I think it was last week we talked about the importance of a good mindset when it comes to being a good money manager.  This week I want to take it a step further to: Journaling.

Yep, even THAT plays a role in our spending habits and the ability to manage money well.  Let’s start with over spending, if you are the one to go on a spending spree and then stress out over how to pay the credit card bill when it comes in then let’s talk, if you are the one to go “looking” online and the next thing you know you’ve bought $100 worth of stuff then let’s talk.  Back in the day I remember people talking about those late night infomercials.  They’d be up late, nothing really on tv (this was before we all had a zillion channels to choose from) and whatever was being advertised seemed like the next best thing to have.  After that came…QVC (my mom’s favorite channel of all time lol) and easy pay…oh the shoppers were in shopping heaven then!

Most of the time if you are an over spender there is a root cause (and journaling can help you find that root and dispose of it).  Maybe you aren’t the one to over spend just buy things that you don’t really need and/or don’t end up using…same thing, there is a root cause. 

This can be hard to do in the moment but if you can – do it then, if not that’s okay just sit and think back to the last time you did this.  What was the circumstances? How were you feeling? Why did you buy the item(s)? What did you think they would do for you? How did it make you feel once you saw “purchase confirmed” on the screen? How did you feel the next day when you would think about what you bought? What about when they came in, did they do for you what you hoped they would?  Start digging in to ask yourself these questions AND ANSWER THEM.  Are you indulging out of boredom, sadness, anger, low/no self esteem, jealousy?  What is that you are masking by shopping?  Keep asking questions, keep digging…find your cause and then take the necessary steps or put into place precautions so that NEXT time, you can avoid the situation.

If you have questions or need help with this, please don’t hesitate to reach out either by email (budgetwithcarla@gmail.com) or you can send a PM thru Facebook (Budgeting Basics-A journey to debt free living)

In a one hour Coaching Session ($25) we can take a look at your questions/answers and find ways to get you beyond the “shopping for a cause” syndrome!