It’s very easy to spend money, as every knows (DUH!) I came across a good article the other day here, on how not to spend money. I’ve added other things to it which I thought would be helpful.

1. Stick to a debit card or use cash.  I only have one credit card and it has a low limit. I feel that this has helped me greatly with no overspending because I don’t have extra money that isn’t mine to spend.  When you use a debit card or cash, you know exactly how much you have left and how much you can use.
2. Don’t overdraft.  I overdrafted once in my life, and it was when I was 16, because I accidentally transferred more money to my savings than my checking and then I overdrafted from my checking.  This cost me $35, and since then I haven’t done it again.
3. Don’t buy something on sale just because it’s on sale.  If you’ll never wear it or use it, then was it actually a good bargain?
4. Take your lunch to work.  I try and take my lunch to work everyday and this saves me a lot of money.  Instead of spending $7-10 a day on lunch, I can make something or just bring leftovers from the night before, with a cost of around $2 or $3.
5. If you’re thinking about making a big purchase, try to sleep on it and think about your purchase for a couple of nights.
6. Make a list and stick to your list when shopping.
7. One thing I do before I buy something is to think about how long I worked for it.  So if I wanted something I would think first “Wait I had to work 3 hours for this, is it still worth it?”  Usually this helps a lot and helps me put everything in place.

What do you do to control your spending? Any tips for others?

Here’s the jist of the math:

“Before buying anything, consider its so-called “cost-per-wear.” For example, if a pair of jeans cost $200, but you plan to wear them three times a week for a year, your cost-per-wear will be about $1.28 each time you put them on during the first year, and less if you keep them longer. Meanwhile, the cost-per-wear of a dress you bought on clearance for $40, but only wore once, will be $40. The math clearly tells you which is the better deal. So make note of what you wear the most and spend accordingly.”

I don’t ever figure out a cost-per-wear exactly, but I do think about it.  If I don’t think I’ll wear it often, such as going out dresses, then I’ll usually just go to Forever21 and buy something cheap.

So, how do you shop? Do you try and figure out how often you would potentially wear it? 

Are you trying to control your spending? Here’s how DailyWorth recommends controlling yourself:

1. No-Spend Zone 1: Whenever I need to go shopping, it’s very hard for me to stick to my list.  Make sure you create a list of what you need to do and what you need, and then stick to it.
2. No-Spend Zone 2: There are many sales this week for Labor Day and Back to school, but make sure you stick to the clothing items that you need.  That summer dress on sale might not be needed if it’s about to get very cold near you.
3. No-Spend Zone 3: When you’re with your friends, try to “aim for half-off happy-hour drinks, or host a potluck dinner with a fun food theme.”
4. No-Spend Zone 4: I tend to shop at places where my credit card is already stored such as Amazon.  This makes it easier for me to buy items, but it also makes me spend more.  Try un-linking your cards if you can’t control your online spending.
5. No-Spend Zone 5: If you have kids, try to bring snacks with you when you’re out. Kids. Also, “buy kids’ clothes and shoes on consignment or work the hand-me-down angle.”

 Where do you need to limit your spending?