How to Avoid impulsive buying :(

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Being.smart

Being.smart

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Can anyone please help me to avoid impulsive buying :(

Whenever i go out, or while browsing, whatever things strike my mind, i just put card and buy it. Then the items remains useless for months years without any use :(

Today scenario: went to a titan showroom, just to avoid flash rain, there looked a ladies watch, and finalized two watch for mom, and was about to shell out 28k when their POS gone dead, on returning back without buying i realized that mom already have 3-4 titan watch and don't think he need more :(:(

is there any way to stop buying from heart, this things always happen when i go out :(
 
Being.smart said:
Can anyone please help me to avoid impulsive buying :(

Whenever i go out, or while browsing, whatever things strike my mind, i just put card and buy it. Then the items remains useless for months years without any use :(

Today scenario: went to a titan showroom, just to avoid flash rain, there looked a ladies watch, and finalized two watch for mom, and was about to shell out 28k when their POS gone dead, on returning back without buying i realized that mom already have 3-4 titan watch and don't think he need more :(:(

is there any way to stop buying from heart, this things always happen when i go out :(
Click to expand...

I also have this habit but mine is limited to online buying. I have made a rule to stop and wait for 2-3 days. If after 2 days I can't still resist I go ahead and purchase it
 
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I have only bought 1 item impulsively, which I really regret; a Sony (some DSC model) camera. It was Christmas, so I thought why not, and just plonked in 5 grand (I think it was) on it & 1k for an additional memory card. Clickety-click with a few snaps and boom, stuffed it in the closet for a good 8 months. When I finally removed it, the battery had leaked inside causing corrosion. Took it to Sony service center and they refused to replace/repair it. Now I'm not even sure where it is. Lesson learnt; only purchase those items which you are absolutely sure you need and you will use.
 
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vercetti said:
Best way...get a life rather than living a life in forums and facebook
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I do mock some of his threads, but this one is interesting. All of us have had this problem.

OP, what I do is set aside a small percentage of my income as something I can spend on impulse purchases. Completely controlling it is futile and leads to binges. So, set 3/4/5% of your income into a separate account (based on how conservative or extravagant you want to be) and make all non-essential spending out of that money. When you set a limit for yourself like that, it makes you think about how much you really want something.
 
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IIRC arent you a student mate?
If yes and you depend on your purchases on your parents, it would be a good idea to reduce your pocket money just to strain your buying habits. It would be a good idea to tell your parents to put the surplus amount to your savings which may give health returns in the future.
 
rdst_1 said:
I also have this habit but mine is limited to online buying. I have made a rule to stop and wait for 2-3 days. If after 2 days I can't still resist I go ahead and purchase it
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This^. Or just think of all the good uses which can come out of your new purchases. Mostly you will find none. With time, you will see the futility in buying those things. Takes time and practice but doable.
 
seems like everyone is facing similar situation, as of now, i am planning to not to enter in any showroom for next 30 days, and will also stay away from youtube or tech blog reviews of latest gadgets or any cloth site:(:(

Also planning to make my all high-line cc-dc dead, and get a new extra low limit debit card as of now :(
 
Being.smart said:
Also planning to make my all high-line cc-dc dead, and get a new extra low limit debit card as of now :(
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That's not the problem. You are just denying the underlying cause and ignoring it by attacking the vessel carrying it. What @rdst_1 said is the best advice you can get.
 
1.Analyse your spending habits
Before you think about shopping, make a note of your outgoings to establish your spending habits.

Are you sticking to your budget? How much of a problem is impulse buying? How much money could you save if you went without some of your random purchases?

Make a 'what the heck was I thinking?' list of items you've bought on impulse and later regretted. This may be the reality check you need.

2.Be organised and make decisions before you start shopping
Irrational decisions which result in you spending unwisely often happen on the spur of the moment.

Buying an outfit that you'll never wear again the day before a wedding or even buying food when you're hungry can make you panic buy.

Consumer psychologist Dr James Intriligator from Bangor University says it's important to be in the right frame of mind when you go shopping.

"Your ability to resist and make rational choices is diminished when your glucose levels are down," he says.

"When you get irrational, you fall back on trusted brands which often leads you to spend more money.

"Know in which aisle or department you tend to impulse buy and go there first to get it out of the way. Later in the shop you're more tired and less likely to resist."

"Retailers have clever ways of manipulating customers to spend more but if you stick to your plans you can avoid being affected by their tactics."

3.Be realistic and know yourself
Sometimes being too strict can be counterproductive and hating yourself for buying something unnecessary could ultimately mean you spend even more to cheer yourself up.

Give yourself a break and accept there will be times when you come home with something extra.

"It's in our nature to reward ourselves, perhaps for hard work or a special achievement," says Dr Intriligator. "Acknowledge that you're likely to buy yourself a small treat. Add 'impulse purchase' to your shopping list, but make sure you set a budget for it.

4.Research an item before you purchase
Always do your homework before making a big purchase such as a TV, computer or expensive sporting item.

Will you use all the features on the top spec model? Does the most expensive option actually perform better or would a cheaper one meet your needs?

It's also a good idea to check reviews before you buy to avoid nasty surprises. The most expensive or the cheapest item isn't always the wisest option.

You can also save money by checking whether the product you want is cheaper elsewhere, either by searching the web or using a barcode scanner app.

5.Only buy what you need
Buying in bulk can often mean better value, but it's not always the case. If you go for multi-buy deals you can end up with more than you need.

Only take advantage of these deals if you were going to buy that much of the product anyway, or you know that you'll use it all.

Switching to a different brand from the one you usually buy to take advantage of an offer can sometimes be sensible, but work out how much you're saving.

It's good to try different products but be aware that it may be false economy to buy a lot of it the first time you use it in case it turns out not to be to your taste.

6.Don't spend more money to get something 'Free'
Have you ever been ordering a product online and noticed that you only need to spend a little more to get 'free' postage? Spending more money to get something for nothing can be counterproductive.

You can take advantage of these deals by waiting until you need to buy a few items together, rather than buying them separately, or by buying your items from the same online retailer instead of different sources.

7.Cool off: wait 24 hours or more before committing to a purchase
If you see a shiny new product on TV, online or in a shop, and you think you just can't live without it - wait. Try giving yourself a little time to work out whether you really need it.

Simply putting it off for a day or two can help you get over the impulse to buy desirable products. It's a good idea to reflect on whether you'll get your money's worth.

Shopping online is particularly dangerous because it can be so quick and easy. You don't have the walk to the checkout to talk yourself out of anything.

Slowing down the shopping experience is a good idea. One way of doing this is to stop storing your credit card (or PayPal) data. By the time you've filled in your details you may decide that you don't strictly need the item.
 
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Being.smart said:
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Today scenario: went to a titan showroom, just to avoid flash rain, there looked a ladies watch, and finalized two watch for mom, and was about to shell out 28k when their POS gone dead, on returning back without buying i realized that mom already have 3-4 titan watch and don't think he need more :(:(
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Click to expand...

She*


P.S. : couldnt resist .. :P sorry :D
 
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See. The reason behind these impulsive purchases is the 'feel good' factor. Why I wait for 2-3 days is that I research the product or it's competitors online. I see unboxing videos and reviews. That does 2 things for me.
1) It removes the feel good/new product smell/joy of opening a box and seeing something new feeling. Once you take this excitement factor out, you can make a more level-headed decision IMO.
2) By reading reviews, more often than not, you will come across some 'cons' that will eventually make the product seem less desirable.

If after doing this, you still find the product irresistible, there is little more you can do. Taking drastic steps like stop using credit cards etc won't do you any good because you still have the money and you know how to get it.;)
 
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Stop carrying your credit card everywhere. Don't carry loads of cash in your wallet.
Call friend/family and tell them about the purchase you are about to make, they'll intervene.
Watch Confessions of a Shopaholic...Not!
Unsubscribe from all promotional mailers.
If you have ready cash, lock it in an investment.
Don't buy till you get rid of older/unused items.

Easier said than Done though.
 
As of today given all of my cards to mom, and asked them to lock all of them in bank locker :(

Also takes Rs. 1000 as pocket money, let see if i can survive this month or not :(
 
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