We’ve all been there—you go to the shop for one thing and end up leaving with a bunch of things you didn’t plan to buy. Spontaneous spending is one of the major obstacles to saving money, and it can easily disrupt your financial plans if you’re not mindful. The good news is that getting over impulse buying is possible, and with a little focus and a few simple strategies, you can start putting more aside and making better money choices. The key is to pinpoint the reasons behind your spending and swap those tendencies with healthier financial practices.
The first step to stopping spontaneous purchases is to set up a spending plan and stick to it. Knowing exactly how much money you have allocated for extras each month can help online financial advisor you resist the urge to purchase items impulsively. When you see something you are tempted to purchase, give yourself a cooling-off period—give it a day before pulling the trigger. This gives you time to evaluate whether you actually need the product or if it’s just an unnecessary desire. More often than not, you’ll find that the desire to buy fades, and you’ll avoid spending money needlessly.
Another useful idea is to limit your exposure to temptation. If buying online is your challenge, remove yourself from mailing lists and remove saved payment details from your favourite shopping websites. If you tend to spend impulsively in person, shop without credit cards and use only cash. By creating barriers to spending, you’ll have more time to think about your purchases and avoid getting caught in impulsive buying habits. Changing your spending habits may take time, but the eventual payoffs—greater savings and less financial stress—are well worth the effort.