3667: How to Stop Buying Stuff You Don't Need (Real Tips That Work) by Jennifer of SimplyFiercely on Intentional Spending

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[00:00:56] This is Optimal Finance Daily. How to stop buying stuff you don't need, real tips that work, by Jennifer of simplyfiercely.com. And I'm Justin Malek. I read to you every day with permission from the authors, all to give us both a little push in the right direction. So with that, let's keep pushing as we optimize your life. How to stop buying stuff you don't need, real tips that work, by Jennifer of simplyfiercely.com.

[00:01:30] For most of my life, I had a problem with mindless shopping. I spent more than I could afford. I shopped emotionally or out of habit. And I bought things I didn't really want or need. To be blunt, I was a full-blown shopaholic. And I had the debt, stress, and overflowing closets to prove it. I knew that I needed to stop shopping, but I didn't know how.

[00:01:55] Looking back, this is embarrassing to admit, but it's true. I honestly didn't know where to begin changing my shopping habits. Fortunately, a lot has changed since then. I've since embraced a minimalist lifestyle, and I've completely changed my relationship with material possessions. Of course, I still shop occasionally, but it's different now. Instead of making mindless choices, I'm intentional and considerate about my purchases.

[00:02:22] If you're on a similar mission to stop mindless shopping for things you don't really need, then here are six practical tips to help you get started. Why should I stop buying things? If you're hearing this, you obviously want to stop buying so much. But why do you want to stop? What is your motivation for changing your shopping habits? I can tell you some of the benefits.

[00:02:47] Number one, more money means more freedom. Financial breathing room means you can leave a job, or even a relationship, that makes you unhappy without worrying about making ends meet. Number two, more time for yourself. Shopping is a time-intensive habit. How long have you spent browsing over the years? Plus all the time that you spend working to pay for things.

[00:03:13] And number three, increased confidence and self-belief. This won't surprise me, but when you spend less time buying stuff, you stop judging yourself by what you own. But ultimately, you need to get really clear about why you want to stop. Without a compelling reason for change, you won't truly commit. And without commitment, it's a slippery slope.

[00:03:39] One more purchase turns into another, and nothing really changes. So get clear on why you want to stop buying stuff, and if you're not sure, be sure to check out tip number one. Six tips to stop mindlessly buying things you don't need. Number one, know your values and priorities. If you want to resist buying things for the sake of it, the first step is to get clear about what you really want in life.

[00:04:08] And I mean the big picture stuff. What are your values, priorities, and dreams? I first asked myself this question a few years ago, and it was an eye-opener. After a bit of honest self-reflection, I realized one of the things I value most is freedom. I want the freedom to travel. The freedom to quit a job that makes me unhappy. And the freedom to throw myself into passion projects, or whatever opportunities may come my way.

[00:04:37] Shopping, especially for things I don't need, kept me broke and tied down. The exact opposite of what I wanted most out of life. Once I realized this, it became a lot easier to stop shopping for things I don't need. It became less about willpower and giving up shopping, and more about choosing the life I really want instead. Nowadays, I ask myself, what do I want most before making purchases?

[00:05:07] And it has made a world of difference. Number two, train your eyes to look for quality. Let's be honest. A lot of what we buy is very ordinary. Poor quality t-shirts that lose their shape after one washing. Icky fabrics that feel uncomfortable against your skin. And cheap designs that flatter no one. So why are we buying it? Very clever visual marketing.

[00:05:34] Crap stuff looks better when grouped together with other crap stuff. And shops know this. They create bright, colorful displays, play trendy music, and were instantly distracted by the shiny stuff. Forever 21 and H&M are just a few great examples of this. Secondhand shops are full of these pieces. Clothes that look gorgeous in the shop, but never get worn in real life.

[00:06:00] Because when you're out in the real world, you realize they don't look or feel very good. Look, I'll be honest. Sometimes I buy low-quality clothes, although I try and get them secondhand. Sometimes it's convenience or even necessity because it's not always easy to find good things. But just be aware of it. Train your eyes to see the quality, and you'll automatically buy less.

[00:06:25] You'll walk into a shop, feel a few fabrics, then turn around and walk right out. Number three, know your style. I've mentioned the value of truly knowing your style before, but it's worth repeating. When you're not confident in your style, you want to buy every beautiful piece that catches your eye, whether it suits you or not. However, once you fully know your style, you become a ruthless editor,

[00:06:53] and you stop buying clothes you never wear. It becomes easier to say no and walk away from pieces that don't work for you and your wardrobe. Knowing my style has taught me to say, that is a beautiful dress, but it's not for me. And to then walk away. Number four, know your triggers. Why do you shop? If you're a problem shopper like I was, my guess is it's rarely because you need something.

[00:07:22] Instead, it might be boredom, like, I'll just kill some time. Or low self-esteem. I look fat in everything I own. What I need is new jeans that make me look thin. Or fashion magazines and blogs. Nothing I own is in style anymore. Or entitlement, that I deserve it mentality. I've personally experienced every single one of these emotions and excuses, especially at the height of my shopping addiction.

[00:07:50] I was especially bad with the I deserve it mentality. I worked long hours, and I always stopped at the shops on my lunch break or on my way home. I worked hard, so I deserve something to cheer me up, right? Of course, in reflection, I could have bought less and worked less instead. I also had a weak spot for fashion blogs, which often led to expensive online purchases. When I decided to stop buying so much,

[00:08:17] I gave up fashion blogs because I wanted to stop online shopping, and I knew they were triggering. Whatever your triggers are, learn to recognize them so you can take steps to manage them. If you shop on your lunch break because you're bored, find a yoga class or start bringing a book. If you shop because you read fashion blogs, delete them from your favorites and start reading minimalism blogs instead.

[00:08:43] It's a simple tip that'll help you stop buying things for the sake of it. Number five, find a support system. Find a supportive community. Like everything in life, it's easier when you have people on your team to celebrate your success and to keep you going when you slip up. Find friends or family that you can talk to about your goals, or if it's not something you feel comfortable talking about in real life, try looking for supportive communities online.

[00:09:13] And number six, plan to shop. We all shop because we all want and need things, myself included. That's why this isn't a post about how to stop buying things altogether. Instead, it's about how to stop mindlessly shopping for things you don't need. So my last tip for being purposeful and intentional about shopping is to plan to shop.

[00:09:38] Most of the time, we know when we will want or need new things. The change of seasons, the holidays, special events, and so on. If you plan your shopping ahead of time, you have time to think about your purpose and what you really need. For example, I spent seven months traveling around the world with carry-on luggage only. On that trip, I knew that I would need to buy more warm clothes before arriving in Europe, so I planned accordingly.

[00:10:08] This meant that I knew exactly what I needed and was therefore able to avoid any impulse purchases. I'm not perfect, and I won't pretend I don't occasionally buy something just because, but I've definitely come a long way. I've learned to stop buying stuff I don't need, and hopefully, these tips will help you too. I still can't stop buying stuff. If you're still really struggling to stop buying stuff,

[00:10:38] then I want to leave you with one final bit of advice. Mindset matters. In the short term, hacks like unsubscribing from sales emails or avoiding the shops will help, but ultimately, you have to get to the heart of your shopping habits. You just listened to the post titled, How to Stop Buying Stuff You Don't Need Real Tips That Work

[00:11:05] by Jennifer of SimplyFiercely.com. I'll be right back with my commentary. I've tracked my income and expenses since 2010, back when that meant a spreadsheet I built myself and updated every day. I loved it, but I still missed things. Categories changed, and I'd go months before noticing my spending had doubled. Monarch does in seconds what took me hours, and it catches what I never would have.

[00:11:32] Last year, the weekly AI recap flagged that my dining out had crept up almost 40% charges I'd stop seeing. My financial picture has never been clearer. My favorite part is the AI assistant. I can just ask, can I afford this trip without touching my savings? And get a real answer, not a chart to interpret. It's like having a financial advisor in my pocket. Write your own money story with Monarch.

[00:12:00] Use code OPTIMAL at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch core half off at just $50. That's 50% off your first year at Monarch.com with code OPTIMAL. Support for today's episode comes from Square, the system powering what feels like half the places I go. If you've ever tapped to pay and thought, whoa, that was fast, it was probably Square. Payments, point of sale, inventory, payroll, invoices,

[00:12:29] all connected in one system. My favorite bagel spot down the street runs on Square, and businesses that use it just feel more put together with quick checkout, easy receipts, loyalty points I didn't have to sign up for twice. And on the money side, that's what I like. No contracts, no hidden fees, and you can see sales in real time. Sellers using Square online earn 36% more revenue on average. If you're starting a business or running one that deserves better tools,

[00:13:00] Square helps you sell, manage, and grow without slowing down. Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com slash go slash OFD. That's S-Q-U-A-R-E dot com slash G-O slash OFD. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. Thank you to Jennifer. Personally, I've never really been much of a shopper, and I tend to shop quickly.

[00:13:30] Like when I need something, I go in and get that one thing. I might do a lot of research to arrive at what I want to buy, but I don't spend much time in the stores themselves, and I think that helps. But everyone's different. Many people don't shop because they need something, but because they're bored, or they feel they deserve it, or they just saw something online. And figuring out which bucket you fall into can help.

[00:13:57] But I think the main point across all of her tips is to add a little bit of pause and intention when making purchases, as opposed to being on autopilot. That little pause can make a huge difference. So the next time you feel that urge to buy something, try pausing and asking why. Is it boredom, a reward, or a real need? And go from there. It really is a choice.

[00:14:26] So make that choice today. Thank you for being here, and making the choice to be here. It really means a lot. Have a great rest of your day, and I'll catch you tomorrow, where your optimal life awaits.