how to beat the urge for impulse buying

Of course it can be incredibly difficult to stop the urge to buy once it is in us. Amidst all the promos, giveaways, black Friday sales etc., there’s that pair of jeans, or shoes or gadget that would not cost too much afterall, or so we think.

If you are in the mall, or at an online site, the forces of advertising and marketing are sometimes too powerful to overcome. But, they can be beat, with some simple strategies. The trick is to think about it. It is when the impulse urge is subconscious that it is most dangerous. If you give it some thought, and realize that you have the urge, you can apply these strategies to beat it.

Here are 8 simple strategies for beating the urge.

1. Create a 30-day list

Put a 30-day list on your refrigerator, and when you have the urge to buy something, put it on the list with today’s date. After a month has passed, you can buy the item. Many times the urge will have passed and you can just cross the item off the list. This works if you stick to your rule. The only exceptions would be groceries and other similar necessities.

2. Don’t go to the mall

You only get the urge to buy on impulse if you are in a shopping area, so prevent the urge from happening in the first place by not going shopping. Do not go to the mall or other shopping areas except you have a specific necessity to purchase and be sure to go with a list. Do not buy anything not on that list and do not just walk around window shopping, you will be sorely tempted.

3. Don’t go to online retail sites

Just as the mall will create the urge to buy, so will online sites. They make it too easy to buy something. Instead, stay away from these sites.

4. Monitor your urges

Make it a point to monitor your urges. Keep a little piece of paper, and put a tally mark on it every time you get the urge. This helps you to become more conscious of the urge, which is usually something we do not even notice. By becoming more aware of the changes in our body, we can begin to get the urges under control.

5. Take a deep breath

Deep breathing, self massage, walking around, and drinking water can all help control the urge. Take 10 deep breaths, and the urge will often be diminished enough to resist.

6. Plan your purchases

Making a list before you go shopping is important. If you can make it a habit to stick to that list, you will eliminate a lot of little impulse buys. For other purchases, make it a habit to plan them, save for them, shop around, and even see if you can get it for free. Going through this process ensures that your purchases are more deliberate, and less on impulse.

7. Ask questions

Before you buy anything, ask yourself a series of questions. Is the purchase going to improve your life in some important way? Is the purchase supposed to make you feel better? Does it help you meet one of your life goals? Will it simplify your life? These are useful questions to help you evaluate the value of a purchase, and why you are making it.

8. Keep the end in mind

It’s useful to have clear goals in mind at all times. What do you want to do with your life? Do you have financial goals that you are trying to accomplish, in the long-term and medium-term? Keep your savings goals in mind, and know when you are about to make a purchase how the purchase will affect your goals.