Manila Freelancer

Is shopping therapeutic to you? Do you frequently end up with more purchases than you planned? Is the word ‘budget’ a familiar yet strangely unfathomable word to you? Do you make purchases that you later regret? Do you always feel you deserve every item that’s on sale?

If you’re a shopaholic, there’s a good chance you do a lot of impulsive buying. But you don’t have to be trapped by your compulsions. If you want to avoid impulsive buying, here are steps how:

Plan your shopping trips.
If you stop by the mall for no reason, you’re more likely to make impulse buys. Stick to a schedule instead.

Don’t shop during or after the payday.
Payday deals are too sweet to ignore and refuse. Plus, being newly rich can encourage you to buy more. If you’ve just received your paycheck, wait a few days before deciding to shop. Better yet, keep a portion of your money in your savings account where it can be left untouched and use the remainder for expenses, including shopping.

Always make a list and stick to it.
Before you head to the mall or the store, make a list of the things you need. Take stock of what you already have and then write down the items that you need. At the end of a week, two weeks or whatever your buying period is, check the list and resolve to stick to it. [More]