If opening your credit card bills, your checkbook or your wallet are traumatic events, you may have a problem with overspending. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and you’re certainly not alone, but there’s a good chance that it is keeping you from achieving some of your goals. If you have a dream of buying a car or a house, paying off debts, or any similar financial goal, then putting an end to overspending will help you get where you want to go — and it’s not as hard as you think it is.

Financial experts have come up with plenty of strategies to help you break your overspending habit and divert your money into where it serves you better. Some are better and easier than others, but the four that follow are among our favorites: