Are You An Overspender?

Are You an Overspender?

ANSWER “YES’ OR “NO” TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT:
Are you still paying for purchases made a
year ago? (Exclude payments on your home
and car.)

Do you race to get your paycheck to the bank
before the checks you have written get there?

Are your credit cards usually at their maximum
credit limit?
Do you use credit instead of cash,
even when the purchase is small
and you have the money?

Are you often broke by payday?

Do friends or family tease you about having
“champagne” taste on a “beer” budget?

Do you shop for recreation?

Is your checking account frequently overdrawn?

Do you notice mood swings when shopping –
down before you go, up while shopping, down
again after getting your bill?

When you receive statements from creditors at
tax time, are you surprised at how much you’ve
paid in interest?

If you answered yes more often than no, you may be a
chronic overspender.

The FIRST STEP in getting your finances under
control is recognizing the problem.

The SECOND STEP is deciding if now is the
time you want to make a change.

The THIRD STEP is to take a realistic look at
your financial picture, decide where the trouble
spots are, and begin doing something. NOW!
Maybe you need to get rid of your credit cards,
or limit shopping trips with the person who
always encourages you to buy things.
Maybe you need a cooling-off period before
purchasing new tools, or clothes, or computer
items.

By trying to understand the situations that entice you
to overspend and making a plan to handle those
situations differently, you can make an important
difference in your financial future.

AUTHOR:
Ann Henderson, M.S., CFCS, Utah State University
Extension Educator, Box Elder County
This might be a good time to resolve to set
aside some money each month for those
unexpected expenses or for a trip or....