Those days are gone when you just used to spend in supermarkets and in-built stores. With technology expanding its wings, online shopping has increased. Most customers have shifted from buying products at the marketplace to browsing eBay and Amazon online platforms. You get nearly everything that you want. This ease of online marketplace made the sellers active on social media.
Have you come across any advertisements regarding your favourite beauty product? You must have; at least once. It is the power of social media. You check it, find it genuine, and purchase it. You don’t depend on cash anymore. Instead, fund it using the online payment mode. This pattern goes on until you get out of cash!
Yes, most individuals are habitual to overspend on social media. They don’t realize it early. Moreover, some social media-based shopping links aren’t safe. It may risk your money.
However, if you struggle to stop yourself from falling for that product on social media, read ahead. The blog lists the best strategies to resist the instinct and avoid spending unnecessarily on social media-based purchases.
6 strategies to overcome spending uselessly on social media
Social media can be entertaining but harmful to your purse. It may affect your savings for short and long-term life goals. You would not like to delay buying your favorite car. For that, you must control your urge to make that never-ending “one-last purchase.”
One of the best ways to hold your instincts is by waiting until 24 hours before purchasing the product. It would help you understand whether you want to buy it just for the sake of wants or needs. It helps you know how long you going to use the product. If it’s temporary, you will automatically ditch buying one. Here are some other interesting strategies to overcome spending heavily on social media :
1) Identify the item without the discount tag
whopping discount tag of 70% attracts nearly everyone. It is natural to get drawn to something that costs unbelievably less. However, it does not mean that you need it. Moreover, some limited-time offers create a sense of urgency to grab it already. It is the reason one ends up spending on something one hardly needs.
Thus, wait and improvise. First, identify the need for the product within a month or two. Next, check if you buy it at its usual price. If not, you indeed don’t need that in your home. Pass it off!
2) Restrict or mute tempting shopping accounts
One of the best ways to cut on online social media shopping is by muting the common shopping pages you receive on your feed. It will surprisingly bring your spending down to 60%. Initially, you may visit one. However, gradually you will overcome the habit of doing so. Moreover, it will help you shut down social media that bombard you with advertisements.
Check your followers and restrict some accounts. It could be some that you used previously for purchase. You can also check your receipts regarding the brands you deal with. It will help you mute only those accounts that trigger your shopping instincts the most.
3) Limit late-night scrolling hours
As for the UK individuals, most people shop online between midnight to 6 in the morning. It is due to the late-night scrolling hours. It is natural to take up your phone and scroll social media feeds late at night. However, it must not trigger your shopping requirements. You may find an exclusive outfit online. You may not want to skip it. Refresh the feed. You might not see it anytime soon. It is the best way to resist the instinct of adding every item to the card.
If possible, try to reduce late-night scrolling hours. If you remain active from 11-1 am, reduce it to 11-12 pm. It is healthy for your mind and budget. Instead, resort to book reading and invest time in improving financial and budgeting skills.
4) Allocate money towards the needs only
It is important to use every penny you earn wisely. It helps you meet liabilities timely and prevent overspending. For example-prepare a list of expenses that you cannot do without. It could be rent, electricity, water, mobile recharge, credit card payments, etc. Now, save a part of your salary towards each payment first. Do this after getting the salary.
Dedicating more amount towards the needful leaves you with little savings. It may not be enough to buy the item you need. So, you will not buy it. Alternatively, individuals living from paycheck to paycheck may not save at all. Thus, it will eventually stop you from overspending.
However, if you struggle to fund any bill, resort to quick loans at an online marketplace. It may help you finance the basic requirements at the very moment without worries. Sometimes, unexpected expenses may affect the budget. Don’t worry. You can keep up with the monthly payments using these same-day unsecured loans.
5) Install safe ad blockers to your social media
If you want to overcome the instinct of buying anything online, add ad blockers. It is the best way to eliminate the distracting factors. It will block the advertisements that you receive on the platforms. You will see them no more. It thus, automatically helps you reduce your instinctual-based purchases. Moreover, it provides a safe browsing session by blocking unprotected advertisements. Sometimes, you may not be able to stop them altogether. However, you will receive only a few of them.
6) Identify your triggers and possible solutions
Around 70% of individuals spend out of triggers. Every person shares unique aspects that may make them do something. For example, whopping discounts may attract you immediately. It is regardless of whether you need the thing. Similarly, others may get triggered by watching their favourite product on the shelf. They could not hard their excitement and instinct.
Thus, they end up buying the product. Similarly, identify what triggers your shopping instincts the most. Write it down and improvise. It will help you accept these and counter with the best solution.
Bottom line
Restricting yourself from indulging in unnecessary shopping is hard. However, try it until you learn to save more. Analyse the applications that you use the most. Next, identify the brands that attract you online. You can either mute these accounts or restrict them. Moreover, set ad blockers on social media accounts. It prevents you from watching any advertisement that affects your budget.
