---
title: "Three bad spending habits you need to break to protect your wallet"
description: "From eating out to those little congratulatory purchases, these are the big bad spending habits that can bust your budget"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PERSONAL FINANCE"
author: "Neesa Moodley"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/neesa-moodley/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-09-bad-spending-habits-you-need-to-ditch-to-protect-your-wallet/"
published: "2024-09-09T20:04:06"
updated: "2024-09-09T20:04:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 331
---

# Three bad spending habits you need to break to protect your wallet

> From eating out to those little congratulatory purchases, these are the big bad spending habits that can bust your budget

By Neesa Moodley · Published 9 September 2024, 22:04 SAST · Updated 9 September 2024, 22:04 SAST

## Key points
- Creating a habit in 21 days may sound like a breeze, but breaking one could take you anywhere from 18 to 254 days - so watch out for those sneaky money-draining habits such as dining out too often, giving in to impulse buys, and splurging on expensive rewards that could leave your wallet feeling a bit light.
- Creating a habit takes 21 days, but breaking one can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days, according to a study from the University College of London.
- Common money-draining habits include eating out frequently, making impulse purchases and rewarding yourself inappropriately.
- To save money, plan meals ahead, avoid impulse buys by waiting 24 hours before purchasing and find inexpensive ways to reward yourself.
- Take control of your habits and finances to build a healthier relationship with money.

## Content

It takes just 21 days to create a habit. This can seem a relatively short amount of time for someone starting to form a relationship and building a daily habit. It can also feel interminably long for someone dieting and waiting to see a change on the scale.

The flip side is that although it takes “just” 21 days to create a habit, a study from Phillippa Lally at the University College of London in 2009 shows it can take you anywhere from 18 to 254 days to break a habit!

These are the typical habits draining your money:

🍔🍟 **Eating out too often:** If you’re always on the go, grabbing a meal during the day or combining supper with meeting your friends for some time out can quickly eat into your budget. Take an hour on Sunday to plan your meals for the week ahead. Suggest a potluck dinner or a night in with your friends rather than going out. If eating out is unavoidable, set a budget so that you don’t overspend.

🛍️ **Impulse purchases:** These purchases are rarely budgeted for, which means something is going to have to give elsewhere in your spending – or your debt is increasing, which is going to eat into your budget later. Give yourself time (at least 24 hours) to review the purchase. If it’s online, you can simply leave it in the basket without concluding the purchase. If it’s something like a dress or a jacket – go back and review what you already have in your cupboard in that category.

🏆 **Inappropriate rewards:** Working hard and then rewarding yourself is not a bad thing – unless your reward is costing you money you can’t afford to spare. Look at ways to reward yourself that don’t affect your wallet. Carving out time for a walk on the beach with a friend can be a reward that is inexpensive, good for the soul and likely to give you a dopamine hit. **DM**