Don't Bust Your Budget!

Be disciplined in saving vs. spending. Resist the urge to just splurge once... usually a one-time splurge turns into a habit! Focus on the long-term goal. If you need an incentive, plan to reward yourself with ___________ (fill in the blank) each time you have saved $_______ in X category. Then you'll feel like you can see a light at the end of the tunnel and have added motivation to save hard! :)

Or make a list of things you need or want but can't currently afford. Hang the list on your refrigerator or another place where you'll see it every day. Visual, constant reminders can help you avoid impulse buying and increase our motivation to save.

Finally, assuming you are using a budget, a psychologically helpful tool can be to include in your budget plan an "allowance" for you and your spouse. Sometimes the feeling of "bondage" seems oppressive when there are little things that you want, and have to choose between sticking with the budget or rewarding yourself. If you allow yourself a small amount of spending money on a regular basis, it will be much easier to stick with the plan and resist impulse buying with money you shouldn't be spending! :)

~Kate Boyer Brown