5 steps to stop compulsive spending

It doesn't matter if you use your smartphone, a computer program or a paper and pencil to track your spending, just use whatever works.

"What you're writing down is not as important as the act of writing it down," says Yarrow. It helps you become more conscious of your spending and helps you stay committed to changing your compulsive spending behavior.

Yarrow says that making lists is very helpful when you're trying to break yourself of a bad habit or get yourself to implement a good habit.

Meanwhile, Benson recommends giving each item you purchase a score based on how necessary you think it is. The more necessary the item is, the higher the score you give it. That way, when you look at your purchases, you'll be able to see how much you could save if you took away the really unnecessary items.