You’re a clever gal.
Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.
You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale… and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon, ” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.
Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use—and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!
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Excuse 1: But It's On Sale
(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)
Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.
We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life—you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better.)
This is a sneakier and much more persuasive version of number two. In this excuse lies the promise of money that awaits you, whether a commission, bonus, raise or even a new job salary. It's certain, right? At least 90 percent, if not 99 percent. No, it's definite, or at least probably going to happen… The worst thing next to spending money you don't have is spending money you don't have yet. But in reality, it's the same thing. Life is unpredictable, and anything can happen. So don't pull any triggers until the money hits your account. Until it does, you simply don't have that money.
Excuse 4: But It's Fall Fashion/Holidays/Springtime
We love the changing seasons to keep life interesting. But seasons are not a built-in excuse to spend, no matter what the retail and advertising industry would have you believe with all its persuasive imagery of lovely women draped in cozy sweaters and boots or fluttery spring dresses. You probably have everything you need in your closet already. Think of enjoying what each season offers that doesn't involve buying: crisp air and pumpkins, snow on branches, buttery sunshine and buds peeping from the ground.
Excuse 5: But I Might Go Hiking in the Andes/Attend a Gallery Opening inParisOne Day
Buy for the life you have, not the one you want. Sometimes we buy things because of the lifestyle they represent, and how they embellish the person we want to be. Don't just ignore these urges—examine them. Your desired purchases may be telling you something—that you yearn for more adventure, culture, or socializing in your life. So make the life changes happen. Get the stuff later—if you even need it then.
We teasingly call one of our friends the "suckah shoppah" because when we go out as a group and someone buys an item, she's easily persuaded to buy it too. Don't underestimate the power of influence others can wield over your spending habits—and you don't have to be actually shopping with them; it can simply be the influence of coworkers or friends who are buying fall clothes, traveling or living a certain lifestyle. Tune them out. What matters is you and your budget. No one else will be around to bail you out later if you get in over your head.
Excuse 7: But It's My Wedding/Birthday/Cousin's Bat Mitzvah
That's right, we said wedding. We're not playing. Special occasions are one of life's greatest joys, but sometimes the desire for the perfect outfit or decorations or "things" can make us lose sight of what's more important—the relationships, the people and the celebration. What still trumps all your spending decisions is—you guessed it—your budget. Pre-plan a budget for special occasions for the year, and stick to it. Be creative about how you can repurpose or borrow dresses and accessories. It's not about deprivation, it's about shifting focus to what's more important—the very reason for the celebration.
Excuse 8: But I Can Return It
This is high up on the scale of sneaky excuses. Once you get home with the item, you can grow attached, the reasons to return it fade or you just can't be bothered. If you're a returnaholic, it's not healthy (or time-savvy) to get into a cycle of buying and returning—and it's not ethical to buy something, wear it and return it. So save return policies for exchanging a size or replacing a broken item, not for changing your mind. Chances are, once you buy it, you'll keep it.
Excuse 9: But I've Been So Good Lately
Congrats if you've been sticking to your budget and cutting your spending. Just don't undo all your hard work by blowing it with a giant splurge. The best way to handle this is to give yourself specific goals, and as you reach them, set aside a certain "treat" amount for reaching your milestones (i.e. If I can save $500 each month, I'll treat myself to a $50 splurge at the end of the month). If in spite of this you find yourself uncontrollably splurging for "being good, " it can be a sign that your goals are too aggressive. Recalibrate them so that you can make real progress, even if it seems slower.
Excuse 10: But I've Been So Bad Already
如何停止乱花钱
你是一个聪明妞。
嗯，这可能意味着你的脑子会自行其是。
你会说服自己接受某些事、拒绝某些事，甚至贬斥某些事（他戴着那顶最喜欢的帽子，一直看起来有点傻乎乎的）。如果思维清晰坚定，站在天使一边，会说服你别乱花钱，这样很好。但如果站在恶魔一边，思维软弱糊涂，告诉你要待自己更好，“但现在大减价……而且，不久就会有提成了，”那么，这时候就得用上各种方式：这些方式就是小小的实战演练，让人击退这些借口。
下面，指导大家设置拒绝购物的钢铁屏障：花钱的10大借口——以及击败它们的方法。花钱的时候过一下脑子。开始运作，只要需要就重复。
借口1：可正在促销啊
（还有：真便宜；只要12.99美元；很划算。）啊，交易的诱惑。零售商们深谙此道：人都想占便宜，所以整个团购产业就此诞生；分销商们甚至在价格标签上做文章，做虚假的减价。这就要求意志坚定了，必须训练自己忽略原始价格，而只注意现价。 只需 考虑：（1）是否真需要；（2）价格是否在预算内。大折扣意味着花大钱。
借口2：但我一直这么努力工作，我值得拥有它。
大家都努力工作（除非出生在富裕人家；或者中了彩票，要是这种情况，嗯，祝你好运吧）。唐娜·萨蒙的话讲得最好：“为了钱，她努力工作。”这是对的。我们都努力工作。不是说不该这么做：花努力赚来的钱，享受生活——应该这么做。只是单单“努力工作”不应该成为花钱的理由。毕竟，近来工作难度不小，但收入并非自动同步增加。预算要超过工作压力。（但如果未能同步增加，那就找一份性价比更高的工作。）
借口3：但我不久就要升职/加奖金了
这是借口2的升级版，更狡猾，更有说服力。这个理由内含承诺：有钱等着你，无论是佣金、奖金、升职，甚至一份新工作的薪水。肯定的，对吧？如果没有99%的把握，至少有90%。不，这是明确的，或者至少可能发生的……花 还 没有到手的钱，糟糕程度只低于花了不属于自己的钱。而实际上，它们是一回事。生活无常，可能发生任何事情。所以，落袋为安前，不要蠢蠢欲动。直到那笔钱到手，你才拥有它。
借口4：但这是秋装新款/节假日/春季
我们喜欢四季变化，这让生命趣味盎然。穿着舒适毛衣、靴子或者春季飘逸连衣裙的可爱女人——零售商和广告产业会用这些让人信服的形象，让你相信应该花钱；但不管他们如何怂恿，季节并非花钱的当然理由。可能衣柜里已经有了需要的任何东西。想享受换季的乐趣并不用买东西：清新的空气和南瓜，雪压树枝，明媚的阳光，还有从土地中探出头来的嫩芽。
借口5：但我可能有天要去安第斯山脉远足/参加巴黎一间画廊的开幕式
为眼下的生活购物，不要为憧憬的生活购物。有时候，我们购物，是因为它们代表的生活方式，以及我们期望成为的那种人物的装饰方式。不要对这些渴望视而不见——检视它们。渴望买的那些东西可能会告诉你一些事情——期盼更冒险、了解更多的文化，或者增加社交生活。那么，改变生活。迟点买东西——就算到时候你会需要。
借口6：但别人都买东西了
我们开玩笑地说一位朋友“巴结式购物”，因为大家一起出去，要是有人买了一件物品，很容易怂恿她也去买一件。不要低估了他人对我们消费习惯的影响——而且，不一定真要和他们一起购物；同事或朋友买了秋装、旅行或者某一种生活方式，都很容易产生影响。排除干扰。要紧的是你和你的预算。如果头脑犯迷糊，身边没人帮你脱困。
借口7：可今天是我结婚的日子/生日/表妹的成人礼
是的，我们说到结婚了。各种特殊的场合是生活中最大的乐趣之一，但有时候，期望完美外表或装饰或“那些东西”会遮住我们的眼睛，让人忽略了更重要的事情——人与人的关系、人们和庆祝。你猜到了，决定花钱时，要牢记预算。做好一年各种特别场合的事前预算，并严格执行。可以买二手衣服和配饰，或者去借，要动脑子。这不是剥夺享受，这是将注意力集中到更重要的事情上——庆祝的核心理由。
借口8：但我能退货
狡猾的借口中，这个属于高端了。一旦买了东西回家，你可能越来越喜欢了，退货的理由消失了，或者只是不想麻烦。如果退货上瘾的话，那就是陷入了——买东西和退东西的不健康或浪费时间的——循环里了，而且买了东西，穿了，然后退货，这是不道德的。那么就留着退货政策，用来调换尺码或替换破碎物品，不要利用其来改主意。一旦买了，很可能就会留下来了。
借口9：但我最近表现良好
如果你一直严格按照预算行事，并削减了开销，那么恭喜了。只是不要用一次大挥霍，使自己前功尽弃。最好的安排是：设定具体目标，当完成后，留出一笔特定“犒劳”钱，奖励自己完成阶段任务（如，本月能存500块，那么月底就可以挥霍50块）。如果这个法子不管用，发觉自己不由自主地因为“表现良好”而花钱，那么可能是设置的目标太苛刻了。修正目标，那么才会有切实的进步，即使看起来比较缓慢。
借口10：反正我已经糟透了
这真是借口9的坏兄弟。有时候，当我们搞砸了，就会说：“见鬼了，反正已经超预算了”，然后让信用卡账单直冲云霄。这是“引发失败”的思维模式，实际上，每天都是重新开始的机会，都是练习不花钱的机会。如果今天过得不好，不要放弃，不要横加指责自己。只要用更坚强的决心，迎接接下来的一天。每个人都有砸锅的时候——关键是如何应对失败。利用消费错误，让自己做得更好——不要破罐子破摔，让自己继续沉迷。
