Question

I cannot stop spending money on stupid crap! HELP! I’ve been a lot better, I’ll give myself that, and I track everything and make sure I have what I need covered but I still can’t stop the impulsive buying. All my impulse buyers out there what are your tricks?  

Answer 1

I had to unsubscribe to a LOT of places so I didn't get sent emails with coupons or sales. I used unroll me to unsubscribe en masse. I got rid of 178 subscriptions in about 15 minutes and checking my email is a lot cleaner now. I realized if I don't see 30% off at Kohl's, or Michael's, or Home Depot or Target or you name it, I somehow *need* a lot less.  

Comments

I also moved the Amazon shopping app from my main screen on my phone. Making it a little harder to access means I have to really want that thing.  

Answer 2

Girl give yourself credit, if you have been doing better then when you started that’s a small win! Celebrate it ! I am the same as you in the sense of buying stuff I don’t need. I’ve been able to almost stop that but I’m struggling with the fast food and coffee. I just got some meals to take to work and bought coffee to make at home, but I’m going to still give myself a budget for the things I know I always buy. Even if you set a budget and just lower it a bit each month and if your staying in your budget your doing great. It’s not easy to just stop what you’ve been doing for so long .  

Answer 3

Stay out or offline of stores you knows you'll buy at. Give yourself an allowance (reasonable. I made mine quite small cause lunches out or coffees with a girlfriend were my weakness! )give yourself grace. Just because it's on sale - doesn't mean it's saving you money - if itsnjot something you NEED then you're just spending money and justifying it with a sale. Recognize when you impulsive buy, make changes to improve next time. See if you can return something. I've taken to returning things I don't really love and also trying to just not buy something unless it's what I'm actually looking for or somehting that I LOVE.  

Answer 4

Yes, ugh. I am a cashless spender and i tend to not spend when my checking account is low so i am going to start pulling cash out when there is extra so i am not tempted to swipe my card when i see i have extra. This will be my first week trying it. At the end of the week/month i havent decided yet i will put the cash into savings or sinking funds

Answer 5

Are you using cash envelopes? If not, do it asap. Leave the debit card at home, freeze your credit cards. Lastly, remind yourself every time you are tempted of yourself WHY. So why would you want to mess up the most important reason with an impulse purchase? I am not a full cash - but all the extras (eating out, fun/misc, beauty) are in envelopes. If I don’t hv the envelope I don’t buy it. No money left in the envelope, don’t buy it. You have to be INTENTIONAL.  

Answer 6

It sounds weird, but I go on Pinterest and pin a whole bunch of random stuff and then I feel better. It’s like the satisfaction of getting things without spending money and having the clutter.  

Answer 7

Same here and I need help!  

Answer 8

I don’t let myself use my debit card period ‍♀️

Answer 9

So I have this issue with digital planning stuff. I moved the Etsy app into a folder that takes me a minute to actually access so I have to actually want whatever I’m trying to purchase. Also, I set myself a limit for Etsy purchases each month. Right now, my limit is $20 a month which is way less than I impulsively would spend. It takes time to adjust and I make sure to track so I know exactly how much I’m spending but we will both get rhere

Answer 10

Don’t leave house stay off line

Answer 11

I fell down this week. I am just getting back up and dealing with the fallout.  

Answer 12

For me my impulse spending usually happens when I’m anxious or emotional about something. Before you buy anything, do a self check. What are you feeling? Online shopping / order pickup or delivery is a lifesaver for me

Answer 13

Leave your cards and cash at home. Go somewhere other than a place where you can shop when you just have to get out of the house. Visit a friend, go for a walk, go to the library, etc. Stay away from your trigger stores. (I haven't been inside Target since I started TBM. and Target stops were always expensive! ) Start positive self talk. You say you CANNOT STOP which is a negative thought about yourself. Instead, start telling yourself I AM OK. I DON'T NEED TO SHOP TO FEEL OK. When you do go into a store and pick up something you are buying on impulse, PUT IT BACK. then pat yourself on the back for not spending the money. The momentary thrill you get from shopping really does fade quickly when you look at your budget. BUT the thrill of looking at a successful budget feeds on itself and you feel better and better. Good luck!  

Answer 14

Cash envelopes- you will be more aware of your spending with cash

Answer 15

I was a big Amazon spender. I just don’t leave money in my account to do it anymore.  

Answer 16

Target and Amazon. I only go with a list now and always during my lunch break because it's timed. And Amazon I just stopped going to the website.  

Answer 17

Same! I have no self-control sometimes and I’m an emotional/bored shopper. When my son is with his dad for the weekend and I’m lonely and have nothing to do, I’m terrible and wasting money.  

Answer 18

When your doing your budget make sure you have 0 money left over! Make sure every dollar is going to something. If you give yourself an allowance, that's all you can spend on stupid stuff, and that's it!  

Answer 19

Move 3 hours away from decent shopping- that’s me. lol. Yesterday I went to the city to a department store for some shelves. Before I got to the shelves, I had two cases of garbage bags, air freshener, a lightly dented $70 frying pan on sale for $15, a flamingo coffee mug and two rubbermaid totes. I caught myself looking at the air purifiers and said, Girl stop. Start saving for one of these, empty the cart and get JUST the shelves. I am *that person* who puts the random things back in the wrong places in the store and then I paid and left with just the shelves (and the flamingo  mug. I am not perfect. )

Answer 20

Cash envelopes has helped me a lot. I see stuff I want but don’t like to part with my cash if it’s not something I seriously need or have saved for. A few times I’ll impulse buy but I have literally waited in line, had a talk with myself . do I need this right now? Is this a need or a want? Do I have enough in my cash envelope to get it? And by the time it’s my turn to check out. I put it back and walk off. And I don’t have guilt of not buying it. ( took me a few months to do this , not easy as it sounds lol)

Answer 21

$20 cash and a trip to Dollar Tree! Stickers, highlighters, nail polish, cosmetics, hair barrettes, whatever. go crazy with it!  

Answer 22

Use walmart grocery or target run  

Answer 23

Saaame. I’m learning that for now, I just need somebody to hold me accountable.  

Answer 24

Do a no spend month. It will change your thinking for sure

Answer 25

I try not to “leisure” shop anymore. Shop with a purpose! Also I find it helps to drink a ton of water and have to pee when I walk in a store but then tell myself I can wait till I go home. that way if I really need to go to the store it’s mission minded. Hahaha everyone has a method mines just weird  

Answer 26

Huge impulsive spender here and what I do now is shop endlessly online on amazon target shein wayfair name it. I add things to my cart then log off and never check out. I have items in my carts that have been there for six months now so I’m really proud! I keep eyeing them and adding more