One of the biggest threats to staying within your monthly budget is impulse buying. It’s often difficult to ignore the vibrant, flashy signs advertising a sale or to leave behind an item that catches your attention but, just as frequently, these purchases turn out to be a disappointment and a waste of money.
In order to keep yourself from giving in to the powerful temptation of impulse buying, here are some tips that can be useful whenever you feel that your willpower needs to be reined in:
Postpone the decision of buying
Given that the key word here is ‘impulse’, most of the time you’ll discover that if you resist the urge to buy an item at the very moment that you feel so compelled to reach for your wallet, you’ll completely forget about it later. It’s good to always allow yourself some time to think a buying decision thoroughly, especially if it’s a product that isn’t a necessity or is very expensive. If some days or weeks go by and you still feel the need to make the purchase, then you know you’ve passed the impulse buying test and you can give yourself permission to buy.
Do research before buying
If a product that you’re unfamiliar with has caught your eye, it’s a good idea to do some research before you buy it. The easiest way to find information about anything nowadays is by using the Internet: a quick Google search will provide you with all the details that you need to make an informed decision and you can also read plenty of reviews written by people who have already bought/tested the item you’re interested in.
Take the time to compare prices
Though advertisements may lead you to believe otherwise, you can often find many products at a lower price in other stores if you know where to look. Sometimes, products advertised as being on sale can be found in another store where they might be cheaper at the regular price. It’s always worthwhile to compare prices in brick-and-mortar stores with the ones online: in most cases, you’ll likely to find a much better deal on the Internet and you might even get free shipping with your order.
Anytime you need to rein in the irresistible urge of an impulse buy, it’s always wise to take a step back and examine carefully whether the item you want to buy is something you actually need and if so, if this is the best price you can find it at. If you give yourself the opportunity to think your buying decision thoroughly, your wallet will feel a lot better, you will feel a lot better and in the long term, you will have the satisfaction of reaching important financial goals.