Impulse Buys are a Bad Habit

I am generally good with my money. I have a budget based on my income, expenses and desired amount of savings. I shop for bargains. I understand frugal living. But there's one thing that I haven't quite gotten a grip on: impulse buys.

I'm guilty of being that person who picks up the candy bar or pack of gum when I'm standing in line at a grocery store. I'm also guilty of getting unnecessary add-ons; send me into a store to look at wigs and I'm coming out with plus size adult costumes to go with them.

I'm trying to put an end to this problem because I know it's the reason that I'm not always able to stick to my budget. I have cut back in every other way but then these impulse buys get me.

I'm using a few tricks to get this under control. I'm shopping with lists and trying to make a rule not to buy anything that's not on the list. I'm shopping online more often since I don't seem to have as much of a problem with this when Internet shopping. And mostly I'm trying to be aware of the problem so that it happens less. Slowly but surely I'm going to stop buying things on impulse!