Recent studies have shown that Americans are spending less money on necessities than ever before. Yet, more Americans are also in debt. The unspoken fact that makes both those statements true is that Americans are spending more and more money on luxury items. Experts recommend creating a budget and sticking to it to avoid debt, but most people find that difficult to do without feeling deprived. However, there are a few things that you do quite painlessly to stay within set spending limits.
Pay cash. That’s right; people spend more when they use plastic, whether it’s debit or credit. Experts surmise that people simply don’t pay as much attention to totals as they do when they have to count out actual money. But resist the temptation to withdraw funds $20 at a time. You’ll rack up huge ATM fees. Instead, withdraw a set amount each week and see if you can make it last.
Practice mindful spending. Rather than keep an exact record of every penny you spend for a month (as many financial experts recommend) spend your time thinking about which of the things you buy on a daily or weekly basis are most important to you. For example, if you love coffee...