Your 20-something daughter is quite the penny-pincher when it comes to sticking to the grocery list and using coupons at the supermarket.
But she can't seem to drive by a boutique shop without stopping and dropping $40 on an impulse.Forty bucks may not sound like much. But when you're young and trying to watch your money, a shopping distraction here and there can quickly clear-cut a few hundred dollars from your checking account.Consider this data from a recent survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education in suburban Denver.Last fall, the nonprofit group surveyed more than 2,000 adults age 18 and older on impulse buying. The data found that nearly 70 percent of the respondents had purchased something big or small on impulse in the previous month. Most of the purchases were for themselves, their children or other family members.But the research also found that more than 70 percent of those impulse buyers said they later regretted spending the money.It takes discipline and basic money smarts to avoid the unanticipated stops and impulse spending sprees.To help the young adult or teenager in your family curb impulse buying, here are some pointers to share:Track your money. Whether it's a spending plan (aka budget) or monitoring ATM receipts, know what's going out and coming in.Shop with a focus. Make a list of what's needed before going to the grocery store or the mall and stick to it. Also, avoid the supermarket on an empty stomach -- you're more likely to add a few unplanned items to your cart.Shop smart with smartphones. If you have a smartphone, check for store coupons and other specials, especially if you can snag a discount on a spur-of-the moment visit.Avoid the mall on payday. You're flush with cash, it's your first full-time job, and hey, life is good. Here's another mindset: Challenge yourself to avoid all that spending frontloading for a few days, at least until you've first paid your bills.Watch whom you run with. If you spend time shopping with friends as a form of socializing, it may be time to avoid those occasions. Likewise, avoid shopping as a form of therapy.The final piece of advice is something I've said many times before. But it bears repeating: When in doubt, wait it out.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
