<p>Do you ever feel like it’s just a little bit too easy to buy things in our modern world? Need a new pair of shoes? Head to the mall. Want to pick up a book? Pull out your phone, order it online and it can be delivered to your home as soon as the end of the day.</p>
<p>We can order our groceries on an app, replace our entire wardrobe on a routine trip to the nearest big box retailer and pick up a new sofa in a matter of hours.</p>
<p>While I love the convenience that is shopping in 2018, I don’t love the impulse purchases I sometimes make due to such convenience. If you struggle with quick trips to the store that result in receipts of hundreds of dollars or shop online too frequently, consider these smart strategies to keep ease from turning into excess.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: left"><strong>Shop at home first</strong></p>
<p>Deep conflicting emotions often stimulate our purchases. We want something new. The seasons change and we think we need to improve upon what we have. Or we blindly shop without a list and duplicate an item we already own. Before you begin, shop your own home.</p>
<p>Look at what you already own with new eyes. Can it be repurposed? Clear through the closets and dig through the drawers. Adventure to the back of the pantry. Fight the temptation to turn to shopping without first examining your current possessions.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: left"><strong>Limit your online view</strong></p>
<p>When shopping online, instate intentional practices. Using apps and online platforms allow shoppers the comfort of shopping from the couch but also expose us all to potential pitfalls. Give yourself a specific time limit. Be sure you’re not tired or hungry. Order your search results by price from lowest to highest. Tempted by emails or social media platforms for items you don’t need? Unsubscribe from them like it’s your job. If you can’t see it, you can’t overspend on it either.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: left"><strong>Wait 24 hours</strong></p>
<p>The immediacy in making a purchase often results in buyer’s remorse. When making a minor, not budgeted for purchase, wait at least 10 minutes. When making a moderate purchase, wait 24 hours. When making a major purchase, take a couple of days to a week to sort out whether this item is for you. Make sure to research potential coupons and discounts. Investigate upcoming promotions or store specials. But more than anything, evaluate the necessity of the purchase.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: left"><strong>Consider your space</strong></p>
<p>Our homes are limited. We cannot buy all of the things. We have to have a place to put the things. All too often, we stare at our four walls filled to the brim and wonder “Where did all this stuff come from?”</p>
<p>Before you purchase anything, think about where that item will live once it comes into your home. Will you need to get rid of something else to allow for its presence? Will your house become more cluttered? Consider your space first.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: left"><strong>The 3-5 rule</strong></p>
<p>Nearly every time I shop anywhere — whether at my favorite grocery store or a big box retailer, the mall or online — I play the same little game. Right before I check out, I look into my cart or basket or arms and ask myself, “Which three to five of these items do I need the least? Which purchase could I live completely without or which things can I wait to buy at another time in life?”</p>
<p>I call this practice the 3-5 rule. Once I identify three to five items (or at least one if I have two items or more), I return those items to their place in the store or hand them to the cashier. Typically, this saves me $5 to $10 without clipping a single coupon.</p>
<p>We need to be smart about the ways we engage with the changes in buying things both in the store and online. Think before you purchase. Pause before you swipe your debit card. Question how you’re spending your hard-earned money. You won’t regret taking a quick breath to reflect before you buy.</p>
