As a registered nurse, wife, and mother of three, Cantu stays busy.
In her free time, she had built a habit of online spending.
I definitely have a shopping problem, she said.
I use a deal website that gives me deals at places like Target and Amazon.
Her growing kids also factored into her online buying habit.
And, shoes, dont forget about the shoes.
Shoes are a big one for me.
I have way too many shoes.
I just like shoes.
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She was excited about the challenge because of the progress her family wanted to make toward their financial goals.
Well probably use that toward a down payment, she added.
Add that to the $621 she saved and thats an $821 turnaround.
Did she find the challenge to stop online spending difficult?
It definitely feels rewarding when you buy stuff and you get packages every other day.
But it got easier as I went.
I was actually surprised that it got much easier.
I definitely felt like I built more of a habit of saving, rather than spending.
She says she only gave in once because of a deal she couldnt pass up.
I saw a sale on snow boots, and the kids definitely needed snow boots this year.
The key, Cantu learned, is to remember how small purchases add up over time.
Most of my purchases were around $30.
At the end of the month, Im thinking, Where did this money go?
And then we dont even use these things that were buying that often.
So its definitely a habit you’re able to break.
I was happy to be picked and challenged, and I think I really needed it.
It was eye opening.
What spending habit could you give up for a month to make progress toward your financial goals?
Robert Bruce is a Senior Writer for The Penny Hoarder.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
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