It’s easy to spend money, not as easy to save. After all, you must spend money to live. Overspending, or spending outside of your budget however can become a bad habit. The trick to sticking with a budget is to constrain your spending to the things you must spend money on. Prioritize the essentials such as rent or mortgage, groceries, power bill, car loan, insurance, etc.

When shopping, have a specific purpose with a set list of items that are within your budget. Avoid any temptation to purchase items that do not fit within your budget. Print a copy of your budget and carry it with you to remind yourself of the commitment you have made to your financial goals.

Gaining control over your money requires awareness. Learn to recognize situations that place you in a difficult spending situation. For example, never shop while hungry at the grocery store, or shop at the mall or department store if you are depressed, as this can lead to binge shopping. Be aware of those times when you spent money that was outside of your budget. Create a journal where you can write down your thoughts and feelings as to why you spent erroneously. Your journal can become a tool you can rely on for help in understanding how to master your money. Avoid purchasing any non-budgeted items with a credit card. Small dollar purchases on credit cards are easy to make and can really add up.

Once your spending is under control, and the necessities are paid, you can move any left-over money to a savings account for unknown expenses, which unfortunately will arise. Having an emergency fund will negate the need for payday loans, installment loans or credit card debt. All of which can carry high interest rates and thus can be difficult to pay off. This can set you back financially and potentially ruin your budget. Curtailing spending and sticking to your budget will be difficult at first, but over time you will develop the self-discipline required to achieve your financial goals.