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Shopping without giving into temptation by purchasing something you weren't planning or spending more than you planned is hard, but in the holiday shopping season, forget about it, it can seem impossible. The voice in the back of your head and the encouragement from friends and family to go ahead and get it makes it hard to say no. It's especially hard when the purchase is just a click of button when shopping online.

But, we must remember that it is possible to stick to a budget and not overspend. You just need to be aware of the excuses and have the willpower to not give in.

But It's On Sale
A great deal is hard to pass up if you're not looking at the right price. If you change your focus, you'll never have to worry about using this excuse again. Instead of focusing on the savings, focusing on the cost of the item will make the offer less appealing and reduce the urge to buy. Once you get that down, you'll want to ask yourself if it fits your budget and you really need it. Knowing what price to focus on makes these questions a lot easier to answer and help you stay on budget.

But I've Been So Good Lately
You've stuck to your budget, so of course you should reward yourself. It's a given! But don't overdo it with a big splurge that undoes all of your hard work and makes you feel guilty. Avoid it by setting aside a certain reward amount for specific goals. But if you notice that you're splurging more than you should, be honest with yourself, you may need to recalibrate your goals.

But It's The Holidays
Just because it's the holiday season doesn't mean that you can use it, as an excuse to spend, so don't fall for all of the persuasive, irresistible marketing or convince yourself that it's a gift from you to you. Most likely you have everything you need at home, so instead of thinking of the holidays as a reason to buy something for you, think of it as a time to get gifts for others and enjoy everything else it has to offer, such as holiday music, snow, hot chocolate, etc.

But Everyone Else Says I Should
Shopping with friends and family can create situations where you're influenced to purchase something that you don't need by others. Tune them out and remind yourself that what matters the most is you and your budget. It may be helpful to tell your shopping companions that you're on a strict budget and you're relying on them to help you stick to it. Make their influence work for you, not against you. Don't forget to be aware of the influence your friends and family have on your purchasing decisions when they're not physically shopping with you too.

But I May Need It
Don't buy for the life you want or future needs, but for the life you have and what you need today. Often we can buy things because of the lifestyle they represent or the belief that we'll use it in the future. Before buying these things, make the changes in your life or wait until you know for sure that you'll use it and purchase it later.

But I Can Return It
When you buy it, you'll most often keep it, so just make a rule that you won't use this excuse. When you take something home, you can grow attached to it, reasons to return it slip your memory or you just forget to return it. Buying something with the intention of returning it is time consuming, can create a cycle of spending more and a habit of using this excuse, so break the cycle and resolve that you're not going to return what you buy unless you're exchanging for a different size or replacing it.

But I've Already Been Bad
If you've already screwed up and exceeded your shopping budget, you may think that it's okay to buy more. Don't! You'll fall for this excuse if you keep thinking it's a lost cause and give up, instead accept that we all have bad days and think of it as a chance to start fresh. Shake it off and get yourself back on track with more determination to stick to that budget. Use spending mistakes as inspiration to do better, not excuses to do more of the same.

What spending excuses do you use the most?

Sources: LearnVest.com, MSN.com, SavvySugar.com, RealSimple.com