Let's face it. Some people are born spenders. You love the feeling of coming home with a new purchase or seeing the UPS man carrying lots of packages to your door. You may think that budgeting your spending isn't going to work for you, but the truth is you can budget if you're a spender. Let's take a closer look.
Track Your Expenses
First things first. It pays to see where your money is going each month. Spend at least one month writing down every cent you spend. Yes, this is a bit time consuming, but it's also eyeopening. You may be shocked at how much money you're really spending on things you really don't need.
Cut the Things You Really Don't Need
Once you have a better idea of where your money is going each month, cut anything you really don't need. For example, if you're buying a Starbucks coffee 5 days a week, cut it back to once or twice a week. Think of it as a Monday and Friday morning treat.
Give Yourself an Allowance
Something that works great is to give yourself an allowance. You want to create a budget that covers your important expenses (house payment, electricity, water, food, etc), savings, and retirement. You then want to look at what's left over each month and give yourself an allowance that you can spend on whatever you want.
Shop Discount Stores
If you're the type that just loves to shop for anything, consider shopping at discount stores. It can be just as thrilling to shop at Dollar Tree and find little treasures for $1 each (but don't go crazy...those $1 items can add up quickly!). You may also want to consider thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales. If you just love to shop, there are so many places where you can score great deals.
Use Coupons
Last, but not least, if you want more money for your allowance, use coupons to cut your everyday expenses. With coupons, you can save money on food, get health and beauty items for free, and even get overages to use on items you want, but don't necessarily need. There are so many videos that go up on YouTube each week that will show you how to get the best deals with that week's coupons.
You may think that sticking to a budget if you're a spender is impossible, but there are things you can do. Whether it's giving yourself an allowance or becoming a couponer, you can learn to budget as a spender.
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