how to lessen impulse spending
especially as someone who LOVES spending money 🫣
Spending money is as easy as breathing to me. I’m a BIG treat yourself kind of human. The only thing that’s changed from the version of me who bought anything whenever they wanted and the me now who buy things when they 100 percent make sense only is intention. Aaaaand some rules I set up for myself. Let’s get into it!
how to lessen impulse spending 💸
1. identify your emotional spending triggers.
This is a big one. In 2023, I spent thousands of dollars on Doordash. In 2024, I finally noticed this issue and got to the bottom of it: when my dad passed unexpectedly in November 2022, I stopped cooking and Doordash became a crutch. Flash forward to now, I no longer have an annual Doordash pass and cook weekly. And when I feel the grieve coming, I’ve got easy cookable meals ready to go from my freezer that are comparable to what I would buy for myself - curly fries, chicken tenders, and asian food. Find out what’s triggering you to emotionally spend, and find a healthier alternative for when that comes up.
2. unsubscribe from email lists that tempt you to buy.
Your inbox is the world’s intention for your attention. But the thing is… it’s YOUR inbox. So take control of it and unsubscribe from anything that causes you to spend money out of your budget. If it’s a company you really enjoy and want to support, unsubscribe for a month or two and make a note to resubscribe when you’re in a more stable place financially.
3. spend more time outside and / or move your body.
Another reason I found I would spend money was when I was bored. I would start scroll shopping on my favorite sites. Now when I’m bored, the first thing I do is go on a walk outside. It’s a short 20 minute walk around my neighborhood, but it clears my mind, gives me some sun, and allows presence instead of boredom. So next time you feel the impulse to buy something you know you don’t need, head outside or to the gym instead.
4. focus on doing free or affordable hobbies.
Buy some needles and cheap yarn at Walmart. Grab a hula hoop and teach yourself. Invite your friends over for board games. Hobbies are great ways to focus in when you’re bored instead of buying something new for a hit of dopamine. My preferred hobbies are knitting, reading, and watching terrible B-list movies with my friends.
5. you can give in within reason via creating a “Treat Yourself” budget.
Put aside an amount of money monthly for you to spend on yourself in anyway you want. Mine has been $40 monthly for the year and that’s enough for me to buy myself a unique candle, a massage, a new book I can’t get at the library, or a nice meal for a solo date. If I want to buy something on impulse, I’ll take from this budget. I highly recommend this, especially when you’re first starting out getting your impulse spending under control.
BONUS:
Anything you want to buy on impulse, create a Wants & Needs list so you can buy it for the best deal on Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday. That “flash sale” you’re seeing right now should be bigger on one of these days.
Will you be trying this Black Friday bonus tip? If yes, let me know!
These rules have helped me stop impulse spending so I can save, invest, and pay off more debt. Money is meant to be spent, but it feels much better when it’s intentional.
Happy intentional spending!
Aleah
CWM
Yes go going outside and allowing a small budget for spending.