Everyone buys something and that is why I am in a no spend challenge. Not just for a day, week, or a month, but a whole year. Purchasing an item always has a reason behind it. Identifying what makes us spend money is important. I know when I was younger I spent money on clothes when I was having a bad day. As soon as I identified why I was spending money, then I was able to avoid the purchase.
Any habit we start can be broken. If you want to create a frugal home, then a good motto to follow is: If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Impulse buying makes up 84 percent of the people shopping. In 2022 impulse buying contributed to purchases of $314.00 per month on the average. That money adds up over time, and can be allocated towards something more useful.
Step one is to identify the spending triggers. Step two is to identify how to avoid the behavior. Here are some common spending triggers:
Emotional Spending Triggers
Emotional spending is one of the big reasons that we impulse buy. A new outfit, new shoes or hat always makes us feel better. Then a couple of months down the road when we declutter it does to the Goodwill. I can’t tell you how many times I have went and spent money on something when the weather was gloomy. Spending money helped me to feel better, so I did that.
Once I identified my weakness, the next step that I had to take was fill in the spot when I wanted to change my mood. My no spend challenge has been helping me with purchases on Amazon and other online outlets. Everything is so easy to buy that my habits have to be reformed to adjust to new found purchasing freedom. My goal is to run a frugal home. My no spend challenge is helping me stay the course.
Sales and Discounts
Sales and discounts are another way that money is spent. We buy something on sale thinking we have saved, but in fact we spent money that we didn’t have to spend. The most important part is to see the sale and make an informed decision. Don’t impulse buy, or buy on an emotional basis. If you need it then get it, but if you have to get rid of something to have it, then don’t buy it.
Avoid Social Pressure for a No Spend Challenge
When I was in high school I spent a lot of money at the mall. Usually most of my paycheck went to clothes. Hanging out at the mall meant seeing sales, shopping with my friends’ and buying things I didn’t need. If they bought a shirt, so did I.
When I stopped going to the mall, I saved a lot of money. Shopping is still fun, I plan it now. My no spend challenge keeps my goal of running a frugal home in front of me. Frivolous spending is more controlled.
Convenience and Pressure
Amazon and online shopping outlets are hard to resist. Falling prey to the capability to have anything you want in a day is easy. Every month I allot money in my budget to spend on Amazon. Utilizing this method helps me stay in check for my no spend challenge. I know it is spending, but things like ink, post it notes, pens etc. have to be bought. My no spend is directed toward frivolous buys that are unnecessary such as a new book when I haven’t finished one.
Fear of Missing Out
The final common trigger for impulse buying is fear of missing out. If we run across a sale and it is the only item left, then emotionally it is hard to not buy it. Our panic sets in because what if they don’t ever get another one like it. Then, we buy it. It has become a justified purchase even though we have several dresses at home. This dress is important because it’s perfect and we forget there will be other dresses we love.
Never buy something because you think it is the very last item. It isn’t. Make informed purchases that bring value. Adding to more clutter is not necessary.
Leave your impulse buying tips in the comments if you have any.
For more ways to save money, run a frugal home and live a frugal lifestyle sign up for my newsletters. Find me on Instagram @Momsarefrugal.
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