You know how it is when you happen across that killer deal that is just so good you just can’t pass it up? I mean, it’s 75% off! And what if you never see this item at that price, ever again!? All rational thinking goes out the window and some alter ego takes over, convincing you this deal is scarce and you.must.get.it.now. This is a classic set-up for impulse buying.
Something happened this past summer that made me really sit up and pay attention to my spending. I had actually been spending less without even trying. Like a heap less.
In July, Personal Capital sent me an update, saying “you’ve spent $977 less than last month”. Really? And I noticed we were able to pay for our summer travel expenses without taking as much as planned out of the savings we had set aside. But why? I hadn’t intentionally tried to spend less, it just happened.
After looking over our expenses, I found I had spent very little on expenses such as clothing, personal and household items, and home improvement. Here is the caveat – during the time my spending dropped, life was really busy. Between the blog, kids, travel and family plans, I had very little spare time. And that meant less time to stroll through the clearance section at Target and hunt for treasures at thrift stores and garage sales (bummer).
I have to let you in on a secret: I don’t like to go shopping. Shopping does not provide me with an ounce of entertainment value. But I do love to save money. Which, I’ve discovered, has lead to countless impulse buys. Yet, if I’m buying things just because they’re cheap, but don’t really need them, I’m not really saving money.
With this on my mind and the holidays right around the corner, I decided to dig a little deeper and find the best methods for curbing impulse buys.
How to curb impulse buys
1. Stop going to the store
Don’t go “shopping” as a form of entertainment. Avoid the mall like the plague and stay out of the big box stores unless you actually need something.
When you go to the store and actually touch an item, pick it up, and examine it, you subconsciously form a connection with it. It can start to feel like your own, even though you haven’t even purchased it yet. This makes impulse buying more likely.
What about online shopping? Shopping in your pj’s from the comfort of your favorite recliner can lead to untold impulse buys. It’s easy to get sucked into a deal online and to simply click “buy” and it’s at your house in 2 days (Hello, Amazon!).
Staying out of the stores (and off of Amazon) helped me spend less. Since I wasn’t out running errands and picking up kids as much this summer, I only ran to the store when I had a need and list (usually only groceries), which leads me to the next point.
2. Make a list (and stick to it)
Make a deal with yourself that, if it’s not on the list, you will not buy it! Get in, get your listed items, and get out as quickly as humanly possible.
This works really well for me since I’m always running about 5 minutes late and I stop to get groceries on my way to pick up my daughter. I force myself to shop quickly so I’m not late. (Shopping for “deals” at the grocery store is one of my shopping pitfalls. A quick in and out helps me avoid this.)
3. Delay the urge.
When you really have the urge to buy something, write it down and come back to it later. Make a rule that if it’s not truly an immediate “need”, you will wait a designated amount of time (say, a week). By the time you come back to it, if you do at all, the urge is likely to have passed.
Also, pay attention when the urge to buy hits. Write it down. When you track the urges, you may start to see a pattern emerge. Maybe you want to shop when you are stressed about work or the kids, or maybe when you’re procrastinating on a project or are just bored. Once you start to recognize the triggers, shopping becomes easier to control.
Keep busy with other things when you feel the urge to buy. When my spending dropped over the summer, I was staying busy with projects, kids and travel, so I never felt the desire to go find my next “steal” at the thrift store.
4. Don’t buy to save
It’s human nature to want to save money. And it’s hard to resist a great deal when we think we will be saving money in the long run, but you should avoid making purchases simply because items are cheaper than normal retail price. Read on…
5. Don’t buy “Just in case” items
Have you ever seen an item on sale and thought, “maybe I’ll need it sometime”? If you didn’t plan to make the purchase and are tempted to buy it because you may have some future need for it, skip it, at least for now. Think you’ll just return it if you don’t use it? Will you…really? If you really need it in the future, you can buy it then.
6. Be accountable
If impulse buying is a real problem for you, make yourself accountable to a trusted friend/family member. Whether it’s your partner or a close friend, find someone you can report your buying desires and spending too. It’s best to have someone you can trust, but who will also be honest with you when you make a mistake.
My husband and I typically discuss any purchases over $50 ahead of time. We’re not seeking permission, just discussing the potential purchase. It helps us both work out whether or not the money should be spent. Since we have joint financial goals, it makes these decisions easy, which leads to the next point.
7. Focus on financial goals
Keep your savings and debt payoff goals in mind whenever you are tempted to spend on non-needs. When you spend, you need to connect that spending with the consequences of not having that money to save.
If you buy that pair of jeans, it will put you behind on your debt repayment goal (plus, think about how many hours you have to work to buy those jeans!).
8. Don’t buy to keep up with the Joneses
If you ever see a friend with something new, feel a pang of jealousy and think maybe you may want that new, shiny thing too, think again. Sure, you could have that new, shiny thing, but do you need it? Choose to live your life according to your own values and goals. Make the choice not to spend money that could be otherwise saved for an incredible future.
Questions to ask yourself with all purchases:
Did I plan to buy this? Do I really need this? If so, what do I need it for? What else could this money be used for?
If you didn’t plan to buy it, it’s an impulse buy. Put it back. You’ll thank yourself later.
Do you make any impulse buys? What are your triggers? How do you keep from making them?
Here are some tools that I use myself that you may find helpful:
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Staying out of the stores is such a big saver. Target’s a downfall for me as well, so I’ve cut WAY back on my number of trips….from about once a month to about once a quarter. And since I started my “one in, one out” rule for clothes, I buy a lot less when I’m there.
I’m still working on not falling victim to deal-induced spending at the grocery store, though. Tracking helps keep the total cost down, but right now we have a pretty bulked up pantry.
I love the one in, one out rule for clothing, Emily. I do the same. I used to live really close to a Target…it was so easy just to run there for one thing I needed and wander over to the clearance sections, even though I didn’t have a need for anything.
The deal induced spending at the grocery store can still lure me in, if I let it. I sometimes wonder if I’m a food hoarder. If you saw my pantry right now…
Great advice all-around! Mindless impulse buying is practically the next epidemic for most Americans, in my opinion. My wife and I have fought back against these urges my removing apps like Groupon from our iPhones and ensuring that we don’t save our credit/debit card information within online accounts. The advent of one-click purchasing just made buying things way too easy.
Thank you! It’s interesting you mention the “money-saving” apps. Although I know I could probably save a bit more if I were to use them, it really makes impulse purchases for non-needs more likely. And, you’re right, one-click checkout is dangerously easy.
This seems to be a pattern – Target was a huge weakness for me, too! I actually started going to Wal-Mart or the pharmacy to get my basics because I enjoyed spending time in Target too much. With going to a store I don’t like as much, I get in and out.
I used to be a shopper, but now I am so busy that I don’t have time. If I do need something, I am much more likely to buy it off Amazon or get clothes off Lyon + Post instead of going to the store. It has actually saved me a ton of money!
What is it about Target!? They must have some ingenious retail marketing engineers. It just feels so comfortable staying and browsing around (plus the clearance!). Now that I don’t go to Target, I rarely even go to a big box store. It’s either Amazon, the grocery store or the pharmacy – saves time and money!
Busyness is a great distraction from shopping just for the sake of shopping. In and out is the cheapest way to go!
I rarely find the time to shop as well. It really does help keep the spending low! When I finally drag myself into a store, it’s because we should have bought that item weeks ago. I have gotten better about pre-buying the things I know I will need when they are on clearance. Like snow boots. Those suckers are so pricey and my kids burn through a pair a year. So when they are clearanced in the spring, I just buy the size up. That way I’m not running around like crazy when the first snow falls.
Preparing ahead is a huge time and money saver! I used to do the same with my kids snow boots and shoes, and some clothing too. It’s nice now that they aren’t growing anymore and I only have to replace things when they wear out. Having a stash of regularly needed items, like tp, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. is a good way to save money and trips to the store too. I usually buy at least two of everything we use regularly to prevent last minute trips to a more expensive store.
Ahh I am the biggest sucker for things that are on sale that i *might* need later! It often results in me having a bunch of junk that I either end up giving or throwing away. However, I do think if done properly, this is a good way to save money in the long haul but if and ONLY IF it is a product that ou 100% for sure, will need and use. For example, my local grocery store recently had charmin toilet paper on its clearance rack for $3! — Its usually close to $7. Thats a no brainer for me– we’ll use it. Otherwise, I think never straying from the ole grocery list is great advice. 🙂
I used to buy sale and clearance items that I “might” need later, but I really didn’t need most of it. Like you said, Amber, this can work (especially with tp!) as long as you know you are going to use it. When stocking up on food, it’s important to check the expiration date to make sure you will use before it expires (learned from experience).
Very good advice. To add another aspect to the delay aspect you mentioned above, even if the urge is real ultimately the delay may save you money. Most consumer goods drop in price over time. As such not only does the delay ensure you don’t buy something you don’t need, but it also potentially lowers the cost of those you ultimately do. Scarcity and the right now need are largely a concoction of marketing and your own mind. If enough people want it, they’ll find a way to sell more.
Thanks! So true, FTF! By waiting you may get a lower cost later! I’m reminded of the older generation of iPhones (and other smartphones) here. When the new generation comes out, the cost of the last one drops pretty significantly.
I’m pretty disciplined with spending and I hate shopping generally anyways. Although when I go to Target, I do have to watch out because I start thinking…”that’s a great deal” I’ll get it… I think delaying spending is great. More often then not when I delay it, I will forget I wanted it or realize I really don’t need it.
Target can get the best of us, it seems! 🙂 It’s those deals… Delaying is a great tactic for saving a ton of money!
Great tips! I agree that simplest (but not necessarily the easiest) is to just stop going to the store. I usually do a lot of my shopping when I need to like when I run out of soap or my jeans have finally been worn down.
One thing that I do try to do is not go grocery shopping hungry. Those stale bags of chips sure did like a lot more appetizing while I was starving!
Thanks, Andrew! Grocery shopping when you’re hungry can lead to impulsive buys, for sure. This happened to me last week – though I wasn’t hungry, I took two hungry teenagers to the store with me, so that added up!
Planning my purchases helps a lot. Framing each purchase as a slice out of $300 of spending money each month helps A LOT a lot. I still don’t always wait. I just make sure there’s a return option. I’ve burned myself a handful of times dragging my feel waiting for a better sale or waiting to see if I really want it, only to discover that’s it’s sold out and gone forever.
Planning needed purchases is a great way to curb impulsive spending. I usually make a list and place an order on Amazon every month or so – sticking to the list is a necessity though. Having a set budget for personal spending would be really helpful too.
I used to shop a lot (mostly on Amazon). Recently Mr. BITA observed that on garbage day he is no longer trying to shove a gadzillion boxes into the recycling bin. What happened? He asked. It was only then I realized that I had simply lost interest in shopping. It is as if shopping was actually acting as a surrogate in my life – I was using it to fill a hole that I wasn’t even aware existed. Then I discovered FIRE, started making our plans for our future, working on my blog, reading other blogs and forums and just like that I no longer have the time nor the inclination to shop. Magical!
That’s great, Mrs. BITA! FIRE is a great motivator to stop shopping so much. And focusing time and energy on a project (like the blog) is a great way to stay busy and prioritize your time differently. Like you, I don’t even have the desire to shop – not even to find bargains!
Great tips Amanda –
I have never been a shopper, hate going to the store (I love Amazon) – I did find that doing a de-cluttering challenge curbed our spending even more. Seeing all the stuff we bought (or someone bought for us) get donated/thrown away motivates us not to replace it.
Thanks A.E.! Amazon is my favorite way to shop, that is, when I have to. Two days to my door and I don’t even have to leave my house…what’s not to love!? De-cluttering is great motivation to stop bringing more stuff into the house, that’s for sure.
#5 can be a big one. I know someone who buys ‘just in case’ items all the time. I used to be super impressed, because it seemed like they had something for every situation that came up, which they did, but they also have a lot of items they rarely use cluttering up their house, not to mention multiples of the same item.
For myself, similar to Andrew above, I have to avoid grocery shopping hungry, that’s never a good combination! : )
I know a couple of people like that too, MMM. And can you imagine the amount of money wasted on all the items that were never even used? Let alone the space it takes to store them.
Target is like crack. Luckily for me it’s not too convenient and I usually only go for specific things. Number 3 works for me. I allow myself to acknowkpkedge that I can buy whatever I want, whenever I want. But if the urge passes, then why bother? It’s similar to to a dieting technique – acknowledging that nothing is forbidden removes a lot of its power over you. Great advice, Amanda.
Thanks Mrs. Groovy! Once we moved a distance away from the nearest Target, it was so interesting to see how my shopping habits changed. Sometimes convenience isn’t a good thing, I guess. Agreed on the dieting analogy – we always seem to pine after the forbidden, but once we remove that, we tend to feel more in control of our choices.
Great list! I especially relate to 2, 3, and 7!
Thanks, Melanie! Focusing on long term financial goals is really helpful when I’m considering a purchase!
I love #4 – don’t buy to save. This is often neglected. In the name of saving, people end up spending more money than necessary.
I have a self imposed 21 day rule – a holding period. By this time the impulse is gone and only logic and reasoning remain. If I still feel the need for the “thing”, I would go ahead and buy it.
#4 is a trap I’ve fallen into before. I love to save money, but have to be careful and decide if it’s truly and need and something I will use.
The 21 day waiting period is a great idea! If you wait 21 days and are still thinking about the purchase, getting it makes sense as long as it fits the budget (or maybe you could save up over the 21 days to buy it!).
For impulse shoppers it’s even harder these days because you can just scroll away on your phone looking at the bargains! I know ASOS has become a massive weakness for some people.
I’ve learned overtime to ask myself the “do I need it? do I love it?” questions… A lesson learned from having items sit in my wardrobe with the tags still on! Thankfully I learned that pretty early on, haven’t made that impulse clothing buy mistake since my late teens.
Jasmin
I used to make impulse clothing buys – generally if they were offered at a deep discount or a cheap second-hand source, such as a thrift store or yard sale. I really don’t buy clothes anymore unless they wear out, so it’s not an issue for me anymore either.
Agreed that looking at bargains on your phone, often straight to your email inbox can be dangerous territory. And with one click checkout at some retailers, it’s just way too easy.
Saving money on a sale item is such a weird psychological thing. I am religious about looking for a coupon code before I buy something online. But there is a reason this is marketing tactic. My mind, in that shopping fog, almost makes spending $70 with 20% off feel like less than paying $65 full price. I do not respond to most advertising but I am 100% a sucker for this trick.
It’s true, Linda. I always look for the coupon code, but I’ve instituted a rule for myself – I put what I “need” in my shopping cart before I look for a coupon code. It’s simply a trick to keep me from putting more into my cart just because I’m getting a discount. There is a reason why some stores seem to have perpetual sales (Kohls comes to mind) – it works!
I’m guilty of impulse buying! Sale is a big trap for me. Lately, I’ve been trying to stay away from the stores so it really helps. My urge to shop is still there and I’m trying to control. I just think that I need to save so I’m motivated not to spend for the unnecessary things.
Thanks for the comment! Having a savings goal can definitely help keep the urge to shop at bay. And really, staying out of the stores is the best remedy – after a while I bet the urge will start to disappear! 🙂
I try to make myself get rid of something when I buy something new. If I can’t think of something to donate, it makes resisting the new object easier.