Reducing Temptation

When you're actively watching your budget, it seems like there are more temptations than ever to buy, buy, buy. At least for me, it seems as though when you can't or shouldn't spend, you see lots of things you want to have, but when you have the cash available, the temptations are lessened considerably. How to help keep those temptation demons at bay? Here are several suggestions:

1. Cancel the mail order catalogs. I have written before that sometimes catalogs can save you money, but for some folks, even if they don't order, just looking through a catalog, seeing things you would like to have but can't/shouldn't spend the money on can be extremely depressing. It makes you focus on what you can't have instead of being grateful for what you do have. If you have this problem, go to www.catalogchoice.org to opt out of those that you receive. Until then, toss the catalog straight from the mailbox to the trash.
2. Don't look through the ads that come in the newspaper. This can be just as just as depressing as the mail order catalogs. When I get the Sunday paper, I go through the ad stack, pulling out the coupons, grocery ads and Walgreens and CVS ads; the rest go directly into the recycling bin. If I start looking at the ad from Penneys, I will not only get depressed about not being able to afford a new outfit but also about my weight! That's a bad combination.
3. Avoid the aisles in the store that call your name loudest. For me, this is the candle/magazine aisle at Krogers, so I avoid going down this aisle whenever possible. It not only tempts me to spend money, it tempts me to waste time by looking at the different magazines and smell the candle scents and talk myself out of buying some that I have no business contemplating in the first place!
4. Avoid certain stores/malls altogether. Yankee Candle. Barnes and Noble. I get in trouble just passing these stores.
5. Limit contact with certain people. If you're friends with someone who always has the newest and best, and it affects your wants and contentment, it may be best to limit how often you are with that friend. Perhaps instead of going to their house and seeing everything you don't have, you could meet for lunch at the park or keep in contact via email for a while until you work through the jealousy and feelings of deprivement your exposure to those things cause. A true friend will understand. And remember, just because someone has all those things doesn't mean that they aren't neck-deep in debt trying to pay for them!
6. Be an adult. You are responsible for making decisions that benefit your family and your financial present and future. Being impulsive is not being an adult. Remind yourself that you don't "deserve" everything you want and remember that you are setting an example for your children. Even a single person has responsibilities to other people. My aunt couldn't resist temptation when it came to books or toys for her cat. When she passed away, she was close to bankruptcy, and her estate did not cover all her debts. While my mother was not responsible for those debts, that whole situation was extra stressful because of creditors calling and threatening my mom and Mom having to be careful what she allowed family members to take from the home prior to the estate auction. Don't think that your actions today won't affect those you love even after you're gone because they will.

How else do you avoid temptation? Short of living in a cocoon, it's something we face every day. Every suggestion will help!