It’s the most beautiful time of year, but for us living in the northern hemisphere, it’s also the darkest and the most expensive. With Black Friday coming up, I’ve been inundated with ads boasting the lowest prices of the year. My social media is flooded with deals and trends and influencers influencing me to buy a look exactly like theirs. To help prevent an annual miasma of buyer’s remorse, here are some tips and questions to ask yourself before you buy anything at any time of the year. In addition to curbing impulsive spending habits, these tips should help you cultivate a healthier relationship with buying long-lasting and necessary items.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy
Would you still buy this item even if it wasn’t on sale?
Is this item completely necessary to your life?
Can you buy it secondhand on eBay or Depop?
If you don’t need this item urgently, can you keep an eye out for it at a thrift store?
Is there a bigger thing or experience that you need to remind yourself that you’re saving for? Should you put money toward that rather than buying something you want right now?
Can you think of alternatives you already have that could substitute for this item?
Do you really need this item/ will it be fully incorporated into your life or is it just what everyone seems to have on Instagram at the current moment? Trends are moving so fast that you might regret buying something that’s totally out of style in a month. Unless that trend truly calls to you and you can see it being a part of your life for years, skip trying to keep up.
Tips to (Hopefully) Decrease Spending
If the purchase isn’t urgent, but you’re close to buying it right now, leave it in the cart and let it sit there. If you don’t return to the cart in a day, you can be sure that it is not necessary for you to buy.
Never buy at night. I always seem to be so much more susceptible to ads at night, and with the increased hours of darkness, this happens more and more. Even if I do click and pick out things I want, I put my phone or laptop away for the night. By the morning, I’m more clear-headed, and I rarely buy what I had picked out.
Unsubscribe from emails! Having easy access to companies offering discounts and deals makes it way harder to resist buying from them. Find that unsubscribe link at the bottom of your emails and watch your inbox become a little less cluttered.
Check in with your body before you put in that credit card information. Are you tense or holding your breath? Breathe deeply and relax your muscles. Remind yourself you’re not in any danger and there is no pressure upon you to purchase this item! If you’re tense, take a walk away from the temptation. Go outside and look at the sky. Contemplate the vastness of space and time. Reset your nervous system and see how you feel toward the item in a calmer state.
If you’re buying clothes: try thinking of five different outfits incorporating the new item. If you can’t see yourself wearing that clothing item 30 times, or for the next five years, don’t buy it. Also, try leaving the item (if in-store) and walking around for a while. If you can’t picture it after ten minutes, leave it. If you picture yourself being fine leaving the store without it, leave it.
Alternative Purchases
I know the gift-giving season is also coming up, and it’s easy to jump onto deals and make a quick purchase online for those gifts. If money must be spent (and in some of these alternatives, it doesn’t!), here are a few more meaningful options.
Book, clothing, trinket exchange: Get a group together, go through your closet beforehand, and trade around from what others are offering. Have fun, and decide together on an organization to donate what is left over. It’s super fun to see how your friends incorporate your items into their lives!
Handmade, homemade and creative gifts: Bake, knit, crochet, paint, write a sweet letter, or make them a piece of jewelry. Offer to do their hair or makeup on a date of their choosing. Depending on your skill set and what you have, spend time thinking of what that specific person would enjoy. A personalized gift is made extra special when they know you devoted time to making it.
Donate to a cause they’re passionate about in their name: Ask and do research into the organization to make sure it is legitimate and lines up with their interests and passions.
Take them out to dinner at a local restaurant or go shopping together at a local business: Supporting your community while spending time enjoying the company is a perfect way to make them feel appreciated.
Volunteer together: Whether it’s food drives or buying supplies for people in need, enjoy quality time while participating in acts of charity.
Take a class together: Pottery classes or cooking classes, learning a skill together can be fun and educational. There are also options for classes that include alcohol, which can add a festive spin to the event!
Hopefully, if we’re all a little more mindful of what we’re buying and how we’re spending our money, we’ll be making richer memories for less this holiday season and year-round. Try asking yourself the questions in this article, and attempt the tips; maybe one will stick, and you’ll be able to stop yourself from purchasing something you don’t really need. However, sometimes an impulse purchase of something that will bring you joy can be a wonderful thing! Moderation is key, especially if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Good luck and happy holidays!*
*This article does not apply to necessities.