the type that ignores it or comes up with a plan? Ignoring the budget can cause even more problems down the road. Not only can you continue to accumulate debt, you can also rack up some high overdraft fees. Don't bury your head in the sand, make sure you stay on top of your budget.

The Emotional Spending

When our dog died I became a huge emotional spender. Being at home made me realize how empty the house seemed without him. It was just easier to eat out and spend the day away from the home. At the end of the day, all the spending in the world didn't fix the fact my dog wasn't there. I know it can be hard, but try to come up with a plan to avoid the emotional spending. Try to figure out when you are most likely to spend and have a plan or a budget for the emotional spending.

I have found that one of the best ways to deal with the bad spending habits is to realize that you are doing them. Usually, once I have identified the habit I can come up with a plan to help break it. Whatever your bad spending habits are, take control of them and start a plan today.

What bad spending habits have you broken?