Everyday Cheapskate

When it comes to compulsive tendencies, there's no question I received more than the standard allotment.

I can sit down, fully intending to watch the evening news, and end up owning a pasta machine. I can stop by the mall to look around and come out with three outfits I never will wear, a gift I never will give and several things for the house. I can glance at a mail order catalog and, in the time it takes to dial the phone, Adirondack chairs and matching windsocks are winging their way to my front door.

I see what I like and WHAM! Something goes off in my head insisting that I need it right this minute. I'm entitled to it. Pity the poor soul who tries to prevent me from having it.

My compulsive tendencies will be part of my personality forever, but thankfully, I have found ways to make them my allies.

—Self-Parenting. When tempted to give in to my impulsive desires, I ask myself whether I would have accepted this behavior from my children. Visualizing myself having a temper tantrum is an image that brings me to my senses.

—Slippery Places. Stores, television shopping channels, slick advertisements and mail order catalogs are slippery places for me. Just going there sets me up to fall flat on my face. If I stay away, I avoid temptation. When I have a specific need, I plan my route through the store, make my purchase and get out of there as quickly as possible. I've programmed the TV not to stop at shopping channels, and I make sure a trash can is close to the mailbox.

—Make Spending Difficult.

Carrying a credit card or checkbook is potentially lethal for me. Instead, I carry enough cash to meet my needs for the day. This forces me to plan ahead.

—Self-Talk. When confronted with temptation, I talk to myself. "If this weren't on sale, would you still buy it?" (If the answer is no — and it usually is — I pass.) "Why don't you go home and think about it?" (I rarely return.) "Don't you already have something that will do just as well?" (I usually do.) "You don't have to buy this just to prove you can; no one really cares." (Reality check.)

—The Saving Antidote. I've found that saving money is the best antidote for overspending. For me, saving produces a similar euphoria to the one that's brought on by spending. The difference is that saving never leaves feelings of remorse the way overspending does.

By reading good self-help books on compulsive behavior, talking about the subject and seeking help from wise counselors, I've discovered why I do the things I do. That has allowed me to take the steps necessary to change.

If you suspect you have a problem with compulsive spending, go to http://www.DebtorsAnonymous.org and take the self-test. This site will help you find the kind of help you need to get a grip on your compulsive behaviors and free you to make some necessary changes.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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