Want to train yourself to be a saver not a spender?Â

New research commissioned by Leeds Building Society has revealed that nearly a third (30%) of the UK describe themselves as spenders, with almost three quarters (73%) of UK adults saying they have an overdraft.

Women are also most likely to go on a shopping spree when feeling down beat with a third (33%) saying they shop to make themselves feel happier compared to just 14% of men.

Following these findings, Leeds Building Society enlisted the help of Consultant Psychologist, and author of Willpower For Dummies, Dr Frank Ryan, to provide advice and guidance to those who are wanting to save money and to help people train themselves to become a saver rather than a spender.

Dr Ryan’s top tips to help you save money this summer include: “Think about all those times you’ve bought yourself something non-essential and ask yourself how long does that good feeling last? It will make you feel good now, but later, you are just paying an extra monthly bill or larger credit card payment.

“Make decisions in advance by making a list of what you need. Do this for clothes shopping as well as food. This way you’ll remember the items you actually need and will be less likely to make the wrong decisions, preserving your willpower.

"Differentiate between spending and borrowing – if what you’re buying is adding to your credit card bill, that’s borrowing, not spending!”

Commenting on the study, Dr Ryan said: “Before we spend or save, a decision is always necessary - even if it is an impulsive one the brain does not sit on the fence! Spending decisions are usually driven by short term rewards whereas saving is about focusing on the long term benefits.

“I hope my tips and advice provide a useful tool to help people achieve their saving goals.”

Richard Fearon, Chief Commercial Officer from Leeds Building Society added: “As a Building Society, our priority is to help people save money for the things that matter most to them, whether that’s for retirement, a holiday or a nest egg for emergencies, through providing long term good value to our members.

“We would encourage anyone who is in need of a willpower boost to visit Leeds Building Society’s website and have a read of these hints and tips to help become better at saving money.”

If you’re interested in taking on the Savers vs Spenders challenge and would like further advice from Dr Frank Ryan, visit: http://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/knowledge-base/savers/how-to-train-yourself-to-become-a-better-saver/