Introduction
The purchases which you make on last minute, unplanned and seem good to pass time are know as impulse purchases. If we made these purchases then we have to face financial breakdowns and fill our life with unnecessary things. You can avoid these purchases by having self aware plan and keeping your self discipline. These things will also help you to buy things which you need.
1. Figure out what sets you off
If you want to get control on your regular buying process then you have to find the reason of it. Their are various reasons for doing shopping like worry, boredom, sadness also some outside factors like sales ads, deals and draw of certain shops. Once you find yours reason for buying then you have to avoid them. Going for shopping when you are bored makes impulse buying happen do something else when you are getting bored like working out, reading and playing some outdoor games.
2. Make a budget and stick to it
You can make clear budget if you want to save money, track your money and avoid buying stuff which you don’t need. You can put some amount of money for different types of expenses like food, activities and extra spending. You have to keep tracking your spending to make sure that you are in budget. This budgeting process will help you a lot to make sure about your spending and clear vision of your needs and wants. This plan will also help you to shop in budget and stop your regular spending and impulsive purchases.
3. Write down what you need to buy
Before going for shopping you have to make a clear list of your needs and keep stick to it. While making the list ypu have to carefully think about your needs and write them and have to avoid your wants. When you go for shopping always follow your list and just buy those things which are on list not any others. This list method becomes more important when you are on food shopping because buying things on quick reaction or in hungry state can add up quickly. If you following your list stickly then you can easily avoid unnecessary things that look good but useless for you.
4. Put the 24-Hour Rule into place
Their is one of the best rule to avoid impulse purchases knowing as put in 24 hours. With the help of this rule you have to stop yourself from buying anything and keep thinking about it whether is it necessary or unnecessary for you. This plan is very useful for those things which are not in list or plan and you want to buy them. If that thing is not your need and the original thrill goes off.
5. Don’t go shopping when you’re upset.
Don’t go on shopping when you are felling bad or in sad mood because due to this you can make bad choices. While buying things you have to be in your active state of brain but when you are sad, bored, stressed, and even joyful. You can make wrong choices because your brain not working properly. Before going for shopping or shop online you must be in your stable condition but if you feeling low or sensitive then avoid it for some time. You can make good choices when you are feeling healthy or you can also take advice from your friends.
6. Don’t let temptation get too close
When you can cut down on the things which are temporary this will help you to avoid impulsive purchases. For this you have to block marketing emails, stay away from stores outlets, online websites and also uninstall shopping applications from your phone. If you have to do any kind of shopping online then try to use incognito browser this will help you to stay away from ads of your past purchases. When you will not exploring new things on social media then you will easily avoid shopping and easily achieve your goals.
7. Figure out what you need and what you want
If you want to avoid buying things which you don’t need. For that you have to be able to differentiate between wants and needs. Before buying anything from shop you have to ask one question from yourself self is this your need or just want. While buying anything you have to think about its value and usage and also what benefits you can take from it in long term. This process of smart thinking will help you to buy necessary and important things first and also help you to avoid overspending.
8. Make plans for your money
When you have clear financial goals so you will automatically resist the urge to buy something which you don’t need. When you have any kind of future financial plans like buying new house, trip, emergency funds then you will not waste your money and think twice before buying anything. You can stick to your goals when you are not buying anything on whim because it will help you to save money and motivate you.
Conclusion
You have to avoid spending money on unnecessary things and buying things on whim. You can save money by planning and following them. If you want to become more financially stable so you have to stop buying things which you don’t need or want and give you more peace of mind by understanding your weakness. You can also get help from making budget and sticking to it, going on shopping with list, following 24 hours rule, avoiding emotional shopping and finding your real requirements like need vs want. The main thing to stop impulsive spending is to set a financial goal, use cash and practice mindfulness.
FAQs
What is an impulse buy?
The buying which you make on sudden decision without having any plan. You don’t have any idea of purchase and make it on spot without thinking.
How can I figure out what makes me buy things on the spur of the moment?
There are many causes which you have to avoid before shopping like emotional states, sales ads and as well as eye catching displays. If you are aware of them then you can easily make purchase which you really need.
What is the 24-hour rule for buying things you don’t need?
The process of thinking before buying anything usually it take time of 24 hours is known as 24 hour rule. In this rule you have to think about your desired item for minimum 24 hours then you have to buy. In this time you will make correct decision.
How does paying with cash help you resist buying things you don’t need?
When you will pay for things by cash then you can directly see your spending and can control on it easily and it will also help you to avoid card debt.
