With so many amazing products out there, it’s clear to see why impulse buying is so easily done. Something catches your eye, or something complements an item you’ve already bought, and you find you want it, too. Impulse buying can easily escalate, however, meaning bad news for your bank account (and your home if you’re running out of space!).
Here’s how to make your shopping habits take on more meaning and limit those impulsive buys.
Avoid Shopping When Your Emotions Are at their Peak
This could be any type of emotion or feeling, whether it’s overwhelming hunger while you’re browsing the grocery aisles, boredom while you’re in store, or a low mood. Heightened feelings will only make it more likely that you make inadvisable or impulsive purposes to fill a gap, where you later find yourself wondering why you made the purchase at all.
Furthermore, food shopping on an empty stomach will have you reaching for many items you covet in the moment, rather than what your grocery list actually specifies.
Make sure you’re shopping with a clear head (and a full stomach!)
Do Your Shopping Online Instead
Online shopping means you can easily filter out all the distracting items which you don’t need. It allows you to search for exactly what you’re looking for. Not only that, but it lets you re-think your choices at the checkout area where you can reevaluate how much you’ve spent, compared to reaching the till area in-store and feeling as though there is no turning back (despite how shocked you are regarding the racked up total).
Shopping online can also help you to save money and browse better deals, such as sales or cashback opportunities like those from Kickback. You can find more information here.
Buy the Right Items
A lot of shoppers settle for less when they really want something, just to feel as though they have fulfilled a need. Whether it’s a new item of clothing, makeup or other goods, if you don’t quite find the item you’re looking for, you might grab the next best thing. However, down the line, this will lead to more impulse buying, as you may seek to replace the original item you bought, knowing it wasn’t exactly what you wanted in the first place.
By taking the time to find precisely what you’re looking for in an item you’re going to love, and which is perfect, you won’t find yourself reaching for anything different on the shelves afterwards.
Stick to a Budget
Avoiding impulse buying doesn’t mean never treating yourself. It just means being more aware of what you’re buying and how much you’re spending. Even for treats, create a budget you know you can happily afford, and stick to it.
If it makes it easier when shopping in store, only take out a certain amount of cash with you so that you have no choice but to stick to what you have. Leave credit cards at home and use your chosen cash amount only.
Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
