By Alysa Seeland and Deborah Devenney
From flash sales to clearance sections, buy-one-get-one’s to rewards points, saving money while shopping is hard! All of these and more combine to get our minds into a frenzy, causing us to engage in impulse spending. It seems our only line of defense is to practice self-denial (not our favorite hobby) or to carry cash and again engage in again, a somewhat painful experience. Well friends, the game is about to change.
We’ve put together a list of 51 ways to stop impulse buying so you can learn fun, creative and new ways to save! How did we learn so many amazing tips for how to save money shopping? By using impulsesave of course! It’s trained us to literally be super-savers and after reading our Ultimate Guide To Super-Saving you will be too :)
General:
- Always carry a list with you - if it’s not on the list, don’t bring it home.
- When grabbing a few items, carry a basket not a cart - we tend to fill the space!
- Ask, “Did I need [item] this week?” If the answer is no, it’s not a need.
- Anticipate when you’ll need to replace something you use and put it on a list.
- When an appliance breaks, wait a week before replacing to see how much it’s missed.
- Resist the urge to upgrade - a scrub or a splash of paint goes a long way.
- When buying gifts for the kiddos - go classic and unisex.
- Don’t shop cheap, shop smart. “On clearance” doesn’t mean it’s a good buy!
- Always think, “Could I make this myself?” DIY it when possible!
- Coupons don’t = saving. We often end up buying items we don’t need.
Retail:
- Don’t buy full-price - clothing is seasonal so the blouse you love will soon be ½ price!
- When ready to check out, but one item back this will help you determine need vs want.
- Trendy pieces are fun but use the rule of 70/30 to see if it’s really a good purchase.
- When buying furniture, first look at the floor displays great quality a lot cheaper.
- Always check thrift stores for similar versions of seasonal items.
- Black, grey, tan or navy: find your perfect solid so mixing and matching is easier.
- Prioritize multi-season pieces that work in multiple settings.
- Sucker for designer jeans? Check your local thrift store.
- Keep an eye out for freebies on the side of the road: tables, chairs, even couches.
- Take a closet inventory, a fun way to determine what you actually need.
Entertainment and Gadgets:
- If apps are your weakness, disconnect your credit card from your account.
- Budget for fun-night to eliminate guilt on date night, family movie night or girls night out.
- Research when buying gadgets. Read reviews, watch videos, and talk to the experts.
- Never buy a DVD when it first comes out.
- Don’t buy version 1 of a new gadget, later versions are better and often cheaper.
- Budget for entertainment so you don’t feel deprived leading to unplanned splurges.
- Take your sweet to a matinee! Same movie, smaller crowd, almost ½ the price.
- Hit RedBox to satisfy your craving for a new flick.
- Keep a list of flicks you’d like to add to the collection, only browse sales for those items.
- When it comes to protective gear for your gadgets, care is the best cover.
- Mute during commercials to help resist the flashy, clever sales pitches.
Grocery:
- In a grocery store stick to the outside aisles, the middle is full of traps, and junk food.
- Only buy meat on the bone, it’s more nutritious and less expensive.
- Plan your meals for the week (or two weeks) in advance so you don’t over-buy.
- Always use a calculator (on most phones) to avoid surprise balances at check-out.
- Buy frozen veggies - a cheaper and more nutritious alternative to fresh veggies. t
- Never shop hungry.
- Treat the kids to a snack on the way to keep tears and tantrums at bay.
- Buy one frozen dinner a week so you don’t have an exhaustion induced fast-food run.
- Once you’ve made your list, go online to print out list-specific coupons.
- Enjoy samples, but don’t let the tasty treat trick you into a needless purchase.
Vacation:
- The hand-painted souvenirs are cute now, but only mean clutter later.
- Find a kitchen and a refrigerator even if you have to invest in a suite.
- Use public transportation, cabs are expensive and public transit is an adventure.
- Photos are the best souvenirs so skip the “Greetings from Florida” t-shirt.
- Bring snacks: planes, amusements parks, and waterparks are famous for $5 lemonades.
- Set up an itinerary ahead of time so you can plan your budget accordingly.
- Ask for group rates, student discounts, or AAA rewards at museums and parks.
- Couch surf with family and friends.
- Snack in the afternoon at a ritzy place and eat a later dinner at a local favorite!
- Explore biped style and get your walk on! Great exercise and totally free.
As you can see, we are very passionate about helping people stop impulse buying. We hope this list helps you say no the next time you’re tempted to splurge. And you can feel really good about your decision when you ImpulseSave the savings! We always love finding fun ways to save money, so when you make an ImpulseSave, be sure to share it on your networks and spread the joy!
Who knew saving money could be so much fun?
What are some of your tips to resisting impulse buys? Which of these tips did you find most helpful?
