5 Ways to Tame Your Splurges When Youre on a Budget

5 Ways to Tame Yur Splurges When Youre on a Budget Its not easy being a woman. Everyone is out for our hard-earned dollars. Wzu sichever we glance, we are bombarded with advertisements of impeccably photoshopped models selling us something that were told we absolutely need. You know, the one thing thats everywhere on Instagram. The one thing that you must have in order to feel good about yourself.Its all too easy to fall into the trap of devilish marketing (like those strategically placed ads on our phone and laptop screens) and the ease of ordering online. And thats fine if you have a healthy supply of extra money coming in. But really, for anyone, blowing too much money on not-so-smart splurges can end up being detrimental to your finances if you dont have a plan.Spending on a budget can be a challenge, but it can also be a blessing. Some probing questions and criteria can teach any of us how to spend our fun money in the smartest way possible. Here are 5 ways you can tame your spe nding money splurges.1. Ask yourself do I reallyneed that must-have?Yes, of course, I need this new office bag Yes, of course, I need (yet) another foundation Yes, of course, I need a new pair of shoes (my current favorites are more than a year old) We are so used to buying things without thinking much about whether we really need them, that this first step might feel almost torturous. And you may not always like the answer to this question.When money is in short supply, be brutally honest with yourself whether you need something or not before buying it. Theres no dearth of fantastic and life-changing products in the market. Fortunately, we can do just fine without the vast majority of them.2. Choose quality over quantity...Once you are clear about what you need versus what you only kinda, sorta want, you will have more dollars to spend on high quality items. These things stick around. Long brdeing products obviously provide more value, but they also provide a reminder that you boug ht something for fun (so you might not need to do it again right now). Seeing a full closet or a full jewelry box because you chose items that last will cut down on that nagging feeling that you need to buy more. Also, when on a limited budget, its often tempting to pick more for less. You want to buy as many items as you can for as little as possible. This is a bad idea, or at the very least, short-term thinking. Those things add up, and quick. And you might not even realize how much youre spending when you buy products for $5 at a time. Theres no use in buying junk.Yes, it is junk if it is low quality. It wont last long. It wont wear well. It wont give your outfits and your looks the oomph you crave. It will be lying discarded and forgotten in just a few months from now. That is not what you want.3. ... but also know where to scrimp.Having unequivocally stated that it is always advisable to choose quality over quantity, there are items on which spending top dollar makes no real se nse. What this essentially means is that there are clearly crazily over-priced items out there that one needs to steer clear of. Sometimes an exorbitant price tag does indicate high quality, but other times its just a greedy schlussverkauf ploy (and you should be able to tell one from the other).Take lipsticks, for instance. You will find excellent picks under $5, great dupes of the MACs and the Charlotte Tilburys of the world. How does one justify spending $100 on a foundation? Are you sure it contains that extra something which makes it worth that much? On the other hand, there are items you should never scrimp on. Jewelry, for instance. Fake jewelry may look very attractive and trendy in the store, but its going to lose its luster soon, after which it will look plain tacky, and maybe even embarrassing. Id go so far as to say dont buy gold-plated jewelry at all buy a minimalistic (real) gold bangle instead. Wear those pearl earrings your mom gifted you on your 25th birthday. Cheri sh the diamond ring you bought ages ago. These are timeless items that will help you create classy looks every single time.4. If youre buying clothes, only buy versatile pieces.Like buying long-lasting products leaves you feeling good for a long time after, versatile pieces will add the value you crave to your closet. Pieces that you can mix and match and layer up or down depending on the season are always clever purchases that you will use over and over, giving you no excuse to run to Zara because you have nothing to wear. Shopping versatile pieces requires a deep understanding of your personal style. If blazers and boots are a must for you, pick the outer layers in universally flattering colors such as grey, navy, or brown. Avoid buying stand out items, like yellow anything or magenta jackets. They might win you over in the store, but once you have worn them a couple of times, you will find there isnt much you can do with them.As cliched as might this sound, invest in high-quality basics. And choose colors and fabrics that are versatile in nature. The same goes for accessories. Forget Forever 21 or fast fashion in general. Spend more on classic pieces and less on trending ones.5. Remember why you need a plan.Devising a spending money budget can be a creative and fun exercise. But youll need a plan for it, and a keen realization of what suits you. You will have to slay your impulses and rise above facile trends.Introspect, research and budget thats my mantra to smart, fun spending that doesnt burn a hole in my leather pocket. Whats yours?More on budgeting. She is on a mission to empower all women. Youll usually find her practicing Pilates or teaching vegan recipes to her GirlGang. On the weekends, Karen loves watching Westworld and Riverdale.