4 Television Shows that Make You Spend More

Impulse and status spending can encroach on your personal savings and the household budget. Are your spending habits being influenced by your favorite television shows?

Since the financial spiral of 2008, many people spend more time close to home. To save some dough, like many, I spend weekends watching television and love keeping up with the latest episodes of the family's favorite shows. There is no doubt television greatly influences the global culture and my own family. Don't discount television's influence over your wallet. As a matter of fact, if you are a fan of any of these kinds of television shows, you probably experienced the urge to buy new gadgets and tools.

Home Improvement Channels

Staycations are a sensible alternative to pricey trips to a favorite theme park. Unfortunately, if you are a huge fan of the home improvement or house flipping channels you may be compelled to remodel, rebuild or redecorate your stay at home paradise. Improving your home is admirable but it can be expensive. Watch your favorite house flipping without draining your savings account. Resist the urge to remodel.

Cooking Channels

Have you ever watched your favorite chef whip up the perfect meal? How did they do that? We know it takes tons of training to be a master chef, but wouldn't owning pots, pans and gadgets similar to the chef's give us an edge? Next thing you know, you're at the kitchen appliance store buying goodies and culinary toys that you may never use. Remember what you tell your kids when they want every toy on television? "It's never as nice as you'd like it to be." Heed your own words and save your money.

The Bling Channel

I can't tell you the number of times I have spent hours watching and listening to various "bling channels" as I work around the house. You know the ones. You can buy a diamond ring in 20 easy installments. No shipping too! Ugh! The bling channels has filled my home with holiday decorations, outdated curtains and shiny baubles. Watch the shopping channels with the mute button on or have your credit card ready.

Do It All By Yourself!

These television shows are the bane of my existence. My husband is a popular contractor in the Gulf Coast area, and you know what they say: "The contractor's wife is the last service call on the list." It is true! I have found that if I want something fixed, upgraded or repaired, I must do it myself. These projects, inspired by my favorite "I'm doing it myself" channel, never tell you how much time these money-sucking projects will really take. In one 30-minute show, professional DIY-ers transform a basement into the Taj Mahal. For the record, such transformations really take much, much longer.