Tips and tricks for those looking to better their spending habits

Unless you stick to an extremely tight budget, chances are you’ve been a little taken aback at one point or another when looking at your bank statement at the end of the month. While you might have been able to justify that shopping spree at Target when it happened, unnecessary expenditures like that can really add up. D on’t beat yourself up too much, though—most people spend way more than they save. 

In fact, over 47% of Americans have no money saved for retirement. 

Keeping that in mind, you can probably agree you should start spending less and saving more. But the concept of doing that can be daunting to even the most experienced saver, because where do you start with reigning in your spending? Luckily, there are steps you can take right now to start spending less, and they don’t cost a cent— because they are mind games you can use to trick yourself into reigning in your spending.

These tricks are as easy as deleting your credit card information from being automatically filled in while online shopping. This way, while you’re filling in the information for each and every purchase, you’re forced to take a brief pause to evaluate if the purchase is really worth it. Instead of hitting “purchase” without a second thought, you give yourself a second to think hard about whether or not you want the item, or if you’re  buying simply out of convenience.

Another mind trick you can use to spend less money is something called the “stranger test” to help you evaluate the worth of a purchase. If you’re considering $100 headphones, picture a stranger standing in front of you with $100 in one hand and the headphones in the other. This causes you to think about whether you’d be happier with the purchase or the money—and most people will choose the money over the purchase.
This helpful graphic from Turbo Intuit lays out 6 more mind games you can use during your next shopping trip to help you save more and spend less. ​

Your brain—and bank account—will thank you!

Guest Blog Post From Emily Borst
Emily Borst is a digital content creator who helps Turbo Intuit create helpful and compelling stories worth sharing. Her background in digital marketing and creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to eco to lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, crafting, reading, and eating her way through Austin, Texas. To learn more, connect with Emily on LinkedIn  

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