Are you wondering how to stop buying stuff you don’t need?
When I was in my early 20’s and got my first full time job, I enjoyed spending my paycheck! But the problem was I was spending a lot of money on things I didn’t really need.
Every paycheck I got was quickly spent. I would shop a lot at Target, Dollar Tree, and Hobby Lobby. Every time I went to these stores, I would buy stuff that only cluttered up my home.
As online shopping became more popular, spending money on things online was easy too.
My closet was FULL of clothes and shoes. My home had more knick knacks than I needed. And I wasn’t able to save much money.
Then I became a stay at home mom and had to cut back on my spending. After 10 years of spending way too much money on things I didn’t need, I finally had to learn how to stop buying stuff I didn’t need.
After realizing my spending problem, I started getting more intentional about my money habits.
How to Stop Buying Stuff
1. Shop with a list.
Do you find yourself getting on websites just to look? Or going to stores for fun?
Even though you may not actually intend to buy anything, chances are you end up buying a new shirt or pair of shoes even though your closet is full.
To avoid filling up your carts at the store or virtual carts online, always shop with a list.
If you are shopping, only look for stuff that is on your list. This eliminates impulse buys.
I love the book, Living Well, Spending Less* because the author Ruth Suokup explains that shopping should not be a hobby. Yes, it can be enjoyable, but shopping should be intentional not just to spend money when we are bored or emotional.
My rule is this: If I didn’t need it when I walked into the store, I don’t need it when I walk out of the store.
This has stopped me from buying a lot of stuff I don’t need.
2. Unfollow materialistic accounts.
You’re constantly getting advertisements while you’re online and may not even notice them. As you scroll through social media or read blogs (even this one) you’ll see multiple ads.
Think about all the sponsored videos you have seen on YouTube or sponsored posts on Instagram. There are an abundance of swipe ups on Instagram and Facebook stories too.
Do you find that there are certain influencers that are always pushing stuff to buy? Maybe you feel like you constantly need to purchase new clothes or hair products because you’re constantly seeing them advertised.
I stopped watching certain YouTube channels and following certain influencers because it felt like their posts were constant commercials for things I didn’t need.
These people advertise it as something that we just can’t live without, but truthfully we could live without a lot of what we already have.
3. Go outside.
The more time you spend online or watching television, the greater the chance you’ll be tempted to purchase things. So spend more time off line by going outside during your free time.
There are so many things you can do outside and avoid being bombarded with ads.
- Go outside.
- Take a walk.
- Sip coffee on the back porch.
- Read a book in the shade.
- Listen to music in the sunshine.
4. Avoid the add-on
You know what really makes your shopping total go up? All those ad-ons!
This is both online and in stores. I often order groceries online from Walmart. When I check out, they always recommend that I add on more items.
I used to add things every single time I checked out, but I’ve learned to expect their recommendations and skip them.
There are add-ons in stores too. Think about the end caps or the “Dollar Spot” at Target.
Those add-ons build up fast, and usually it’s stuff that you don’t need! In order to avoid those temptations completely, stick to your lists and avoid those areas in the stores.
5. Wait a month before buying stuff.
By waiting a month, you may also realize that you don’t actually need the items you thought were necessary.
Recently, I thought that we needed shelves in our bathroom to hold washcloths and soaps. My husband said to wait a while before getting new shelves.
In the meantime, I rearranged the cabinet under the sink to store the cloths and soap. We realized that we really didn’t need to buy new shelves.
By waiting a month, I avoided spending our money on something we didn’t need!
6. Make frugal friends.
The people you spend the most time with have the greatest influence on you. If you are constantly around people who love to spend money on frivolous things, it may be time to find new friends.
At the very least, limit the time you spend with people who like to shop and spend money. This can be hard to do, but it is important if you want to stop spending money on things you don’t need.
7. Practice gratefulness.
As you learn how to stop buying stuff you don’t need, remind yourself of all the things you do have.
There are so many things that we call “needs” which are actually “wants”. The truth is you probably have more than enough.
It’s helpful to keep a daily gratitude list. Be sure to include items on your list that can’t be bought. So much of the important things in life can’t be bought.
8. Use what you have first.
How many times have you purchased something, and then realized you could have used something you already had?
I used to always buy new home decor for the holidays. However the last 8 years I’ve used what I have to decorate before I purchase anything else.
Most of the time I already have what I need.
9. Declutter your home.
The more you buy and bring into your home, the more cluttered your home will be. It’s a frustrating feeling.
However, if you declutter your home, you’ll be less likely to add more clutter.
10. Remember why you want to stop buying stuff.
Whenever you’re trying to change your habits, it’s so important to know why you’re doing it.
That way when you feel like quitting, you can go back to the reasons why you want to stop buying stuff.
There are so many reasons why you may want to stop spending your money.
- more money in the bank account
- less clutter in your home
- ability to give to those in need
- save up for a big purchase
- save up for a trip or vacation
- money for needs like groceries or clothes
Hopefully, these 10 tips will help you avoid spending your money on things you don’t need so you can save your money for the important stuff.
Share your tips in the comments!
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