Hello, allow me to make my official introduction, I am Mrs. InACents, wife to Mr. InACents, inventor of this money saving blog. I am a 32 year old, loving wife, mom to the two charming boys you have heard to so much about, and a shopaholic. Yup…you read that right…I am making a confession; I am a shopaholic! Shhh, do not tell Mr. InACents…oh who are we kidding, he already knows.

Earlier this week it was all I could do to not buy a Kindle Fire to take on our Hawaii trip. Besides wanting a Kindle for awhile, friends and family just mentioned it the other night, and I have been addicted to pulling out the credit cards and rushing to the store to purchase one. Then I got obsessed reading reviews and looking up cute Kindle covers. I would have bought the Kindle years ago, but now Mr. InACents, and the boys, keep me grounded. (Maybe Mr. InACents would have approved if I could have found a way to slyly bring up the miles I could earn on such a purchase.)

As a result of my shopaholic tendencies, I have found some ways to keep my spending habits in check.

1. Avoid the Bullseye

   I tend to overspend at good ole Target. I go there for one or two needs like diapers, and I leave having spent over $100 every time. I feel like I have been hypnotized by the bullseye, so I have a new tactic. I go to another less desirable box store (that shall not be named) and in turn, I see not much I really love, so I spend less. I get in, get my band-aids and milk, and get out. Even If I stray, and say, buy a maxi dress (like I did on such a trip recently), it is still so cheap there that I get away with less than 30 dollars spent every time.

   

   Source: crappypictures.com

2. Daily Budget

   I had to give myself a daily budget to curb my tendencies. I divide up my “fun money” each pay day and give myself that to spend daily if needed. Anything I do not spend is put into the pool for the next day and so on. The daily budget is not allotted for fiscal fast Wednesdays or for fiscal fast weeks so that money would be saved for emergencies where the day costs more (travel, home repairs). Lately I have been trying this and it worked well. I was able to save up some money I needed for a monthly bill that I wanted to pay off faster. I think this savings came from just being way more aware of what I was spending daily. When you are aware, you really do tend to spend less. This principle also applies to when you are dieting and you write down what you eat and the awareness helps you eat less.

3. Fake Shopping

   I love to pretend shop! I have an ever full cart on Amazon.com just waiting for me to add and subtract items. I also love Pinterest because it makes me feel like shopping does, but I am not quite sure why? Maybe it is the idea of making something old into something new. I have tried so many new things from being “Pinspired” (as I call it) with stuff I actually already owned FOR Free.

4. If All Else Fails, SHOP!

   Sometimes it is fun to splurge. I have learned how to do that in so many cheaper ways than my previous years of designer purses and shoes. After I married Mr. InACents, and embraced the fantastic credit score he has helped me earn, I learned to appreciate the alternatives. I am not above Goodwill or the Dollar Tree. I save my splurges for my kids and for my vacations now. You better believe I cannot wait to shop in Hawaii and spoil my boys in Disneyland. Gotta earn those miles right honey?

Save Money, Travel More!