Personally, I find it hard sometimes. I see something I like, I want to buy it, and before I know it, I’ve come up with several very convincing reasons why I probably need it.
It doesn’t help that we’re constantly being encouraged to spend. Targeted ads follow us around online, influencers share their latest finds, emails announce another sale, and stores make it incredibly easy to buy something without much thought.
For me, spending less is more about putting a little space between seeing something I want and actually buying it. These seven habits can make that much easier.
Remove some of the temptation
It’s much harder to want something when you don’t know it exists. Unsubscribe from promotional emails, turn off shopping notifications, and consider unfollowing accounts that constantly leave you wanting a new outfit, kitchen gadget, or home decor item.
Pause before turning a want into a purchase
Instead of buying something the minute you see it, give yourself a day or two and see whether you still want it. During that time, ask yourself whether you’d buy it at full price, whether you already own something similar and whether you would have wanted it at all if you hadn’t just seen it advertised.
Give your money somewhere better to go
It’s easier to skip a $50 impulse purchase when you know exactly what you’d rather do with that $50. Saving for a vacation, paying down debt, building an emergency fund or working toward another financial goal gives your money a purpose beyond whatever happens to catch your attention that day.
Pay attention to where your money is actually going
Small purchases can feel harmless until you add up a month’s worth. Review your transactions occasionally and look for patterns, especially purchases you barely remember making or categories where you consistently spend more than you realize.
Shop what you already own first
Decluttering has a funny way of making you want to shop less because you’re suddenly face-to-face with everything you’ve already spent money on. Before buying something else, check your closet, pantry, bathroom cabinets, storage bins or wherever else you might discover that you already own something that works perfectly well.
Find something else to do besides shop
Sometimes shopping has very little to do with actually needing something. We browse because we’re bored, stressed, or looking for something fun to do, so replacing that habit with a walk, a book, a project, gardening, cooking, or another activity can remove a surprising number of unnecessary purchases.
