Savvy Approaches to Stay Disciplined While Shopping

We've all been there: you go shopping to pick up one or two items and come home with far more purchases than you'd intended on making! Impulse buying is something many of us struggle with, and it's frustrating to feel like you can't go shopping without overspending or making unnecessary purchases.

Some are more adept than others at blocking out discounted products and strategically placed items, but for many of us, this isn't so easy. Although there's no sure-fire way to cut out impulse shopping entirely, there are some adjustments you can make to help curb your spending.

Signs You're an Impulse Shopper

If you're not too sure whether you could consider yourself a spontaneous shopper or not, ask yourself the following questions. Those of you who answer 'yes' to most of them might just find that you're quite prone to in-the-moment buying!

Do you often spend more than you planned when you're out shopping?

Do you regularly need to return items you bought on a whim after realizing you likely won't use them?

Do you feel more compelled to buy something if it's on sale or in limited stock?

Are you inclined to pick up products placed beside the register at the last minute?

Do you get feelings of instant gratification after buying something new or unplanned?

Do you feel the need to keep up with others and always have the latest items?

How Can I Stop Making Spur-Of-The-Moment Purchases?

Set Yourself a Budget Each Week or Month

Budgeting is important for a slew of reasons, but it's also a great way to limit your ability to make impulsive decisions while you're shopping. Some prefer to set spending limits per week, while others opt to create monthly budgets instead. Both options work equally well, but it's best to choose a time frame that fits with your lifestyle.

Once all the essentials have been taken care of, you'll see how much money you have to spare and can do a little shopping without going overboard.

Track Your Spending

For many, tracking your spending goes hand in hand with budgeting. However, others prefer to just account for the more significant outgoings and don't focus too much on the smaller expenses. While a few seemingly inexpensive purchases might not seem like much, you might be surprised how quickly they accumulate when you start recording your spending habits.

Logging all of your expenditures can highlight how much you actually spend impulsively. This behavior can then serve as a helpful deterrent next time you're debating whether to make that unplanned purchase.

Make a Plan Before Each Shopping Trip

Shopping lists don't just help you remember all the necessities ahead of your next trip to the store, but they also allow you to focus on what you do and don't need. This doesn't just apply to the supermarket, but it works for pretty much any shopping-related situation.

Before you head to the mall, hardware store, pharmacy, or any other shop, take a few minutes to make a quick plan for your visit. If you find it particularly difficult to stay on track once you're inside, you could even set a time limit for how long you spend in the store.

Give Yourself Some Time to Think Through Each Purchase

The 24-rule has become increasingly popular in relation to spending in recent years. This involves giving yourself 24 hours after you first spot an item to decide if it's something you really want or not. 

It's simple but rather effective, and you might shock yourself by how quickly you forget about the product in that time. If something is still on your mind after this time has lapsed, there's a good chance it's something you'll genuinely want or get use out of.

Unsubscribe From Promotional Emails

In many instances, we don't even recall signing up for promotional emails from online retailers. Some register to secure discounts, while many of us are automatically added to the mailing list when we buy something. No matter how you find yourself on the receiving end of these emails, you'll thank yourself by hitting the unsubscribe button.

Not only will this prevent you from making as many unnecessary purchases, but it will also stop your inbox from becoming flooded with endless marketing emails.

Don't Shop When You're Feeling Emotional

Shopping when you're feeling down, stressed, or bored can cause you to make decisions you wouldn't have made if you were feeling more measured at the time. Considering shopping is frequently referred to as 'retail therapy,' this may not come as a huge surprise!

In the same way that we tend to be drawn to the likes of chocolate or ice cream when we're not feeling 100%, we sometimes look to shopping for comfort and to boost our mood. While it might give you a short-term high, it often leaves us with things we don't really want or need.

Be Aware of Sales Tactics

Everything in a store, from the layout to the colors, is well thought out and designed in a way that encourages you to spend more. We don't typically pay much attention to it while we're shopping, but retailers have an array of tactics that can help them increase their sales by preying on their customers' subconscious behaviors.

Some of these are more obvious than others, such as large, brightly-colored signs indicating a sale or discounted prices or regularly updated, seasonal displays. Others are just as impactful but easy to overlook. One of the most common examples includes placing popular or essential items at the back, meaning you must walk through other sections where you might spot something else you want along the way.

The Best Ways to Avoid Falling Victim to Impulse Buying

If you feel like you can't trust yourself to make practical decisions when you're out shopping, you're certainly not alone! No matter how susceptible you are to making impulsive purchases, these tricks will help keep you straight and narrow.