Rule No. 1: Think before you buy.
The Background: When I’m out and about, running errands or being social, I can be talked into buying things. Worse, I can talk myself into buying things. Little things, big things, things in between. I really don’t know why. It’s not that I don’t understand the financial straits I’m in. It’s more that, in many situations, multiple times per week or even per day, I just spend. I buy something, boom zap pow, and my money’s gone.
The Rule: Take a moment. Pause. Reflect. Is this something I need or something I want? Is this something that will put me over budget? Will I suffer if I don’t have this thing?
If all signs point to don’t buy it, then don’t buy it. If even one sign points that way, refrain. It’s simple: Don’t buy it. Refrain. Move on.
