We all buy things from time to time that we don’t really need.
When you see red, remember what they’re trying to do to your brain with that color.
You don’t to buy something just because it’s on sale.
Don’t do it!
Don’t pick anything up and don’t play with display items.
Scents and Sounds:You’ll probably hear classic, upbeat tunes when you walk into a store.
The upbeat music makes you happy and excited, while playing familiar songs makes you feel comfortable.
They also use pleasant smells to put your mind at ease.
A happy, comfortable mind at ease is a dangerous combination for your brain when shopping.
Keep your mind open, do your own research, and accept when you’re wrong about a product.
The Decoy effect is also a commonly used tactic.
Again, always research beforehand and be on the lookout for this common trick to avoid impulse buys.
Before you could stop buying crap you don’t need, you gotta identify what that crap is.
The first step is to make a list ofevery single thing you own.Every.
As you list everything out, separate items into categories.
It’s extremely important that you are as honest with yourself as possible while you do this.
It’s also important you actually write this all down or throw in it all out.
Want:You bought this item because you wanted it, not because you needed it.
When will I use this again?
Does this itembring you joy?
Remember to be honest and adjust your lists accordingly.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping things you wanted.
when you’ve got everything organized, it’s time to do some serious decluttering.
Regardless, everything on your “crap” list needs to go.
Before you get rid of everything, though, take a picture of all your stuff together.
Print out or save the picture somewhere.
Take a good look and remember it.
If it was a gift, mark it as $0.
Otherwise, figure out the price of the item at the time you bought it.
once you nail the price for each item, add it all together.
Depending on your spending habits this could possibly be in the hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Remember the picture you took of all this stuff?
Attach the total cost to the picture so you could see both at the same time.
With the money cost figured out, you should take a look at the other costs too.
Time is a resource just like any other, and it’s a finite one.
What kind of time did you pour into these things?
Consider the time you spent acquiring and using these items, then write it all down.
If you might’t buy it, it’s eligible for the list.
when you’ve got it all down, put it in your purse or wallet.
Develop a Personal “Should I Buy This?”
Test
If you don’t have a personal “should I buy this?”
test, now’s the perfect time to make one.
Will it end up in the “crap” list picture one day?
Where am I going to put it?
Have I included this in my budget?
Whydo I want/need it?
Custom build your test to hit all of your weaknesses.
If you make a lot of impulse buys, include questions that address that.
Be thorough and build a test that you could run through your mind every time you consider buying something.
The key is teaching your brain that it’s okay towait for gratification.
it’s possible for you to do this with a simple time out every time you want something.
Look at whatever you’re thinking of buying, go through your personal “should I buy this?”
test, and then walk away for a little while.
Set yourself a reminder to check on the itema week or month down the line.
If you’re shopping online, you’ve got the option to do the same thing.
you’re free to also avoid online impulse purchases bymaking it harder to do.
you’re able to alsopractice the “HALT” methodwhen you’re shopping online or in a store.
Last, but not least, the “stranger test” can help you weed out bad purchases too.
The last thing you should consider when it comes to impulse buys is “artificial replacement.”
If that happens too many days in a row, I start to really miss reading.
I start to really miss playing thoughtful board games with friends.
What happens after that?
I start to substitute.
I’ll spend money.
Take all that money and start putting it toward your future and things youwillneed further down the road.
Start by paying off any debts you already have.
Credit cards, student loans, and even car payments can force you tolive paycheck to paycheck.
With your debts whittled down, you should start an emergency fund.
No matter how well you plan things, accidents and health emergencies can still happen.
An emergency fund is designed to make those kinds of events more manageable.
If you don’t know where to start, talk to a financial planner.
Or create a simple, yet effective"set and forget" investment portfolio.
