I am very impulsive sometimes, and if I have money in my account, I end up spending it. Which puts me further in debt and keeps me in debt. What are some things I can do to use this impulsiveness to pay down my debts some how?
dont carry cash or cards when you don't need to
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same, then I change my mind about how I feel
My Son has me on a strict budget.
If onilne shopping, put it in your cart and then come back to it another day.
I have nothing left after bills anyway
good
Good advice
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Instead of checking out, use the money you were about to spend to pay off debts.
Depends on how much you want to shift this behavior as it may require processing and healing the underlying causes before you can use it in a way that is more aligned with your goals. Ambivalence to change is normal, so expect it to be difficult until you understand and accept why you need to change and how you can. Google the stages of change to identify where you might be.
Then, if possible, talk to a friend you trust, a therapist, or with yourself to identify the underlying driver(s) of the impulse buying. For example, is it fear, loneliness, insecurity, boredom, etc.. and an attempt to resolve those feelings and/or an unmet emotional need? Is it a compulsion, addiction, or something that might be neurological that medication and therapy can assist with? Is it a pattern that was modeled for you? Have you had any traumatic experiences related to money (e.g. growing up in poverty or not having enough resources to meet needs) or have you moved between income statuses and are adjusting?
Online you should be able to find something called a Behavior Analysis Worksheet that will walk you through analyzing environmental circumstances, thoughts, emotions, and resulting behaviors. With this you can have a better understanding of what the actual issue is and then make choices about how to shift out of that cycle. While we can't actually control what we think and feel, we do have control over the actions we take. Understanding and accepting what is actually driving your choice will allow you to make different decisions over time.
Have extra money in a savings account
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