I recently introduced Behaviour Works 7-step approach to Caroline who wanted to get back some control over her finances. Using the 7-step process she discovered that the big impact behaviour change she wanted was to spend less at the supermarket. This was the one behaviour that she identified that would have the biggest impact and be the easiest for her to put into action. The action she took was to keep track of her shopping list and spending using the handheld scanner as she shopped. This has helped her to stick to her list and spend less. The bonus is that she also finds she has less food waste every week. She loved our online ‘Making Change Happen’ training programme and said,
“I found the whole process positive and easy to follow and implement”.
The key here for Caroline was that she was able to work out and focus on what change would have the biggest impact on her spending and then was able to plan appropriate and effective actions for her own situation. Tailoring your actions to your unique situation makes long-term change more likely to happen.
What is the big impact change to your behaviour that you could make to spend less money?
What are the appropriate and effective actions that you could take?
How to find appropriate and effective actions for you
1 - Know your why
Change needs to have a clear and valid reason.
It’s one thing to know that you want to spend less, it’s another thing to know WHY it’s important for you to do that.
2 – Think about what you could do differently
Ask yourself what are ALL the desired behaviours I could do to spend less money?
Write a specific positive statement for each one with phrases like ‘I will’, ‘I have’, or ‘I am’, use a ‘doing’ word and include a timescale and measurable criteria.
3 – Pick one thing
Pick only one of those desired behaviours to work on.
Choose the behaviour that will have the biggest impact for you for the least amount of effort.
You should aim for quality, not quantity and change will come from one well thought through behaviour change.
4 – Make sure you have everything you need
For example, information, skills, motivation, time, support etc.
5 – Monitor your progress
As I said earlier we are more likely to change things if we manage or monitor our behaviour because we are giving our attention to it.
Monitoring provides you with feedback about if you are successfully making the change happen, it lets you watch your progress, keeps you accountable, increases your commitment, gives you evidence for giving yourself credit for your achievements and giving yourself a treat (although only if it’s on your shopping list and within your budget).
Best wishes, Eleanor
Why do you want to spend less money? Share your ‘why’ with us in the comments below.
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Behaviour Works aim is simple. To help make change happen in your personal, family or working life. Every week we help thousands of people across the world with their own change journey with our online training. Check us out at Behaviour Works.
