Student Loan Dodgers

Sometimes you just get the urge to spend, and if you’re used to following through on that, you can soon find yourself in deep financial trouble. If you’re a big-time spender, try developing a set of anti-spending habits to tide you over until the urge passes.

When you feel like going out shopping, go to the recreation building instead. Work out, take a walk, ride a bike, or do whatever physical activity helps get you through the urge to spend.

Reading is a great way to distract yourself and work through the urge to spend. Watch a movie or TV program, listen to a hockey game or some other sporting event. If you have to, tape a few games to watch for just these occasions. Go to the library and check out the newspapers from home or from other cities that interest you.

Invite a friend over and watch a movie. If there’s a dollar theater in town, check out a movie you may have missed at the first-run theater, or see a movie you particularly liked a second time.

Check out the events on campus. Often, you can find an interesting lecture, movie screening, or event that you can attend for free.

Balance your checkbook. Sometimes, taking a realistic look at your financial circumstances helps diminish the urge to spend.

Go to an online gaming site and play games. Many times, you can play single-player or networked games free of charge. If you have access to the Internet, go check out Second Life for awhile. Try to meet someone interesting.

Develop a set of activities you can turn to when you feel the need to spend money that you should be saving for other things. If you can intervene on the habit often enough, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also retrain yourself to avoid recreational spending.