If you’re struggling to take control of your spending, the zillion and one temptations retailers put in place to get you in their doors and eagerly opening your wallet certainly don’t help. The constant email offers, the alluring advertisements and the most dangerous four letter word for shopaholics — “sale” — are everywhere.
Just because something is on sale doesn’t make it a good deal or worth buying. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to make that assessment retroactively when you’re sitting at home trying to shove your new buys into an overflowing closet than when you’re standing in front of the cutest pair of boots you’ve ever seen. But how can you take back control in the moment? How can you resist that storefront temptation with the shiny watches and the perfectly placed accessories, especially when those big bold numbers signifying percentage off are practically screaming at you to buy, buy, buy? How can you stop succumbing to sales? Here are some concrete suggestions that can help:
Set a spending limit. Skipping out on sales can mean missing out on opportunities to score steep discounts on things you really want or need. Unfortunately, even with a sweet deal, spending more than you can afford is never advisable. Create a budget so you know exactly how much money you have to spend each month in each expense category. With a clearly defined limits on what you can afford, you’re less likely to fall prey to FOMO (fear of missing out) or “but it’s on sale” excuses and justifications.
Create tangible reminders of greater goals. It’s hard to think big picture when you’re there in the moment with a chance to get 20 percent off the latest game console. There’s nothing wrong with going for the deal and splurging on the console, as long as it sits within your spending limits and you realize the tradeoffs. What are the tradeoffs exactly? Your greater goals. The more money spent on sale items, the less money left over to finance big picture dreams, such as purchasing a home, funding children’s education or retirement.
Knowing how easily I cave into temptation myself, I started creating tangible reminders of my greater goals with photos and dream boards. Having a visual representation of the things I’m working towards, especially in my wallet right next to my money, makes me think twice before succumbing to a sale, no matter how steep the discount.
Use an app. According to a recent study at UCLA, spending went down an average of 15.7 percent when consumers used a financial app like Personal Capital. Apps are helpful in keeping consumers grounded in their financial realities, even when confronted with unexpected temptations like sales.
Apps also help consumers align their realities with their financial goals by holding them accountable in the moment. Having a finance app on your phone when trying to control your spending is like having a scale in your pocket when you’re trying to lose weight. If you weigh yourself right before lunch time and the numbers are higher than you’d like, you’re more likely to go for the healthy salad and water. Similarly, if your app reveals you’re in dangerously close proximity to your spending limit before swiping making a purchase, you’re more likely to walk away rather than spend unnecessarily.
Avoid temptation. You know those 10 retailers who send you all their latest deals and specials straight to your inbox every day? Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe. Nobody can withstand all that bombardment without being suckered in eventually. Similarly, if you know that the word “sale” gets you amped to splurge, steer clear of sale central locations like shopping malls.
Create new routines. Shopping isn’t something to do to pass the time. If shopping has become a habit, try replacing it with something that won’t constantly tempt you into overspending, such as running or cooking.
Surround yourself with positive examples. It’s much easier to resist the temptation to shop unnecessarily, even in the midst of a big blowout sale, when you’re surrounded by people who couldn’t care less about it. Follow the example of savvy savers and tune out the noise of the retail giants so you can better focus on your own goals.
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How to Stop Succumbing to Sales originally appeared on usnews.com
