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The 15 Tricks I Used To Stop Impulse Shopping For Good
And how you can, too.
Per a recent Slickdeals survey, the average American has spent an average of $276 per month on impulse purchases so far in 2021, a 51% increase from the previous year. And while 8 in 10 impulse purchases are still made in brick and mortar shops, the growing influence of social media hype and frictionless online shopping have made impulse shopping easier and more irresistible than ever. And since I began working from home, I’ve noticed the urge to engage in this pesky financial habit more so than ever. In response, I began studying the individual habits, systems, and environmental factors that were contributing to my inflated discretionary spending.
Here are the 15 tricks that I’ve found and swear by to cut impulse spending out of my budget entirely and to save an additional $2,700 a year as a result.
Trick #1: Define Yourself By Your Habits, Not Your Purchases
We’ve all been there. You see a beautifully curated Instagram post or come upon some gorgeously edited fitness influencer on TikTok peddling some miracle product that you just have to try now. In that moment, it’s not really the product that you’re after but rather the identity of someone who dresses well or has a beautifully decorated home or perfectly carved out abs.
