5 tips to help you shop less, resist buying things you don't need, and save money

Everywhere you look, you're being told, directly or subliminally, to buy things: the latest Yeezys, the perfect lip liner. Caving in to the urge to splurge can not only kick us in the budget but is also bad for the planet, as we add to the mountains of waste in the world. Resistance is not futile. Here's how to go about it:

Identify what you already have

The first thing to do is look at what you already own. Take the time to organise your belongings into categories (i.e. put all your jeans, all your T-shirts, or all your stationery, etc, together). Then you’ll be able to see exactly what you need – or more likely don’t.

When your things are scattered around or tucked away out of sight, you might get the impression that you’re missing something, when actually you own five of that thing already.

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Know your weaknesses

Knowing how much you are spending and which stores you spend the most money at (ie which to avoid even walking into!) can help curb your spending. It’s easy to do with technology; you can keep track of your expenses with helpful apps such as Quicken, Monefy, or Money Lover.

If you are seriously considering if you need to sign up for Shopaholics Anonymous, you might also find it useful to keep a journal where you note the reason you shopped every time you buy something. Was it an advertisement on your Instagram feed, an email you received from a brand you subscribe to, or because you were hanging out with a shopping buddy? You might need to take a break from these things when you’re trying to not to spend.

You should also keep note of internal triggers that cause you to shop. Maybe you were bored that day, or stressed. The next time you catch yourself wanting to shop to distract yourself from a problem, think of something else you can do that will make you feel better, such as listening to music or inviting a friend over to watch a movie.

Don’t make it easy to shop

It may take some time to identify your habits and weaknesses, but another way to prevent yourself from shopping is to, quite simply, carry less cash.

You may also need to also keep your credit or debit cards locked up somewhere at home, or better yet, give it to a trusted partner or parent for safekeeping. That way, you can’t just sneak your cards out of your hiding place, when you’re tempted to buy something. Tell your card-keeper to only give you your card if you need it for real emergencies – that does NOT include sales.

Another good tip is to remove your card details and billing address if they’ve been saved on websites you shop at regularly.