Re: Breaking Habits
For me, breaking habits means creating new ones that lead to the results I'm looking for. If I want to go out for lattes less often, for example, then I need to create habits at home that make it more likely and easier for me to enjoy a good cup of coffee right here. Buy good quality coffee, stay stocked on coffee filters, keep all supplies together so making the coffee takes a minimal amount of time and effort...
I think being conscious of the changes you want to make is important. With spending, we're always making choices. When I go out to dinner, I'm making a choice to do so. Now, if I have nothing appealing at home to eat, it makes going out for food loook more like a need than a want. But if I made a point of having some good food inthe house and some sort of plan for how to prepare it, then going out to eat looks more like the luxury that it is.
Overcoming bad sopending habits is sort of akin to overcoming an eating disorder. You can't go cold turkey. Everyone needs to eat; likewise, everyone needs to spend. So the task becomes learning to spend when you need to and stop when you're done - i.e. the needs have been met. (to use an eating analogy)
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