We all have a friend with a little shopping problem. Or maybe we are that friend.
One way or another, shopping is a big part of all of our lives. With the pandemic making online shopping easier and way more convenient, the amount left after each paycheck seems to dwindle down every time. If you find that you or your friend are turning into shopaholics, try these few tips.
If you can’t buy it 2x, 3x, 4x, don’t buy it
Before you decide to buy something, whether it’s an expensive dinner or the latest tech accessory, consider: can I still afford this if I had to buy it twice? How about three times? If the answer’s no, then you know what to do.
Checking if you have ample money to buy your newest item works because no matter what you buy, you’ll be sure to always have money left for savings. It might be a bit of a strict rule, but if you can master it, you’ll find that you’ll have signficantly less clutter and significantly more moolah.
Start using cash
In the world of digital wallets and online payments, cash has more or less become obsolete. Why? Because paying online or through apps is way more convenient.
Deliberately remove this convenience from your life and see how you fare. It’s pretty easy to swipe a card or use an app, but when you start carrying cash, you’ll see where your money goes in real time. You’ll learn to establish limits and will also experience the pain of an empty wallet.
Turn off those shopping app notifs!
Speaking of apps, those shopping apps on your phones don’t really do you any good when you’re trying to live a simpler lifestyle. Constant notifications about the newest sale or deal can serve as your ultimate temptation, especially when you weren’t even planning on buying anything in the first place.
Get rid of the temptation by muting your notifs altogether. You’ll find that you’ll end up forgetting about the app and avoid making those unnecessary purchases.
If you must splurge, set a controlled amount
You don’t have to be a complete penny pincher to save a lot of money. Splurging every once in a while can give you that boost of serotonin when you need it.
Decide your limits; you can try setting a day every month where you can buy a certain amount of things. You can also set a spending limit to make sure you don’t go overboard.
This website uses cookies.