Do you go shopping only to come home with a ton of things you do not need? You either buy things you do not need or items which are not a current priority. Guess what? In my case, I would end up leaving out the important items I intended to buy.  If at this point, you are thinking about how much we are alike, and would like to know what I did to overcome impulse buying, just hang on a little bit.

I am about to share everything that has been working for me (plus some other tips) with you. Here are 5 smart ways to avoid impulse buying.

 

1.  Make a Shopping List and Stick To It

So many times, I assumed I knew what I needed to buy off the top of my head, but I lost track each time I got to the market. Later, I realized shopping without a list was the most ridiculous thing to do. This is because, I ended up buying things I did not need, only to run out of money and realize I’ve left out tons of important items.

Whenever I did have a list, I would never stick to it, and that too was terrible.

But here is how you can handle this.

Make a list of what you need and mark them in order of priority. This is because you can identify your priorities and make purchases based on how much you need those products.

What is more important about putting together a beautifully written shopping list is your ability to stick to the list. I strongly believe this needs strong-will to do (I will explain how you can work around this). Look out for only the items on the list and cancel them out of the list once you pick them.

It takes a lot of courage to stick to a shopping list. You can do it. Just focus on your list.

 

2.  Do Not Take Too Much Extra Cash

Make cost estimates of products you want to buy and take just enough money to purchase them. You could get tempted to buy unbudgeted products when you KNOW you have extra money in your pocket.

When my siblings and I were younger, my mom would make a list of supplies needed at home, add the cost estimates for the products, calculate the amount and gave us just what was enough to make those purchases. We were compelled to stick to the list and it worked.

If you make these purchases by yourself regularly, then chances are that you know the prices of the products on the market. Budget estimates also work. You can also check the prices of some products online and factor the prices in your shopping budget. Take only the amount you need to make your purchase.

 

3.  Stick to Your Lane

Ever found yourself looking at cookware or a pair of shoes when all you really need are a few groceries? For example, if you are a lover of shoes, do not go looking at shoes if getting a new pair of shoes is not on your shopping list.

What exactly do I mean by stick to your lane?

When you go to the supermarket, head straight where the list takes you and stay away from shelves and lanes which have items you do not need displayed on them.

This is a very good trick to help you control your urge to buy things you crave but do not need.

If you wander in a shop and look at items you have not planned to buy, chances are, you will get carried away and be tempted to buy something you do not need.

Sticking to your lane does not only save you money, it saves you time and stress.

It saves you time spent on looking at items you do not need, and saves you the stressful feeling of not being able to get the things you need to satisfy your impulse buying urge.

 

4.  Go Window Shopping Ahead of Time

To prevent getting overwhelmed by the items you see when you go shopping, go window shopping before you actually go shopping.

Window shopping gives you a clear mind of the things you want to purchase, substitutes, and alternatives, and keeps you in control of your purchasing power. To prevent an overwhelm which could trigger impulse buying, window shopping is the way to go (before you actually go shopping).

Window shopping may be boring (or embarrassing to some people I know), but it doesn’t hurt anyone, does it? I personally love to window shop. This is how I discover new items on the market, compare prices and unwind (interesting, ha!). Most importantly, it helps me plan my next shopping experience.

 

 

5.  Get Some Help

If you have tried all the ways listed above and you still do not see significant progress, I suggest you find some help. This might not be the ideal way, but if it works for you, why not?

Engage a family member, friend or someone you trust to help you with the shopping (or at least go with you to help keep you in check). Prepare a shopping list of the things you truly need and ‘outsource’ your shopping (Don’t worry, I’ll explain).

Rather than spend money extravagantly on things that are not on your priority list, ask someone close to you to do the shopping on your behalf.

You can engage someone to help you shop, and pay them some amount (obviously less than what you foresee you would spend if you went shopping yourself).

If you have a house-help or an assistant, even better. Let them help you out.

 

Way Forward

I thought I would never be able to overcome buying on impulse, but with determination and these strategies, I am now able to stay focused, stick to my budget, purchase the things I truly need and save myself some money without being stressed.

Have a shopping list and stick to it, do not take too much extra cash when you’re going shopping, avoid checking out items you do not need when you go shopping, go window shopping ahead of time or let someone shop on your behalf

 You can do this too. Let me know how it goes. I’m itching to know.