Overspending Is Gonna Make You Broke! 3 Tips to Break Free for Good

“Let me guess, you’ve had a few ‘treat yourself’ moments that turned into ‘I can’t pay my rent this month’ panic attacks. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Overspending is like that toxic ex we keep going back to even when we know better. But guess what? We’re breaking up with it—for good!”

Overspending doesn’t just drain your bank account; it also messes with your peace of mind. Whether it’s the allure of “50% off” sales or late-night online shopping binges, overspending creeps in when you least expect it. But you’re here, and that’s the first step. So, let’s dive into 3 practical tips to help you stop overspending and take back control of your money.

Tip 1: Know Your Triggers—Overspending Starts in Your Head

If you’ve ever justified buying a $100 pair of shoes because they were “on-sale” or ordered takeout three nights in a row because “cooking is for next week,” then you’re in good company. Overspending often starts with If you’ve ever justified buying a $100 pair of shoes because they were “on-sale” or ordered takeout three nights in a row because “cooking is for next week,” then you’re in good company. Overspending often starts with emotional triggers.

I’ll admit it—Amazon’s “Buy Now” button was my kryptonite for many years. One particularly broke November; I ordered a waffle maker, a face mask, and a backyard hammock. Why? Because I was “treating myself” for surviving a stressful work week. Spoiler: I live in a flipping penthouse, ergo I don’t have a backyard.

How to Identify Your Triggers:

• Are you stress-shopping after a tough day?
• Do you splurge on payday as a reward for making it through the month?
• Are Instagram ads your kryptonites? (Look at you, influencers.)

Solution: Start a spending journal. Write down every purchase you make, how you felt when you bought it, and whether it was planned. Patterns will emerge—trust me, you’ll cringe when you realize how often “boredom” is the culprit.

Pro Tip:

Unsubscribe from promotional emails. They’re not “keeping you in the loop;” they’re keeping you broke. Use tools like Unroll.me to declutter your inbox.

Tip 2: Budget Like a Boss (But Make It Fun)

Photo by: Kaboompics

Budgeting tips often get a bad rep. Yes, it’s not the fun police, but it’s your financial BFF, and if it’s not, then it should be. A good budget doesn’t just tell you what you can’t buy; it shows you what you can buy without guilt.

Think of your budget as a playlist. There are your must-haves (bills, groceries), your bangers (savings, investments), and your guilty pleasures (iced coffee fund). Balance is key.

How to Start Budgeting:

1. Track Your Expenses: Use tools like YNAB or Mint to track your spending.
2. Set Categories: Divide your income into fixed expenses, savings, and “fun money.” Yes, fun money is a real category—it keeps you from feeling deprived.
3. Automate Savings: Treat savings like a subscription service. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account every payday.

Pro Tip:

Try the 50/30/20 rule: 50% of your income goes to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or debt repayment. Adjust as needed, but keep it realistic—avocado toast isn’t the villain here.

Tip 3: Make Spending Inconvenient (Yes, Really)

Photo by Reynaldo #brigworkz Brigantty

Ever notice how much harder it is to overspend when you actually have to think about it? The easiest way to stop impulse buying is to make spending inconvenient.

Back in my overspending days, I memorized my credit card number. Big mistake. I was ordering stuff faster than Amazon Prime could ship it. So, I deleted my saved card info, and suddenly, entering 16 digits felt like climbing Everest. Goodbye, impulse purchases!

Practical Strategies:

• Switch to Cash: Use physical cash for discretionary spending. Seeing your money disappear hits harder than swiping a card.
• Delete Shopping Apps: If you don’t see it, you won’t buy it.
• Use the 24-Hour Rule: Wait a day before making any non-essential purchase. Chances are, you’ll realize you don’t really need that heated cat bed. (Your cat doesn’t even like beds.)

Pro Tip:

Use browser extensions like Honey to track price drops. That way, if you do decide to buy, you’ll save some cash. Winning!

Why Breaking Free from Overspending Is Worth It

Photo by Pixabay

Overspending doesn’t just affect your bank account—it steals your peace of mind and keeps you stuck in financial stress. Imagine being able to:

• Take a vacation without putting it on a credit card.
• Build an emergency fund that actually feels safe.
• Treat yourself guilt-free because it’s part of your budget.