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  Dear
Steve,
I'm a student in college who would like to STOP spending money.
However, with all these fashion magazines and the pressure to always
look good, I find myself constantly spending. I don't know why,
but I end up looking at clothes to buy. I've tried over and over
again to correct this, but I always end up at square one. My spending
habits have even affected my surrounding relationships negatively.
Do you have any tips on how to STOP spending excessively and actually
stick to a small budget each month?
-- Alyson
 Dear
Alyson,
You say you want to STOP spending? Well, you've listed many compelling
reasons to stop. So you already understand intellectually what needs
to be done. What you need are practical suggestions. Here goes!
One of the first rules of stopping an unwanted behavior
is to avoid placing yourself in situations where you will be tempted
to repeat the behavior. For example, people who try to stop smoking
will avoid places where people are smoking. Likewise, you need to
avoid fashion magazines, stay away from clothing stores and places
or situations where you feel that you must look your very best.
I'm not suggesting that you start hanging out with slobs, but try
to keep things casual.
The next step in stopping a behavior is to change
your usual patterns. A reformed smoker may take a walk after dinner,
rather than have an after-dinner smoke. For you, if going to the
mall or other stores is entertainment for you, find something else,
such as the gym. Old sweats are very fashionable clothes for such
places. Lay off the fashion magazines and instead read something
that's stimulating in a different way, such as the Wall Street Journal.
Who knows? You may become a captain of industry in the bargain (and
then you'll be able to afford the clothes). Also, it is always good
to get a little help from your friends. Make a pact with a trusted
friend to help you add activities to your life that do not involve
spending.
If you are using credit to spend excessively, send
those cards home! Keep a debit card for emergencies. Isn't a fashion
sale an emergency, you say? Well as I told my sons when they went
away to school, "If you can wear it, eat it or drink it, it's
not an emergency."
If you are spending cash, take only the amount you
need for your planned outing. Leave the rest at home. It is hard
to overspend when you have no means to purchase.
The difficulty you may have is what to do when the
funds from your budget run out. Ask around. I'm sure you can find
other college students who have used their imaginations to come
up with fun activities for free. Do some research on your own. You
might find it just as exhilarating to find free entertainment as
you did to spend on new clothes. And you'll feel better about yourself,
too!
It will take self-discipline and some help from your
friends, but I have faith that you will accomplish your goal and
stop spending excessively. Don't forget to pay down your debt as
much as you can. Graduating from college with a large credit card
debt forces you to carry around a weight you don't need.
Good luck!
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