FAIRBANKS - Are you a habitual shopper or a shopaholic? For many of us shopping has become a habit, or worse, a form of entertainment. Shopping can be fun, but it can add debt. How do you tame the shopping habit?

Know what you own. If you’ve ever replaced something because you couldn’t find it, you know what I mean.

Take time to organize what you own by straightening and inventorying everything from the pantry to your closets before shopping. By the time you finish looking through all the stuff you have, you might not feel like shopping.

I always clean out my refrigerator before I go to the grocery store. I have a better idea of what I have and what I need.

Get rid of the plastic. Adopt a cash-only or debit card-only policy when shopping. Credit cards add to the temptation to spend more money.

Avoid shopping when you are bored or depressed. Hitting the stores when we are down or bored can result in buying more stuff we don’t need. If you feel bored or depressed, treat yourself by taking a long bath, browsing the library for a good book or asking a friend over for coffee and a conversation.

If you find you have lots of time on your hands, volunteer to help with one of the local nonprofits.

Bring a list. It doesn’t matter if you are going to the grocery store or other store; make a list of the things you need, not the things you want. Stay focused and buy only the items on the list.

Avoid shopping with other shopaholics. Shopping with someone who has bad spending habits will influence shopping habits. You can always do other activities with these friends. Shop with a frugal friend who often leaves the store empty handed.

Pay your bills before shopping. Are you going shopping with friends? Before you go, take a few minutes to pay your bills and review your checking account. This dose of reality will help you curtail your desire to spend money.

Watch where you shop. If you are buying groceries, go to the grocery store. If it is a store where lots of other things are available, the non-grocery items will soon fill up your basket. There are other things to tempt you.

Identify the purpose for items you purchase. It is easy to look for things that appeal to you, not necessarily the things you need. If you are buying something, know where it is going. If you need a baby gift for a shower next week, buy it. If you might need a baby gift this year, forget it.

Be direct, focused and lose the cart. My husband and I have this argument.

When I go to the store, I take a cart. His idea is to leave the cart behind and get the one item you need. The cart allows you to pick up items you didn’t have on your list. You don’t have to walk down all the aisles. In fact, if there is nothing on that aisle you need, skip it. Your pocketbook will be happier.

Remember you don’t always need an item immediately. When we think about items to purchase, we realize don’t always need them. Make note of where the item is and think about it.

Hopefully these ideas will help you handle the temptation to shop and stop wasteful spending.

Roxie Rodgers Dinstel is a professor of extension on the Tanana District Extension Faculty. Questions or column requests can be emailed to her at rrdinstel@Alaska.edu.