Save. Spend. Splurge.

Minimalism + Closet Questions to stop Impulse Shopping

When shopping because I am stressed or bored, I have started saying:

  • Why do I really want this?
  • Is it 100% perfect for what I want?
  • Where will it go?

Then this is what I do:

LIST IT IN A WANT LIST & FORGET ABOUT IT

Listing it in my Want List to think about later takes it off my mind for at least 24 hours.

I’ve found it has started helping me once I list out what I think I want because I just end up saying: No, I don’t really want that in the end.

It has majorly cut down on Impulse Spending.

GO THROUGH THE CLOSET TO FIND SIMILAR PIECES

I have similar items and I keep buying MORE similar items.

Once I start pawing through my closet, thinking about the New Item saying: I want this, I want this, I want this, I find I don’t really because I already have it.. in various forms.

COMPARE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE I REALLY WANT

On the very top of my list is a coat (surprised, anyone?), specifically this coat:

https://sentaler.ca/

Whenever I want something I think: Do I want THAT NEW ITEM or this coat?

…and it has cut down on at least 75% of impulses.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

3 Comments

  • The Luxe Strategist

    I add items I want to a Pinterest board, then leave it be. I like having a visual of everything I want so I can see how it all fits together. Most of the time I’ll revisit the list a few weeks later and I find I don’t want the item anymore. Delayed gratification is the best!

  • sammy

    Good tips.
    I have another problem 🙂 : I spend too much time searching for things on the internet before buying anything. I search, analyse, compare, think, search again, then analyse again. I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, but still feel that I should do this thorough research. It’s analysis paralysis.
    Alas, I think I am a perfectionist.

  • Mica

    Oh this is a good trick! 🙂 Impulse buys were the hardest for me to get to grips with over the years. I had the ‘have to wear it twice in the month I buy it’ rule that helped but I still had a lot of pieces in my wardrobe that hadn’t been worn very much. I’m on my 7th month without shopping now so I’m hoping when I no longer have the ‘no shop’ challenge behind me I’ll still be able to walk away from impulse buys – I should do something like this list!

    Hope you have had a lovely weekend 🙂

    Away From The Blue Blog

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