Impulse buying is, by and large, what ruins my attempts to be frugal.

It feels like I just can’t help it.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Thinking about something is how I figure it out and make my way forward (at least, most of the time). And I know that this Fall, with going back to school and having a lower income, it’s going to be important that I not give in to impulses as much.

But what I’ve realized about giving in to impulses is that it’s not just about money, it’s actually part of my larger personality. Actually, it’s part of everyone’s personality. It’s called “living” – things come up, and we react to them.

Will I go to this party, or stay home and do my homework? Will I have dessert, or stop eating now? Will I start talking to this new person, or not? Will I decide to study this subject, or that subject?

The way we make a decision is what it all boils down to. I tend to go with my gut and make snap decisions.

Or, I make a snap decision, and then I second- and third-guess it. This is why I’m bad at menus. “Oh, I dunno, it all looks so good!”

And you know, sometimes, snap decisions are good! How much fun have I had doing stuff that at the time I thought “What the heck am I doing, deciding to do this?” And it all worked out and became a happy memory.

So it’s not so much going with impulses that’s the problem. It’s feeling like I have no choice over my impulses, and berating myself for following some impulses, that makes me feel out of control.

So I guess what I need to do is realize and remember and put into practice that I have control over my impulses and that I can choose not to follow them.

What about you? Do you feel like your impulses are beyond your control, or do you have pretty good control over them?

The other Frugal Friday posts on this blog:

• Pamela Johnson on killing slugs + preserving herbs
• Leah on overcoming impulse buying.
• Brian Dean on Thrift.
• Alicia Lake on eating locally, for cheap
• Erika Shea on savings websites.
• Erika Shea on banking fees.
• Angela Mercer-Penny on how to make milk paint.
• Kate Oland on Frugal Friday at the Baddeck Library
• Erika Shea replies to reader comments
• Erika Shea on Do It Yourself sushi