How To Be A Responsible Shopaholic

What a lot of people don't know about me is that I maxed out a few retail credit cards right out of College. Remember that 2009 movie 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with actress Isla Fisher as the unable-to-say-no-to-a-sale Rebecca Bloomwood? I was her!

I didn't have credit card companies after me like she did, however when I saw an item that I wanted in the store I just had to make the purchase. In the words of Luke Brandon, a character from the movie, "Cost and worth are two very different things". I couldn't agree more. It would be an injustice not to get the gorgeous dress that was on sale when it was worth far more than what the numbers on the price tag said. And when you do the math of how much the item cost, divided by how many times you would wear the item, it was a no brainer! But after getting engaged and seeing how my credit score was a not-so-happy number, I have learned self-control and a few pieces of advice when it comes to being financially responsible. Let's go from this:

to this!

Tip #1: Say Yes, Sometimes: Now I am not saying to stop shopping entirely. There are some items that us ladies need every month or just in general for our feminine hygiene and happiness. But.. when it comes to items like an expensive perfume you have your eye on, that bag that is $450 but is on sale, or that dress that you will only wear once, DO. NOT. BUY. IT! Yes, its hard. Yes, that bag won't go on sale again because its a high-end designer, but on the bright side you can buy another bag that will be of use to you and keep your wallet full. Click here to shop at one of my favorite boutiques for bags.  

Tip #2: Plan Without Pressure: If you know that you are going somewhere in which you will have an urge to spend, plan ahead by saving money so that you will know exactly how much you have to spend. My husband and I are going to St. Louis in July for a church conference and we are soooo pumped! We are going to try various foods, enjoy the city's entertainment and buy some souvenirs to take home. So what did we do to plan? We made sure to have money set aside specifically for our trip. We know exactly what our budget is and we won't have to worry about how much money we are using from our checking account after every purchase. 

Tip #3: Get A Credit Card: Now before you go crazy and start signing yourself up for a dozen credit cards, I want you understand the purpose of a credit card. It is not a magical card for your deepest retail desires. Trust me, I had to learn that the hard way. A credit card is meant to help you be a responsible shopper and build up your credit for future purchases. Want a gorgeous house with low monthly payments? You need good credit for that. Want a decent car without having to pay so much upfront? You need good credit for that. Want to take out a loan because of a financial emergency? You guessed it, you need good credit. The technical terms of credit cards can be a bit confusing so I suggest clicking here to have your own credit card glossary from Credit Card Insider. 

I hope that these tips help you to be financially fit and credit savvy. What are some tips you use to spend your money wisely?Let me know in the comments below. Happy Shopping!