Money for Any Reason You May Need!

6 Ways to Avoid Spending Traps This Spring

Spring has sprung, and itق€™s time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. However, just because it’s time to shed a few layers, doesnق€™t mean its time to shed the dough. Often, people feel compelled to seek renewal in their own lives to match the Earth’s whether it be through new furnishings, a new home or as little as a new dress. However, if youق€™re not careful, you can fall into a spring spending trap that will leave your finances in a dire condition. Here are six ways to avoid the spring spending trap so that you can stay out of debt and even put some money towards savings.

1. آ The Spring Wardrobe

You may be inspired by all the beautiful spring flowers to get a whole new colorful wardrobe at your favorite stores, especially when the latest fashions come out. The warmer weather can seem like a sign to spruce up your wardrobe, but itق€™s easy to go overboard with the spring shopping. To avoid this, take the time to look at what you currently have in your closet to see if there are some good pieces that you can use for this year. Additionally, make sure to put away your winter wardrobe and put your current spring clothes on display so that you can see what you already have and not be tempted to go out and buy something you don’t need.

2. آ Outdoor Furniture

Itق€™s easy to walk past a home store and be tempted by the gorgeous outdoor furniture on display, especially when the sun starts to shine. After a cold winter, updating everything from your shade umbrellas to your patio loungers may be calling your name. However, to avoid the trap of spending thousands of dollars on outdoor furniture don’t go to the home stores unless you absolutely need something and when you do, bring a list of items you actually need.

3. آ Springtime Gifts

Spring is often the time to give gifts, whether for college or high school graduation or Motherق€™s Day and Easter. Itق€™s easy to feel giving and want to put a smile on your family and friends’ face, but itق€™s critical that you think carefully about the money you’re putting towards gifts before spring comes around. Many retailers know that people are on the hunt for great gifts during spring and so will raise the price, making the best time to shop for springtime gifts well before spring.

4. آ Organizational Products

Spring is the perfect opportunity to do a thorough cleaning of your house, hence the name spring-cleaning. However, doing so can be quite expensive, especially if you buy containers, baskets, bins, and other organizational materials. That being said, before you head to the Container Store, itق€™s recommended that you first sift through all your stuff to see if there is anything you can purge or donate. By doing so, youق€™ll likely clear room in some of your old containers.

5. آ Treating Your Tax Refund as Free Money

Treating your tax refund as free money is one of the worst spending traps you can fall into during the springtime. This money is not free; it is your own money. If you have any debt, then instead of spending your tax refund on frivolous things, consider using it as a way to climb your way out of it. If you really want to spend some of your tax refund, then avoid spending more than 10 percent of it, which allows you to treat yourself while still putting your refund to your debt or savings.

6. آ Gym Memberships

Spending the winter under sweaters, leggings, and long-sleeved shirts may have led you to slack on the diet and exercise regiment. Nevertheless, with bikini season coming up, you may be tempted to purchase an expensive gym membership to convince yourself to shed those pounds. This is a highly expensive mistake, as once the weather starts warming up, you can easily start exercising outdoors for absolutely no cost. Whether you walk, run, or bike, outdoor exercise can be just as effective as hitting the gym. If you already have a membership, then consider canceling or pausing it during the spring to take advantage of the great weather.

.