Create A Splurge Budget To Contain Impulse Buys

Creating and sticking to a budget can be tough for some people. One great way to make sure you don’t overspend or succumb to the siren song of impulse purchases is to create a category in your household budget specifically for those types of purchases. Better yet, open an account specifically for them and keep that account’s card or cash in your wallet for those times when you just want to treat yourself.

Photo by Harsha K R.

The goal of creating a budget is to make sure you know where your money is going at all times, and the beauty of having a splurge budget is that you have a way to bolster your discipline as you learn to scale back those impulse buys and manage your money a little better. Every good budget should have a section for entertainment and fun purchases (otherwise, what are you earning all of that money for?) Building a splurge fund that rolls over from month to month gives you a way to treat yourself occasionally without wrecking the rest of your financial health.

The folks at Wise Bread offer up a number of other techniques to help you avoid overspending on impulse buys, but this one was particularly interesting, especially since many people too often believe building a budget means you can’t have fun with your money. Do you have a splurge fund in your budget? How do you make sure your budget is sound without making your life miserable? Share your money-saving tips in the comments.

9 Simple Ways to Stop Impulse Buying [Wise Bread]