Ashley Donohoe
4 min read
A Yahoo Finance-Marist Poll survey from June 2025 found 29% of Americans spent more than they earned, and around half noted they’d turn to their savings or credit cards if they needed to cover shortfalls.
Read Next: Here’s Why Couples Fight About Money and How They Can Stop, According to Rachel Cruze
Be Aware: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
While overspending can get you into financial trouble, you break this common habit if you adopt some of the smart tactics of financially responsible people. In a recent video, financial expert Rachel Cruze asked ChatGPT about the secrets of people who don’t overspend. Here are the 10 financial tactics the chatbot suggested, which Cruze said she liked.
This secret relates to having a motivation behind your money decisions, and it shouldn’t simply be trying to reach a specific number. Perhaps you want to spend less so you can pay off your debt quickly, build up your savings or give more to others more often.
Cruze explained, “If you don’t have that ‘why,’ when things that are hard in life hit you financially, that ‘why’ is what carries you through most of it.”
Explore More: The ChatGPT Grocery Shopping Hack That Saves Retirees $100 or More per Month
ChatGPT told Cruze that those who avoid overspending monitor their spending. This helps you become more aware of your habits and make intentional purchase decisions. Adopting this smart practice might show that you often go overboard on a certain expense like entertainment or food delivery, or spend too much at certain times of the year.
Discover’s 2025 Consumer Personal Finance Outlook found only 22% of Americans both made budgets and followed them. If you’re not part of this small group, you’re at risk of overspending since you’re not taking control over how you use money to achieve your goals.
Cruze explained that this can leave you wondering what happened to your income when tax time comes. She suggested trying the EveryDollar budgeting app, which you might find easier to use than a spreadsheet or handwritten budget.
Since credit cards make purchases feel less painful and usually come with high interest rates, they can be detrimental to your spending and lead to wasted money. If you use a debit card or cash, you might avoid overspending as often since you’re not borrowing from someone else.
While ChatGPT mentioned limiting credit card use, Cruze advised skipping credit cards altogether. Besides better controlling your spending, you’ll be done with each purchase and not have a credit card bill that haunts you later.
