Are we addicted to spending?

Are We Addicted to Spending?
By Teresa Theriot, Founder of www.TheBudgetQueen.com

My aggravation with the American spending problem peaked this week with my mother. She came home with a pack of batteries from the drug store when she clearly had plenty of batteries in her back bedroom. When confronted, her excuse was that my son was sleeping in there. It was easier for her to drive to the store and spend money on something that she already owned than to wait an hour for my son to wake up. The sad thing is that although most people think the idea is plain crazy, many of us have done it before for one reason or another.

It really got me thinking about how completely unconscious people are with their money, and why so many people are struggling with their finances. What has happened to America? Have we become so completely spoiled that we are addicted to spending? I decided that I had to find the answers, in hopes that I could help people stop spending. Surprisingly, I found many of the answers within myself.

Waiting to buy a new house, I have been staying with my parents rent-free. Having that extra wiggle room in my budget has made me feel a little loose with my pocket book. Although I have a strict budget every week, I was running out of money much faster than I normally do. Last week I hit a fabulous clearance sale at JC Penny and spent my whole budget for the week in one day. I decided that something had to change, so I embarked on a no spending challenge.

On day one, I realized that I was just as bad as the rest of America. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I too had become a victim of convenience shopping. Although the things I bought were usually very cheap and I never went over budget, I too have become accustomed to buying things on an almost daily basis. How could I have let this happen?

So, I stopped spending on everything. I said no to lunch out with a friend, even when I had room in my budget, and opted to eat at her house. I turned down my favorite treat, CC’s coffee, and brought my own coffee to the coffee shop to study. I reluctantly turned down my son’s request for a book and told him to use his allowance. I almost caved for coffee filters but used paper towels instead. I made greeting cards on my computer, refused to grocery shop, and easily found ways to use what I already had to get what I needed. My creative juices were overflowing.

My thinking began to change back to what it once was. I felt free and in control of my budget. I started to use the things I already had in a much more conscious way and began to appreciate the things I own. I was happier and having fun making things that I normally couldn’t “find the time” to make.

It’s no wonder that people in poorer countries have less, yet are much happier. They appreciate the things they own. In order to be truly happy, we must be grateful for what we have. In order to be grateful we must make use of the things we own and stop buying more things that we don’t have time to appreciate. There is no other way to explain the sense of enlightenment that I feel than to challenge you to a spend-free week. So, give it a shot, even if it’s just for one day, and you will reap the benefits of what you learn.

Teresa Theriot is a stay at home mother of three children. She is an expert on saving money and founder of www.thebudgetqueen.com.