Do you have problem with impulse purchases? Do you seemingly buy things on a whim and then come home realizing that you made a mistake? Sometimes it can take a few days to realize that you didn’t really need those items you bought, but undoubtedly impulse buys are going to be bad mistakes.
There are reasons why impulse buys are mistakes. First of all, an impulse purchase is likely done on items you don’t need, you just want them. When you do an impulse buy, you also don’t comparison shop. Thus you’ll be spending more for the same item you could have bought cheaper elsewhere.
Here are a few suggestions on how you can stop your impulse buys.
Make a list
Never go out without a shopping list. If you see something you like but it’s not on your list, then you don’t really need it. Had you needed it, it would have been on your list.
Go alone
When you go shopping with friends you feel peer pressure to join in on the spending. If you are just browsing and your friends comment positively on what you’re looking at, it would be very difficult to not buy it.
Cash
Don’t carry any credit cards when you’re out shopping. Only carrying a certain amount of cash. This will force you to stay within your budget. When you spend cash, it psychologically hurts more to see it physically disappearing than using a credit card.
State of mind
Don’t go shopping when you’re not feeling well. Some people fall prone to emotional spending. It’s as bad as emotional overeating. While you may feel better during your shopping spree you will feel the pain when the credit card bill comes in.
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