I’m struggling with the impulse purchase of clothing. It’s tough, because I am NOT an easy fit, and when something fits, I’m very strongly tempted to buy it, since I need to look professional for work. I buy in thrift shops and Daffy’s (discount chain), but it’s still money. I pay cash, and most of the time I don’t buy, but still… and then I think, I don’t go out to eat, I don’t go to movies, I don’t have a TV, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I buy an occasional book or some yarn. As long as it’s not out of control, how is it bad to buy a skirt and blouse for work? The control issue is the problem. And then I think that when I was married, it took me 15 years to actually spend the money for a terrycloth robe for myself. I’m trying not to let the pendulum swing too far in either direction: no buying at all, or buying something just because I like it.

[...] is the better part of shopping. You know all those money hacks I share to trick yourself while shopping? Here’s where they come into play. Establish a 30-day waiting period before making big [...]

Some samples from my Plantronics:
http://maxhedrm.montebellopark.com/blog/index.php?s=librivox

[...] Rich Slowly writes about a few good ways to channel your inner frugal-power [via The Consumerist]. One tip I especially liked, Tax yourself whenever you make an impulse [...]

But, I have also been accused of being “frugal” (and even down-right cheap), so sometimes I like to look around.

If I see something I really like, but I’m not sure about the price, I do look online for it first. Many times, you can find it cheaper online, just be careful. I don’t use E-Bay, because they want a credit card to verify my identity and not to make a purchase. I’m still not sure my credit card company will cover an unauthorized purchase when I use the card as ID, not to make a purchase. But in any case, if the company is a major name, you can save bundles on that online purchase and never have to tackle other shoppers to get that last one.

The second thing this allows you to do, besides enjoy the pleasure of saving big bucks on that worthless purchase, is it gives one time to cool off and decide if one really needs that item. If you give yourself a cool-off period, then you won’t buy half the things you don’t need.

However, I am sorry to report that this does not work in a 4th dimension known as the “Wally World” dimension. When you see worthless junk that you don’t need, but just have to have at this store, you cannot pass it up…..if you think about it, it will be gone before you get back. So, at this one store, consider the worthless junk carefully! LOL!

That ususally cools it down. And sometimes I actually do send it to Visa.

[...] Fight the urge to splurge @ Get Rich Slowly [...]

[...] to fight the urge to splurge. Related: Men’s silly underwear is now serious [...]

If you’re contemplating the purchase of some non-essential “luxury”, write the current date and the name of the item on a Post-It and promise yourself that if you still want the item fourteen days from the current date that you’ll buy it.

Almost all of the time you’ll find that you’re no longer interested in the item well before the fourteen days are up.

I believe this trick works because it replaces the impulse for action created by advertising and encouraged by retailers.

Note that after I used this system for a while I began to require it less often. It seems that acquiring initial control over impulse purchasing also “rewires” one responses to the sub-conscious cues used to induce impulse buying…

[...] How to Fight the Urge to Splurge ? Get Rich Slowly “Today I stopped by the local electronics store to look at microphones and headphones. I didn’t intend to buy anything, but after a half hour browsing I found myself in line holding $170 of gadgets.” This isn’t my biggest problem, but it’s one of them. (tags: shopping interesting todo) [...]

[...] at GetRichSlowly offers his insight into avoiding an impluse purchase by offering these tips: 1. Avoid advertising. 2. Avoid temptation. 3. Exercise mindfulness. 4. [...]

[...] at GetRichSlowly offers his insight into avoiding an impluse purchase by offering these tips: 1. Avoid advertising. 2. Avoid temptation. 3. Exercise mindfulness. 4. [...]

http://encouragingcoach.com/wordpress/?p=883

How To: Stop Impulse Shopping…

It’s always interesting to see how many personal finance bloggers used to be impulse buyers. Personally, we are the opposite of an impulse buyer. We think of ourselves as damn near shopping anorexic, so perhaps we are not the best……

[...] How to Fight the Urge to Splurge – If you aren’t reading Get Rich Slowly everyday, you should be.  J.D. is one of the best and most consistent personal finance bloggers I’ve ever read.  His latest post lists several ways to avoid the temptations to spend money that surround us all every day. [...]

I keep a notebook just for things I want or “need”. Even if I truly think I need it, it gets written in the notebook. This is a reminder that I can’t afford to buy every single thing I might want, and have to choose from among the many things that catch my eye.

I procrastinate. I also research. I seek alternatives to the thing I want, or at least cheaper ways to acquire it. Very, very often, I decide it’s not really a high enough priority for me to buy it. But I don’t take it off the list. It’s written in ink in that notebook.

I still have my list from six years ago, when I first started this. It’s a great reminder of how well the method works.

For example, following the wii-thread in the forum, I almost broke down and bought one. When I did a little research, I found that the wii doesn’t do HDTV. I bet the next one will, so I resolved to wait. When that one comes out, it’s sure to be lacking something promised in version 3, and so on. The end result, I never wind up buying one.