Shopping until your house is breaking at the seams or until your bank account is empty is most likely not going to bring you closer to your dreams, yet in this consumers market we live in the same messages keep popping up. Advertisements and fancy displays get us wanting things we don't really need.

Ever walk into a store with a purpose in mind only to see something that catches your eye, something you had no need for 10 minutes ago but something that now seems to hold your life's happiness?

Ever bought it, taken it home and 6 months later found that you may have only used it once, if at all?

I have been prey to this myself from time to time in the past honestly, yet now I just try to stay away from retail stores altogether unless I have a specific need.

The messages keep coming our way though. Through the TV, Radio, Internet, Newspapers and mailers. A lot of money is spent to get you to buy just about everything.

So, what can we do to help control this and to stop spending money, stop going into debt and stop filling our homes with things we really don't need and won't bring us any closer to happiness?

Well, here is a suggestion. Ask yourself these questions the next time you go out to the store. I give a copy of these to my clients on a little card they can carry in their wallet, and you can do the same thing for yourself.

What you can do is write these down on piece of paper and carry it with you. The next time you get tempted to buy something, pull it out and carefully read it over. If you can be honest with yourself and still come to the same conclusion and decide you really do need the item, then shop with my blessing.

1. Why do I want this?
2. Can I wait to buy this?
3. Can I pay cash?
4. Is it worth the price?
5. Where will it go?
6. When will I use it?
7. Do I already own one?
8. What will my spouse say?
9. Can I borrow one?
10. Can I buy it second hand?
11. Can I get a better one?

My last bit of advice, when you do decide to make the purchase for something you truly need, think quality. Quality lasts longer and doesn't go out of style.

Be happy in the space your in!