Summary: How to Avoid "Stuff-itis" - Steve Moore and Howard Dayton look into the Gotta-Have-It sensation that can lure us into overspending. They suggest the following steps to avoid the traps that marketing sets for us: (1) Skip commercials when watching TV, (2) Don't browse catalogs, (3) Avoid "window shopping" -- stay away from stores when you don't have a specific need to go, (4) Don't test drive cars when you're not in the market to buy a car. Remember that the less you're exposed to advertising, the less you're apt to spend. Next, they answer calls and emails (800-525-7000 or moneywise@compass1.org) about trying to sell a vehicle when your credit is too weak to finance its replacement (Selling your car yourself will usually bring a better price -- look to kbb.com, edmunds,com, and autotrader.com to get an idea of what your car is worth), what next steps you should take once you've got a spending plan in place and a surplus comes in (download a free copy of the Compass Money Map at www.compass1.org), whether investing in the stock market is simply a form of gambling, protecting your privacy, and whether bankruptcy is Biblical.
