Retailers are exceptional at getting us to part with our hard-earned dollars — even for stuff we don’t need.
When your favorite store slashes prices or makes it all too easy to purchase something — hello, Amazon Prime — it may be understandable if you occasionally succumb to the instant gratification of an impulse buy.
But if your spending has gotten out of control or you’ve resolved to buy less, then these strategies can help.
1. Say ‘no’ to junk mail
Junk mail tends to come loaded with offers. If they tempt you to spend money, then your best bet is to unsubscribe.
There are multiple ways to opt out of direct mail, such as catalogs and marketing offers you receive by mail. We walk you through the process in “5 Ways to Put an End to Junk Mail.”
If unsolicited credit card offers are part of your spending problem, there’s a way to opt out of those, too.
2. Log the purchases you don’t make
Bear with us here and try this one weird trick: Every time you consider buying something that is a want rather than a need, add it to a dedicated spreadsheet instead of buying it. Then, invest the money you would have spent.
Say you invest $ 100 every month for 10 years. At the end of the decade, if you earned a 6% rate of return, you’d have more than $ 17,000.
Money Talks News President Dan Schointuch tried this approach when the stock market tumbled last year and says it works for him.
“The act of ‘shopping’ and putting these products on a list sort of tricks my brain into investing more instead of spending,” he says.
3. Order groceries online
If you tend to go to the grocery store for specific items and end up stocking your cart with extras, going digital for a while might help you curb your spending.
When you order groceries online, whether you get them delivered or pick them up curbside, you can stick to just what’s on your list and eyeball the total before hitting “place order.”
Many grocers offer free pickup for online orders now. If you prefer to have your groceries delivered to your home, take a look at “The 5 Best Grocery Delivery Services.”
4. Uninstall retailers’ apps
If you find yourself using your smartphone to make a ton of purchases, then uninstalling retailer apps can give your wallet (and your thumbs) a break. You’re probably less likely to buy something if you have to find a computer, log in and complete the purchase online.
5. Unsubscribe from retailers’ emails
Retailer newsletters are a great way to stay on top of sales and receive promotional discounts, but they also pose a major temptation to spend money. Next time you receive such an email, hit the “unsubscribe” button — which is usually found at the very bottom of the message, often in a tiny font.
And if you’re asked for an email address at a storefront or at an online checkout, simply don’t provide one.
6. Don’t save your credit card info online
Some retailers allow you to save your payment information within your online account, but this makes it easier to spend money.
Removing your payment info is not only safer — but it also means you have to do more work before you make a purchase. Unless you’ve memorized your credit card number, you’ll have to get up and track down your wallet before making each online purchase.
7. Pay with cash when possible
You may have heard that people tend to spend less when using cash — and there’s research to back it up. For example, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston found that the average cash transaction was $ 22 versus $ 112 for noncash transactions in 2016.
Every time you have to open your wallet, count the money and hand over cash, it’s more painful than clicking a “purchase” button online or swiping a credit card.
This method may either help you avoid impulse buys altogether or at least spend less on your next errand.
8. Ignore urgent marketing messages
Have you ever seen a message like “limited-time offer” or “just two items left at this price” and felt an urge to buy it? The impulse may be attributed to the principle of scarcity, which basically says you’re more likely to buy something that’s less available.
When you see these urgent messages, give yourself a day or so to calm down. Leave the store, or leave the item in your shopping cart if you’re online. Once you come back to the item with a fresh perspective, you might decide to pass on the purchase altogether.
Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.
