How many people do you know who are fairly decent at budgeting, but then BAM, their closet is spilling over and they can be found at the mall every weekend? I’ll let you in on a secret about making impulse purchases: that used to be me.
Shopping was such an emotional habit for me. I’d shop when I was bored, lonely, stressed, and when I was procrastinating. Shopping made me feel better for a little bit, but it wasn’t solving anything. The worst part of it was that I was buying a lot of cheap, poor quality clothes. But my closet quickly became filled with, so put it bluntly, a whole lot of crap.
It wasn’t until I moved that I realized just how much junk I had. Something needed to change.
Now, I still love to shop, but I have definitely curbed my impulse shopping habit. Here are 10 steps to help you stop making impulse purchases if you’ve been in a similar boat.
1. Clean Out Your Closet
This is the only way to see just how much stuff you have bought and things you haven’t even worn. When I cleaned out my closet, I realized I was getting rid of hundreds of dollars of clothes that I had not worn once. What a waste!
RELATED: 5 Ways to Make Money by Decluttering
2. Research Classic, Staple Items you Need to Build a Solid Wardrobe
No matter your personal style, figure out the basics. You likely will want a nice coat, a few pairs of quality jeans, some black heels, etc. Write these things down! They are items you will want to invest in and maybe even splurge on. Predict how many years of use you can get out of each item.
3. Make a List of all Clothes You Need, and Which Season They Fit
Keeping a running list of every item of clothing you need will serve you in so many ways. If you’re having a moment of weakness and want to impulse shop, you can use this list to make sure you’re buying only things you actually need. This list also provides opportunities to find more items on sale because you know what you’re looking for.
RELATED: Why You Should Start Spending More Money on Clothes
4. Be Smart and Buy at the End of the Season.
Have you ever noticed how swimsuits go on super sale at the end of summer? When at the beginning of summer, they are ridiculously expensive? When you create a list of exactly what you need, you can be on the lookout for these end-of-season deals and can save a ton of money. Sure, you might miss out on buying the hottest trends of the season, but trends come and go anyway.
To me, spending money on timeless pieces that I can wear for years to come is worth far more than buying a new trendy piece every single year.
RELATED: What Summer Supplies Can You Buy Now to Save You a Ton of Money?
5. Save up For High-Quality Pieces
If you are buying an item that you will wear almost daily, then it is worth it to splurge on a higher quality. For example, when I lived in Iowa, it was imperative that I had a winter coat. I wore it every day for almost 6 months out of the year, so it was worth it to invest in a higher quality coat versus a cheap one. Plus, it kept me nice and toasty?
6. If It’s Not on Your List, no Buying!
This will force you to really think through your purchases ahead of time and eliminate any possible impulses.
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7. Acknowledge Your Emotions Before Shopping
Be aware of how you feel and be honest with yourself. Are you shopping because you’re trying to fill a void, or are you truly shopping because you need clothes?
8. Ask Yourself How Many Wears You’ll Get Out of That Outfit
Calculating cost per wear is a great guideline to know if something is actually worth it. You can learn more about it here.
9. Only Buy Clothes you Absolutely LOVE
If you’re like me, half the stuff you buy on impulse is total junk. Maybe it was on sale or maybe you were just feeling emotional while buying it. If clothes don’t make you feel great, then they aren’t worth buying. This can be a hard lesson to learn for some who view clothes as simply functional. Clothes can say so much about you, so I encourage people to spend time and money dressing themselves in a way that makes them feel great.
10. Have Fun and Shop on
Shopping can still be fun, even while trying to curb making impulse purchases and while sticking to a budget. Be smart about your purchases and be in tune with your emotions and you can’t go wrong.
Do you consider yourself an impulse shopper? Which one of these tips would be best to help you stop making impulse purchases?
