Do you make money and spend it quickly? Take this very short quiz here to see if you are an impulse spender. Please answer these questions truthfully:

1.) Do you live from paycheck to paycheck?

2.) Do you carry a month-to-month balance on your credit cards?

3.) Do you have shoes in your closet, over 6 months old, that you have only worn once or twice?

4.) Do you own electronics you use infrequently?

5.) Do you buy things you didn't know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?

If you answered "yes" to any two of the above questions, you are an impulse spender. It would be wise to indulge yourself in retail therapy. This sounds like a joke, but impulse spending is a terrible habit, and can be hard to break. Many times we impulse spend, unfortunately, without knowing it.

Spending impulsively can prevent you from saving for the important things like a house, a new car, a vacation or retirement. You must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don't matter in the long run.

Spending your money unnecessarily could hurt your family also. The money will not be there when a family crisis arises, that you could help financially with. Remember, necessities always first, then savings, then luxuries (very sparingly).

Advertisers blitz us hawking their products at us 24/7. Again, one trick is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you have not planned for.

When you go shopping, make a list and take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy. Leave your credit cards at home.

You need longer than a few minutes of thought, for expensive purchases. Have someone to talk to about these, like a spouse or significant other. Take all these suggestions above, and use them, and I assure you, your relationships and your wallet will thank you.