Take charge of your spending habits in order to help your bottom line. Start by thinking about those daily minor purchases we all make. Then, stop buying what is unnecessary or not practical.

Impulse buying is more common among younger people and women, making them more of a target for marketers. Yet, we all are subject to sales and marketing tactics that help separate us from our money. Advertising, product placement, taste tests, and coupon promotions are just a few of the many ways we are convinced to buy specific products – many of them we don’t want or need.

Buyer Beware

We can all be sucked into buying things that we didn’t plan to buy. Though, some of us are better at resisting the urge to buy things we don’t need or can’t afford. The good news is that with a little effort, you can make small changes in your spending habits that can add up. Review the following list of tips to see if you think any of them will help you stay on track with spending your hard earned money:

• Set a budget and plan purchases before going shopping.
• Be aware of how stores are laid out. The stores try to influence what they want you to buy, not necessarily what is on your list.
• Don’t rush purchases. Have a 24-hour wait for items greater than $100.
• Window shop without bringing your money or cards.
• Be clear on the difference between “want” and “need”.
• Don’t let your mood influence your shopping.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Place a specific amount of money into a separate place each pay period to use for “treats and special occasions”. Stick to this limit.

You can probably think of a number of other things that you and your family can do to not spend so much money. Use the list of tips as a starting point to have a discussion about the things that you can save money on and then make a plan to follow through.

When You Think About It - It Makes Cents!

Still need more convincing that small changes can save you big money? Not only can you save big money, you can also benefit your health. Think about how much you and your family could benefit.