Impulse buying—we all do it. In fact, I would wager that every time we go to the store, we come home with at least two things we threw in our carts totally spur of the moment. An item here and there can’t really break the budget, can it? Well, if it’s an item here and there every time we go to the store, those extra dollars add up and we find ourselves wondering where all our money went.
How do we keep that impulse buying under control? Here are some ideas.
First, as you place something in your cart, ask yourself, “Is this item really going to solve my problem?” If you’re reaching for candy if you’re sad, or if this blouse doesn’t really fit in your wardrobe, or if that piece of electronics isn’t really compatible with what you have, you’re spending money for something that doesn’t have the capacity to solve your problem. Pause, think about what you’re trying to solve with the purchase, and then choose something that really will solve the problem.
Second, give yourself time to think about the purchase. Take all your needed items through the checkout and out to the car, and then think—do you really want that thing enough to go all the way back into the store to get it? This is often a great litmus test—if you don’t want it enough to go back inside to get it, it’s not something you really need.
Third, don’t confuse impulse buying with “oh, yeah” buying. If you forgot you’re out of milk, and one of your kids reminds you about it, that’s not shopping on impulse. It’s buying something you already have a need for, and is already part of your budget. Don’t beat yourself up over that.
Sometimes it’s fun to go to the store, see something new, and treat ourselves. Living on a totally strict budget isn’t fun for anyone. But I do encourage you to carefully weigh your impulses. Perhaps you can tell yourself, “I have a ten dollar budget for fun things today.” Shop with focus. You may not be able to increase your income as you would like, but you can show responsibility in your outlay.
Related Blogs:
4 Ways to Avoid Impulse Buying
Stop. Back Away from That Impulse Purchase