How to Deal with Impulse Buying

Ever gone into a store with a list in hand and ended up buying everything except what you initially planned? Yeah, that’s impulse buying.

Face it, we all window shop. But if you have a budget and financial restriction, never go out of your way to buy something you didn’t intend just because it looks attractive. Sure, you might get excited for a couple of minutes, until you check your financial statement at the end of the month wondering where all the money had gone. The momentary ecstasy of getting what you want can never fill in for the gulf it leaves in your expenses and account.

Hence, you need to take active steps to rid yourself of impulse buying. It begins with managing your emotional reaction to things that catch your fancy. But it doesn’t stop there, here some other tips to keep you disciplined:

• Create a personal budget and following it religiously. It might not start out very easy, but you’ll come around. So, the ball is in your court to become disciplined enough to hold back from flouting your budget. Tell your money where to go and makes sure it goes there.
• Do not spend until you have permitted yourself to do so. To do this, separate an amount for your spending and keep your hands away from the rest. Also, restrict the amount of cash you take with you.
• Patience is the greatest virtue. Be patient with your purchase. There are chances that you would find that same item at a more convenient time. And even if you don’t, there will always be others up for grabs.
• Never shop without a plan. It is advisable that you create a shopping list before you shop. After creating your shopping list, avoid add-ons.
• Never do ‘emotional shopping’. Yeah, it’s a thing. Don’t go shopping when you are not in your best emotional state. Hyper-euphoria or depression can affect your purchase.
• Shop with company. With someone who is well aware of your buying capacity and plan, so that you can stick to the plan easier.