“It’s not your salary that makes you rich, it’s your spending habits” —Charles A. Jaffe
Chances are, the state of your finances are your single biggest source of stress.
I’ve found that the reason is often due to spending habits that are mindless and automatic. A careful dose of mindful spending can help fix that.
Instead of being driven by your brain’s need for instant gratification, let everything you buy this week be mindful. Start today.
Really question your spending and what you can live without. It’s not about being cheap, it’s about being tactical. Who’s in control, you or Target? All powerful habits start with a single decision.
Need or want?
Before making a purchase determine whether it will improve your life in an important way or if it is just satisfying. Sure, you want that burrito, but do you need it? Maybe some grilled chicken at home will trim the waist and fatten the wallet.
Start a 30-day list.
Every time you see something you want (or think you need) put it on a list. After a month take a look at the list and see what you still want on there. I bet you can cross many things off of that list. This is great because you’ll actually be able to see your savings.
Stick to what you need.
We recommend staying out of malls and stores. When you do need to go to the store be a Shopping Sniper. Make a detailed list of what you need and stick with it. The stores have spent millions of dollars hacking normal human habits to get you to spend – you need to resist. And you thought the slow oldies playing in supermarkets were just ironic.
Shop less
Yes this may seem obvious but if your going to the grocery store multiple times per week you are probably spending way more then you need. Try going once a week or ordering your food. Since we starting using Fresh Direct we spend much less on groceries. Admit it, every time you pass the beef jerky you can’t resist.