What is impulse buying? Are we regularly engaging in impulse-based shopping? The classic textbook definition of ‘impulse buying’ is the act of purchasing something on impulse without any thought or consideration. It can be as small as adding candy to the cart while waiting in the queue at the billing counter to walking into a mall and bringing back a heap of shopping bags home. We’re all guilty of buying things we didn’t intend to or plan for!
How do we keep falling for impulse buying?
While one may outrun reasons or excuses as to why we impulse buy but here are some examples according to experts that you may relate to.
• Boredom
• Stressed and in need of a break
• Lack of planning; we rush in without knowing what we truly want or need.
• Feeling pressured and forced to make a quick decision
• Needing to acquire a good offer and snag a bargain
• The compulsive feeling of browsing through the shop and leaving the store without purchasing something or the need to purchase just because you spent so much time browsing.
• We need to reclaim control, and making a purchase allows us to do so.
Here are some ways to stop buying on impulse and shop more intentionally.
Make it self-difficult to shop
For starters, stay away from your go-to physical shopping outlets and online shopping sites. Make it difficult for yourself to shop by getting rid of store cards/discount vouchers, decreasing your credit card limit, and carrying limited cash while shopping so that you are mindful of your purchase and won’t plan anything spontaneously.
Set aside a budget before you shop
You can set aside a limit to your spending but you may also give in to temptation and exceed that set limit. Keeping tabs on your impulse spending doesn’t mean you cannot buy anything at all. Firstly, that will not be realistic and secondly, there is a fun factor associated with buying things on a whim. Budgeting your shopping will help you in sticking to your original intent to shop and keep distractions at bay.
Don’t go shopping when you’re having an emotional outpour
Whether hangry, cranky, overjoyed or feeling low, don’t go shopping when having an emotional outpour. You may land up regretting later, once you feel better that this whole trip had been an utter waste of effort and money. For instance, you are very hungry while placing the order, and with hunger taking precedence, you land up ordering more than you can eat. Either, you upset your stomach by overeating or wasting the food or worse, land up disliking whatever you have ordered.
Pause and think before you buy
There are so many mediums acting in aid of our impulsive purchases. To slow it down, add items to your wish list or cart and let it sit there till you figure out why you need it, what is the use, do you have anything similar at home etc. If you find the product sitting in your cart even after two days, it is a clear indication that it is not a necessity but just an impulsive shopping spree that you were going to jump on.