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Won't Power

August 25th, 2013 at 03:19 am

"Won't Power" is a new phrase I've just coined. It is the opposite of "will power."

How do you use your won't power? When you're at the store and you see a cute outfit that would be great for work, but that you don't have in your budget? You tell yourself, "I won't buy it." When you pass by the candy aisle at the grocery store, you tell yourself, "I won't need those calories." When you see the iPhone X come out, you say, "I won't need any new functions, my old phone still does what I need."

How do you develop "won't power?" You keep looking at the big picture down the road. Do you want a house more than you want those shoes? Do you want to fund your children's college more than you want that mocha latte? Do you want to get rid of your debt more than you want another 0.3 inches on your phone screen? Do you want to retire and travel to see your grandkids, or do you want to rely on social security to pay your electric bill?

I think I've got some problems keeping my won't power at full strength, but it's definitely better than it has been.

Lastly, the bane to "won't power" is "want power." If you really, really, really want that big screen TV, it's hard to muster the "won't power" to overcome the urge. Maybe tape a picture of your child and a photo of your diploma to your credit card. That should tend to limit the want power and reinforce the won't power, I would think.

4 Responses to “Won't Power”

  1. snafu Says:
    1377397554

    Never looked at impulse buying in that way. Like your solution of wrapping a photo snapped in place with an elastic around the CC to remind you each time you're tempted

  2. rob62521 Says:
    1377398196

    Clever phrase!

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    1377437093

    We have automatic investments set up for retirement and college. That definitely helps us meet those goals without needing to tap into our 'won't power'. It is always an option to stop those goals, but that would only happen for us in an emergency.

  4. Wino Says:
    1377466812

    CCF, Of course when you pay yourself first you don't even "have" the money to spend, but just throw in one credit card that's fair game, and even that strategy goes down the tubes. It takes discipline to say, "I won't buy what I don't need," and most people don't have it.

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