This post originally appeared atLearnVest.

Alright, it feels good to get pretty much any kind of deal.

Retailers are well aware of this responseand use it to hook shoppers.

They may also raise prices, just so they’ll have the opportunity to mark them down.

“Accruing interest instantly negates it.”

Otherwise, you just dropped $150 for no good reason.

Window coverings, fancy appliances and “essential” furniture purchases can quickly add up.

However, there’s a difference between essential buys and an outright splurge.

Do you reallyneedthat flat-screen TV or do you just want it because you’re in a new home?

But coming into money can also rev up our spending engines.

According to Novickis, it’s due to the fact that windfalls can feel disconnected from your everyday budget.

Lottery winners who go broke.

Make a plan for your cashbeforedipping into it.

After that, it’s perfectly reasonable to spend some of the money on fun stuff.

There’s just one problem: A polished, professional look doesn’t come cheap.

The price: as much as$119.95 a month!

Our identities are often tied to our purchasing habits, especially in public," Karim says.

“If you have a friend who counteracts the high-spending ones, it will help.”

According to a 2013 American Expressstudy, the average American spends about $1,145 on summer travel alone.

And a chunk of that cash, according to Scharr-Bykowsky, is likely due to lack of proper planning.

At a minimum, you’ll know the costs in advance.

You’re Celebrating a Special Occasion

Weddings, baby showers, job promotions, birthdays.

The reasons to splurge in the name of celebration are endless.

According to Karim, several factors play into why people feel compelled to overspend on loved ones.

“Their feelings of affection and connection trump practical needs to watch their spending,” he says.

In other words, feelings take priority over practicality.

Another factor can be traced back to our relationship with money.

Other times, we use spending to show how much we care.

In addition to costing you no additional money, your partner will likely be more touched by the sentiment.

“I deserve it!”

we say as we clock out and head to the manicurist or our favorite restaurant.

“For some people, it’s spending and buying things.

The point is simple: Money isn’t the only way to pay yourself.

Photos byAndy Dean Photography(Shutterstock),Jeremy Levine,bpsusf,Gareth Williams,Kenny LouieandSteven Depolo.