Curbing your Impulse Spending

Impulse spending can be a nagging problem for those struggling with ADD/ADHD.

Do you find yourself impulse spending? Already trying to overcompensate for short attention spans, something catches your eye. Over-stimulation sets in and before you know it, you’ve overspent – again.

Frustrating though it is, there are ways that you can help curb the impulse spending bug.

Remember your intentions before impulse spending hits.

When you plan to go shopping (whether online or out and about), go intentionally – knowing EXACTLY what you are going to purchase. Maybe this means making yourself a list and taking it with you. You can also set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to move from one place to the next quickly. In this way, you don’t get distracted quite so easily.

Give yourself a series of questions.

Make a habit of asking yourself several questions to help you evaluate your purchases. Your questions should help you decide if the purchase is one you will regret making, if it’s impulsive, or if it’s a wise choice. Use questions like:

Does this enhance my __________ ?
How much will I use this?
How much will the cost affect my budget?
Is there something else I will need to give up if I purchase this?

Use cash OR a debit card – NOT both.

Both methods have been suggested for ADD/ADHD by experts, for varying reasons. Some insist that cash is better, while some say that a debit card is better. You are the best judge of which method is going to work best for you.

If having cash in your wallet burns a hole in your pocket, a debit card might be the wiser option for you. This option works best for those that can actively keep track of what they have spent.

Conversely, if you struggle with keeping track of how much you spend, you might be better off using primarily cash. In that case, you can physically see what you have spent.

Find a good budgeting method and stick to it.

There are several ways that you can budget. Finding one that works well for you will make all the difference in curbing your impulse spending. You can use anything from a phone app to the envelope budgeting system.

Finally… Check Your Cart.

Make a habit of reviewing your cart before heading to the checkout aisle. After asking yourself the above questions, do one final review of everything in your cart that you didn’t plan to purchase.

Do you really need it?

This simple habit alone will help to curb your spending.

Understand that there will be times when you will STILL engage in impulse spending.

It happens to everyone – ADD/ADHD or not. It’s going to happen to you because impulsivity is a common problem associated with ADD/ADHD. These tips will be beneficial to help you CURB impulse spending, but they will not CURE your impulse spending.

Learning to say no is one of the most difficult lessons anyone has to learn and unfortunately for those with ADD/ADHD, it can come at a higher cost than most. (No pun intended!)