Did you know that if you save just $27.39 each day, you will have saved $10,000 at the end of the year? No? I didn't either. I couldn't help but giggle when I saw this post going around on Instagram for the first time. It made setting aside that sum of money appear to be quite simple. And it was unquestionably enlightening to realize that I don't require a lot of the things I buy. Why wasn't I able to do it while I'm an expert on personal finance and a writer on the subject?!
The power of $27.39 a day: Motivation to refrain from purchasing useless items!
My spending habits aren't always the most responsible, especially when hot out. I'm a human being too, so it's not hard for me to rationalize spending $20 here or there at Target or eating out. I am a member of my family and circle of friends who enjoys take-out coffee the most. I suppose that's why it hurt so much when I did the math and saw how much money I'd spent on seemingly insignificant things daily over the year. A weekly cost of $191.73 equals $27.39 multiplied by 7. Multiply $191.73 by 52 to get... That is $9,969.96! What better incentive do you need to quit buying useless things? Yes, setting aside $27.39 every day will bring you almost $10,000 in a single year if you do it the right way.15 strategies to help you quit buying things you don't need
I'm on a campaign to quit buying useless things, and I want to tell you about it so that you can join me. The following are some pointers that I've compiled to assist you in doing the same and achieving your desired level of financial success.1. Determine the reason(s) WHY you are purchasing the stuff in the first place
The first thing you need to do to stop buying useless junk is to analyze the reasons behind your impulse purchases in the first place. Now, I am not a novice in purchasing everything in the Target Bullseye Section. I am also aware that I used to have a shopping addiction when I was younger and to keep that temptation away, I have a mental toolbox handy. Maybe you're not a shopaholic like me, but you're susceptible to the Diderot Effect when it comes to buying things. To end purchasing things that you do not require, you must first determine why you are doing so. Is your mind wandering? Lonely? Are you attempting to determine how to mend something, but you are unwilling to look inside it first? Even if the reasons we buy goods aren't always pretty, once we are aware of them, we can fully heal and work toward developing better money habits.2. Select a financial objective to serve as a source of motivation
You will need a plan for the money that you will start setting aside, and it does not have to involve purchasing more useless items. Consider, as an alternative, organizing a trip, renovating a section of your home, or even making a larger purchase that you've been delaying, such as buying a new automobile. When I know that I'm putting money aside for a particular purchase, I can tell my Amazon shopping cart not to purchase it.3. Do an honest inventory of the things you own
You would be shocked to learn how many pens you have in your collection. Or the pairs of shoes that you have but never wear. Or games for cats. You can determine what you already possess and what you do not need to buy if you do a thorough inventory of your things around the house. Additionally, it will motivate you to go on to the next item on our list.4. Get rid of the things you don't use anymore
After you have made an inventory of the things located in your home, you should immediately begin getting rid of the junk you have accumulated over the years that no longer serves a purpose for you. This includes any unused articles of clothing (no, you do not require the same sweater in five different colors), health and beauty products, cooking supplies, and other similar items. Getting rid of clutter might be a demanding task, so I recommend playing the 30-Day Minimalism Game to get started. You get rid of that much stuff from around the house for each day that the game lasts. You would start by giving away one item on day one, then two items on day two, and so on and so forth. By the time you complete this challenge, you will have eliminated more than 500 unnecessary objects from your home. You might also be interested in reading our post that outlines six easy measures you can take to clean your life. You can either donate the goods you are decluttering, give them away to friends and family, or even try to sell them on websites like Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace.5. Cancel email subscriptions
Check your email and remove yourself from any mailing lists that include compelling content. This includes any store that provides you with information on sales or flash offers, deals provided by Groupon, and even large retail chains such as Walmart and Kroger. They won't entice you to shop during a sale if you aren't aware that one is taking place.6. Find strategies to satisfy your needs that aren't related to shopping
When you stop buying simply for shopping, you will quickly realize how much time is used by shopping and even browsing alone. Find a new interest or activity to take up your spare time and do something worthwhile; this will hold you back from giving in to your boredom and going shopping again. Now might be an excellent time to watch all of the exercise videos on YouTube that you have bookmarked for when you "have time." Not going shopping provides an opportunity to use up the art supplies that you have been hoarding for a while.7. Allow yourself a break from shopping for one full day
When you find something that you can't live without, you might want to think twice about buying it. You can avoid giving in to impulse buying by giving yourself twenty-four hours before making any purchases to think about what you want. Please note what you desire, and then wait until the next day to determine whether or not you still require it or even want it at all.8. Make a list of the items that you want and make a plan to get them
After giving yourself a 24-hour time-out (as suggested in the previous piece of advice), write it down on a wish list and budget for it if you are still interested in purchasing. It is not wrong to desire goods or even to go out and purchase them. It would be in your best interest to make a wise purchase decision. Put aside a tiny bit of money from each paycheck, and after you have enough saved up, wait to see if there is a discount or a coupon you can use. Even though I told you to unsubscribe from all mailings that can lure you to shop, I want to encourage you to look into your purchases before you make them and make an effort to reduce the amount of money you spend on them.9. Give minimalism a try
If the process of decluttering motivates you to make fewer purchases, you should give some thought to the minimalist lifestyle. Everyone has their interpretation of what minimalism is, but for me, it's about getting more done with fewer resources. When you decide to have fewer goods to free up time and put money aside, it can be a liberating experience to focus on what it is in life that you truly require or desire. While putting into practice minimalism could include purchasing fewer goods for your home so that you have fewer things that need to be cleaned. It may give the impression of having a minimal wardrobe. Because there isn't just one solution that works for everyone, you won't be able to use that as an excuse to keep buying things you don't require.10. Refrain from going inside any stores
If you aren't tempted to buy this in a store, you won't be able to make any purchases. When buying food and other necessities, try shopping online instead. You can pick up your groceries in the comfort of your vehicle if the prospect of having to interact with strangers who drive delivery vehicles makes you nervous.11. Switch to a cash-based budget
When combined with cash envelopes, a zero-based budget can be an effective way to save both time and money. You'll be able to access cash for items you've already budgeted for if you decide in advance which ones should use your money and should serve as the highest priority. Because you only have the cash to spend, and once it's gone, it's gone for good, this makes it easier for you to stick to your budget. It could appear that spending $50 each week on home products is enough to make it rain on some holiday pillows, but when you consider items that are required, such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies, it might not even be that much money at all.12. Start a trading system with a friend
Do the people you hang out with have an excessive lot of junk? Perfect! Inquire from them regarding the possibility of trading or borrowing an item that you require. This is something you can do with items of clothes, products for the kitchen, and anything else you could need or want around the house. Whenever I get together with my friends, we frequently trade clothes and household items. I have bartered for moving goods, furniture, and even items for cats.13. Consider the possibility of renting a necessary item rather than purchasing it
Try looking into renting things instead of borrowing them from your friends if they don't have anything you can use. You can do this with tools from Home Depot and Lowes; the library has virtually anything and everything related to media, and you can even rent apparel for important events.14. Create a spending plan dedicated to "fun money"
Creating a budget for your "fun money" will help you avoid derailing whatever financial success you've achieved while also staying on track with your spending habits. You won't need to feel guilty about indulging in activities you enjoy because you'll be able to give yourself some "me money" during each pay period. I spend my fun money on things like lattes and going out to dinner with friends, which bring me joy and contribute to my life in a meaningful yet non-materialistic way.15. Keep in mind that you're just a normal person
The person who is your harshest critic is you. If you somehow manage to fall off the wagon of not buying useless junk, cut yourself some slack. Imagine if someone you care about made a financial error and bought stuff they don't require because of their oversight. Would you have an uncontrollable want to lash out at them and consider them a failure? Would you verbally and mentally assault them and say hurtful things? No, I didn't anticipate that you would do that. I ask that you treat me with the same consideration that I show you.Do not forget these important tips when you do have to go out shopping
The need to shop will always be there. You will require one or more items you cannot do without, nor can you acquire them by borrowing or bartering. If you need it, we suggest going with the following.Take advantage of sales
Make it a goal to shop for things when they are discounted. If you want to be a proactive shopper and keep an eye out for sales, you should keep track of when you will need to replace an item in the future. Look online if you have trouble finding a dealer in your local area.Give thrifting a shot
Before you go to the store, it is good to call or visit the thrift store in your area to see if they have what you require. When purchasing previously owned items, the selection at thrift stores is not always reliable; therefore, you should only go there if you are willing to be flexible in your requirements. You might also try your luck at the local secondhand shops if you want something more substantial, like furniture. By going about it in this manner, I was able to get an antique room divider for the very low price of one hundred dollars.Keep in mind the importance of apps, rebates, and coupons
I can't stop gushing about apps, rebates, and discounts because I save a lot of money while using them! Check the envelope you receive each week to see if it contains any coupons for goods you may use around the house. When shopping for groceries, you shouldn't overlook the possibility of using cashback applications like Ibotta. And make use of the cashback features on those credit cards. Just now, my Capital One card provided a rebate of 8% on purchases made at Sephora.You may finally put an end to purchasing useless junk!
It can be challenging to refrain from buying things that you do not require, but you can mitigate this challenge by developing a strategy to achieve this goal. In addition, it is a smart move to find an accountability partner who can assist you in staying on track while you change your previous spending patterns. Keep in mind that improving your financial situation is an ongoing process. You've got this if you can maintain your dedication and focus.