Dear Dave,
In your opinion, what causes overspending?
Kristin
Dear Kristin,
Overspending is, 100 percent of the time, a choice. It’s a decision. Most of the time it’s linked to immaturity, although there can be other issues at play.
People who habitually overspend are saying that they’re unwilling to act like a mature adult, and delay pleasure in order to win with money. This kind of thing is made even worse, because we live in a culture fueled by extreme debt marketing. And when things like credit card offers are constantly in the face of immature people, those two things can combine to make a real mess.
Good question, Kristin!
—Dave
* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 11 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations and digital outlets. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.
