Shopping diet? **Gasp** How can you say such a thing? Yes, you heard me right. One of the first things you need to do to keep a budget is go on a shopping diet!
What is a shopping diet? A period of time you set to refrain from shopping for anything that is not an absolute necessity.
1)Set a time frame for how long the shopping diet will last–one day, one week, one month, etc. for which you will not go shopping.
2)During the time set, you must agree not to purchase anything except bare necessities like:
groceries
gas
toiletries (only if you run out)
bills (rent, utilities, credit cards, insurance, etc.)
3) Agree with yourself to keep your shopping diet. If your finances are not where you want them to be, I can almost guarantee that your shopping habits are not making your finances any better.
The purpose of the shopping diet is to help you think of your buying habits. By only buying basic necessities, you will realize that there is so much you can live without. Also, you can use the time you save by not being in a store (or stores) to go over your finances, your budgeting plans, and to set some financial goals for your future!