With the ease of shopping nowadays, it’s so easy to slip into an impulse buying and mindless spending habit! I know there’s definitely been a few times where I just got caught up on an e-commerce site and just checked out with a huge cart without really thinking about it and then regretting it afterwards. To avoid making these same mistakes, I’ve compiled my best tips to stop impulse buying for you!
Think about how you will use this product
First off, one of the most common things that I do is to envision how I will incorporate the product in my life. If I’m looking at buying a clothing item, I think of what outfits I can create with it and my existing wardrobe. Or, if I’m looking at buying a technology product, I think of how often and when I’ll use it. Doing this exercise before I commit to a purchase makes me realize if I will actually use this product, or if I just want to buy it because of an impulse. This also typically makes me either excited about the product or know that it’s not the right thing for me at this time. Once I’m done this exercise and know that I’ll use the product often, then I’ll make the purchase.
Come back to it in a week
Another tip that I like to do before I make a purchase is to think on it for a week or so. This usually works best for large ticket items, but also works for lower priced items too. Pretty self-explanatory, but I like to take this time to sleep on the product and think about my true intentions for purchasing it. Do I want to buy it because I saw someone on social media have it? Or do I want to buy it because I know that it will improve my life? These are the types of questions that go through my head during the week and it gives me time to know if I actually really want it. Also, usually by the end of the week, if I don’t feel in love with the product anymore, I won’t purchase it.
Read product reviews
One of my favourite things to do when online shopping is to read product reviews! These are a great way to get a better understanding of if the product will work for you and your needs. Maybe the reviews will reveal that the product is not that great. Or, it’ll reveal that they’re only good for certain needs that aren’t yours. Whatever they reveal, it’ll help you impulse buying for a bit and think about if the product is right for you.
Consult friends and family
The people closest to me will know that I do this a lot…maybe too much sometimes. These are the people that typically know you and your lifestyle the best, so they’ll be able to give you a realistic idea of whether or not the product will fit into it. It’s hard to ask for advice and take it but sometimes having an outsider’s point of view can help reframe the purchase for the better. I know sometimes I ask my friends for an opinion while I already have my own and I just want validation. When they don’t give me the answer that I want, it’s easy to ignore but I’d encourage you to truly consider their opinion and objectively see if it might be correct.
Create a pros and cons list
By now, you probably have this done in your head based on all the other things you’ve done! But, writing it down can help clear your mind and bring you to a conclusion. Write down all the pros and cons about making this purchase that you’ve gathered. Make sure to mark which points weigh more in your life, as one pro might outweigh three cons. Once you’re done with your list, you’ll have a better understanding of where your mind is at on this purchase decision.
Consider if this will bring you joy
Last but not least, following the footsteps of Marie Kondo, I’d encourage you to think about if buying this product will bring you joy. Now, I know you may not be living a minimalist lifestyle, but I think it’s important that each item that you bring into your life should bring your joy. Whether that’s a small joy or a large, significant one, it still matters. Consider your daily life and if this product will contribute to your happiness in it.
Conclusion
There’s my best tips to stop impulse buying! These are steps that I routinely make in my purchase behaviour that help me minimize mindless spending and ultimately help me save money. I hope these are helpful for you and that you can implement one or a few. Let me know what you think in the comments down below, through email or in my Instagram DMs!
