| By :
Molly Wider
Ahh, how can you resist the glorious pleasure of a shiny, new purchase! That wonderful lawn mower you spent almost four figures on-or maybe more. How about that fantastic two-level backyard deck that pretty much maxed out the new credit card that just arrived in the mail? New things. How can you resist buying them? They smell so good, they look great, and they make you the envy of the neighborhood. Until, of course, the bills arrive. Now you're wondering how you ever got sucked in-again-to buying more than you could afford. But you can resist those spontaneous acts of new-purchase madness with just a few tips and tricks. Don't buy on a spree. You see it in the mall, the salesperson is hanging all over you, and you want to buy it and bring it home right away. Restrain yourself. Go home without your new purchase, and think about the money you haven't spent. Are you a bit relieved to not have made that purchase? That's a sure sign you were ready to overspend. If you must, shop without your credit or debit cards in your pocket so you simply cannot make that on-the-spot buy. Don't over buy. Sometimes you need new stuff, and there's no two ways about it. Things break, wear out, or just no longer meet your changing needs. So it's legit to say, "I need a better lawn mower," or "A good deck is really important to the things my family does in the summer." The key is, don't over buy. How much lawn mower do you really need? Would a push mower work as well as a riding mower? Does the deck really need to be a two level, 30x20 mammoth, with a built-in wading pool? Consider other options. Are there other options that are cheaper, and more reasonable for your financial situation right now? Can you replace parts, rather than buying a whole new piece of equipment? Can your deck be built in modules-a section at a time, each year, as you can afford it? Your stress levels will drop dramatically when you buy what you can afford-and no more than that. And you can feel proud that you are meeting your financial obligations, and caring for your family. Add up your current debts. How much do you owe right now? What would happen if you couldn't make those monthly payments? If you're living paycheque to paycheque and any disruption in income would send you for a financial tailspin, you are probably not in a position to buy anything new. Before you buy anything, look at your current debt load, and really think seriously before you incur more debt.
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