We’ve all been there. We get upset, and we eat a double cheeseburger, or a pint of ice cream.

We have an argument with our boss, or a co-worker, and our plan to quit smoking bites the dust.

We miss a flight and spend $50 in the airport gift shop. Or, in my case, I stop at Starbucks every morning out of habit, and because it is a small comfort.

What do all of these things have in common? They are ingrained, destructive behaviors.

We eat, we smoke, we gamble, we drink, or we spend; habitually, and during an emotional state. Then we feel guilty. Regretful even. We know we didn’t need that cheeseburger, or that new pair of shoes, or that new electronic toy. We know it broke the budget, and we vow to do better next time. But for how long?

Binge Spending:

“Binge Spending” is exactly what it sounds like. We get a little bit of money, and we gorge ourselves. We use that money as a salve, covering over an emotional wound. In the end we come out bloated, frustrated, and sick over our actions. If the money was spent on credit, we come out of the binge episode in debt, which creates another cycle of worry and stress the following month when the bill is due.

Sometimes people binge spend because they feel poor, and going out and buying whatever item is at the top of their list makes them feel better - for a little while. That is, until reason and guilt set in.

Reason and guilt inevitably give way to:

Financial Fasting:

Financial fasting is the other end of the spectrum. It’s where we mentally berate ourselves for spending money we didn’t have, and promise - will ourselves not to do it again. So, for a while we go without. We don’t eat out, we don’t buy clothes, electronics, 25 ¢ gum balls, nothing.

Then we start feeling restricted. And the cycle begins again.

Here’s where I ‘fess up: I just bought a new laptop, after my daughter broke my old one. Oh, but I didn’t buy just any laptop. I bought an $800 laptop. I thankfully did not put it on credit, but it did give a heck of a one-two punch to my bank account. There was a cheaper model. A much cheaper model. But I didn’t buy it. I bought the more expensive laptop for the following “reasons”:

• I need it to do my job - Well yes, I’m a writer, it’s my job. I do need a computer to work. But I could have gotten by with a $300 computer. Frankly a ten year old dinosaur that could run Microsoft Word would have done the job.
• I work hard, I deserve it - Ouch. Yep. I’m guilty of that one. I “deserve” that shiny new 320 gig hard drive, don’t I? Well, no, not really. And I know it, deep down.
• I want to buy something that will last - Well, considering that my last laptop didn’t even last me a year before I broke it, this thing’s lifespan is probably going to fall somewhere between a mayfly and the time it takes Michael Phelps to complete a lap.
• I wanted it - This is probably the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. I wanted it. Drooled over it. Imagined myself getting it.
• My friends will be jealous - Yes. I’m guilty of this one too. Not proud of it, but guilty just the same!
• We have the money -The money was just sitting there, in my bank account. I could have invested it, paid an extra bill, anything. Instead I dumped our savings into a depreciating anti-investment. Guilt? You betcha.

By refusing to think logically about my habits and emotions, I let them control me.

So, here’s my question to you: What’s your advice? How do you fight this battle? How do you avoid financial temptation in your own life?

How can I fight the good fight, and grow wealthy, when I’m my own worst enemy?

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 am and is filed under Frugality, My Experience, Opinions, Personal Finance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.