Let's face it, we’re people of habit and we can’t escape it. Now that we’ve accepted this funny little truth, it’s time for all of us to change certain spending habits that will ultimately leave us broke and scraping for change.

 So where do we start? First things first, we have to understand the various methods and changes in marketing and advertising in the modern day. These days many of us are shopping both in-store and online, something we did not have even 20 years ago.

Since the advent of the Internet or even Amazon Prime with its incredible free two-day shipping superpower drug and the one-click wonder, we are more prone to spending money on things we don’t really need online.

 So first, refrain from the pull of free shipping or any online stores and shopping websites that save your card information.When you’re not pulling out your card and typing in all the numbers, you don’t really FEEL what you’re purchasing, so it’s easier to spend over budget on things you don’t REALLY need.

 

The same goes for purchasing with plastic in-store. Many, including myself, advise not to go shopping with plastic aka a credit or debit card in your hand as we are statistically more likely to spend more than if we were holding cash.

 However, that does not mean cash out your bank account and hold it in your hand. We are more likely to spend if we have too much cash in our pockets since we FEEL we can afford the world, so we spend like we can.

 So what can we do to prevent the feeling of “I’m broke” a couple of days after receiving your paycheck? Simply, plan ahead. Even if you say you don’t have time to plan, do it; these are your finances we are talking about which equate to your livelihood in this world.

 So next time you plan on going grocery shopping, make a list of everything you need for the week and do not add anything more into your shopping cart.  Don’t stray, strictly follow the list; the same goes for online shopping.

 All in all, it takes time to break bad habits but in the long run, your wallet will congratulate you, along with your stress level. Hope this helps!