Calculate what you can spend from Friday morning until Monday morning.
- Withdraw the amount you have allowed for the weekend.
- Put all your “plastic cards” in a safe/secure place at home.
- Consider them "locked up" for the weekend!
- Then, enjoy the weekend, but spend your money wisely.
By locking up all of your “plastic” (i.e., your credit cards, ATM cards, and debit cards) you’ll have to retrieve the cards before you can use them.
The time it will take to go home to "unlock" your cards will give you a chance to reconsider if you really want to purchase the item(s) in question.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Did I "unlock" the cards before Monday morning? If so, was it worth it?
- Did I want and/or need more money over the weekend? Why?
- Did I want and/or need to use my credit cards over the weekend? Why?
If you have to unlock your cards and use your plastic during the weekend, you’ll be exceeding the budget you set for yourself on Thursday night.
In other words, you’ll be spending more than you thought you could afford that weekend. That will require you to do without later in the month, or to increase your debt, or both. Is it worth it? If not, try to consume with cash, not credit! |