20 WAYS TO STOP SHOPPING AND SAVE YOUR MONEY

If you are reading this article then I guess you want to stop shopping. This could be because you want to spend less and save your money or just because you feel you need less ‘stuff’.

Stopping shopping could help you to pay off debts or save for a dream holiday. It could help you to live a simpler life and feel happier. Whatever the reason, when you stop shopping it could be life-changing.

The thought of stopping shopping might feel a little overwhelming at first, especially if it’s what you do best, but don’t worry, today I will guide you through some simple things you can do to kick the habit and achieve whatever it is you want.

Stopping shopping doesn’t have to be forever. However, stopping completely in the short term could help you to change your habits and ultimately your life in the long term.

We are surrounded daily by advertisements, media and marketing to get us to dig into our pockets, often for things we don’t even need, so to stop shopping has to be a conscious decision with a little effort from you.

The first thing you need to do is think about your ‘why’. Why do you want to stop shopping? What led you to read this article? What is your reason? Write this down and place it somewhere you will see it every day. If it’s to pay for a dream holiday, stick a picture of your holiday destination where you will see it to remind yourself of your ‘why’. This will help to keep you motivated and stay on track.

When we have a reason for doing something, it makes the doing so much easier.

Ready to give it a go? Here are some ways you can keep your pennies in your purse for longer.

1. Get Organised

Spending money can sometimes happen just because we are disorganised. If you plan in advance for any spending that is unavoidable it can stop you spending at the last minute which often means you spend more.

An example is birthday and greetings cards. Plan the birthday’s and events you have coming up and buy the cards in advance at a reasonable price. That way you’re not going to be dashing out the day before and buying a card at double the price, just because it’s all you can find. You can buy birthday cards in bulk off Amazon here.

Meal planning is another way to avoid last-minute spending. Plan your meals and do your grocery shopping in advance. That way you can plan and ensure you get the best prices, with no in-between spending.

2. Keep a Spending Diary

Keep a note of everything you spend with a daily spending log book. Everytime you spend money, in the shops, on-line, wherever, make a note of it. This will help you to see exactly how much you’re spending and also where you could actually be saving. It should help you to realise when the spending is absolutely unnecessary.

3. Don’t Go Shopping

Obviously we all need to shop for groceries and essentials, but what I mean is just going shopping for the sake of it. Window shopping, browsing, going on a shopping trip when you don’t specifically need something is recipe for disaster so just don’t go shopping!

4. Find Another Way to Spend Your Time

If shopping is something you do often and you’re worried you’ll have nothing else to do, find something else to do that you might enjoy.

Go for a walk, get a hobby, make some extra money, invite friends round for a coffee and catch up, visit family. Whatever it is, there will be another way that you can fill up your time in an enjoyable way without getting your purse out.

5. Unsubscribe From Offer E-mails

We all get them. You purchase something and are asked, “would you like to be added to our mailing list to receive our latest offers”. Say “no thank you” and unsubscribe to any lists you are already on. That way the temptation to get out your money is removed.

6. Stop Buying Magazines

Magazines sell. They sell a lifestyle, an image, a dream. Most magazines are full of advertisements that make you want to go shopping! Stop buying magazines and download some free books off Amazon instead to read.

7. Delay Making a Purchase

If there is something you want to buy, instead of impulse buying just wait a day or two. Sometimes you realise you don’t actually want or need an item and it will give you chance to think about your reason for starting your ‘stop shopping’ journey. Very often if you wait, the moment passes and you’ll decide to not bother making the purchase.

8. Cut Up Your Credit Card

This is easy for me as i’ve never owned a credit card, but just cut it up! If you can’t afford it, don’t spend it. You’ll find it much easier to budget without a credit card and it is certainly a good way to stop shopping.

If cutting it up sounds too drastic, some banks will let you temporarily freeze your card!

9. Don’t Take Your Children

I don’t know about you, but I spend much less when I shop alone. Where possible, go shopping alone so you only buy what you absolutely need.

10. Borrow Instead of Buying

Could you possibly borrow something instead of buying it? This is particularly useful for equipment and DIY tools. If you need to do a one off job, it can work out so much cheaper borrowing something rather than going out and spending hundreds of pounds on something you may only use a couple of times.

Fat Lama is the perfect place to rent something. You can get £20 off your first rental here and you will find all sorts of things that you can rent for a day from as little as £5. From a trailer, to a car with driver, to a drill. Take a look and see how much you could save.

11. Read Blogs

Read blogs about money saving and none spending or even set up your own blog with my easy to follow instructions here which might give you something else to focus on rather than going shopping.

I have a money saving section on this blog to get you started.

12. Declutter

If you feel you might get bored, do something constructive like decluttering your home. Once you see your home nicely uncluttered and tidy, it may give you more of an incentive to keep it that way and not fill it up with stuff.

13. Focus on your Savings/Debt

Changing your focus can make a huge difference to everything. You will think about what you focus on. Therefore, if you think and focus on shopping then change it and think about your savings or paying of any debt you have. It can be hugely satisfying when you start to see the pennies adding up and going into your bank account rather than coming out.

Set yourself some savings goals and make sure you stay focused to achieve your goals.

14. Make a List and Stick to It

When you do your grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it. That way you won’t be tempted to do some extra shopping during the week and spending more than you need to.

15. Get Free Stuff

If you really feel the need to replace something, take a look at your local Facebook pages for free things that people are giving away or look at Freecyle sites. You’ll be amazed at how much money you can save, it’s like shopping but for free and you’re helping the environment by using things they may otherwise go to landfill.

16. Make Your Own Packed Lunch and Takeaways

Making your own packed lunch and home-made versions of takeaways will stop you shopping for food in between your grocery shop. This book shows how to recreate your favourite takeaways in your own home.

17. Get Freebies with Shopmium

Install the Shopmium App and claim a freebie. Shopmium is a cashback app where you will be shown regular supermarket offers. You can save up to 100% off some of the items and when you install the app, you will be able to claim your free gift, so again this is like shopping for free!

To claim your initial freebie:

Install the app and enter my invitation code to get your freebie. The code to enter is 4745g2.
Check out what your freebie is and head to your local supermarket to buy it.
Open the app and click on ‘Claim Your Free Gift’, ‘Discover this Offer’ and ‘Request my Rebate’
Simply follow the instructions and send a photograph of your receipt to receive all your money back.

18. Change Items to a One-Off Cost

There are some items that we shop for over and over again. Look at ways you can change your items to a one -ff cost. For example, a battery charger and rechargeable batteries will stop you shopping for more batteries.

There are hundreds of reusable items on Amazon here that you can purchase to stop you shopping for the same things time and time again.

19. Stop Buying DVD’s

Shopping for DVD’s on a regular basis can work out expensive, especially if you’ve got kids. Even buying cheaper, older DVD’s for a few pounds here and there soon adds up. We used to shop all the time and spend so much money on DVD’s but then we got Netflix. For just £5.99 per month we now get so much more to watch with a variety of films always available. Netlfex offers a free trial so you can try it out to see what you think.

Alternatively, if you don’t want a monthly bill, you can purchase as a one-off cost, an Amazon Firestick. A Firestick again will give you a great variety of programmes to watch which will lessen your need to go shopping for DVD’s.

20. Stop Buying Coffee

Instead of buying a coffee on the run, invest in a travel mug and make your own coffee before leaving home. A few pounds here and there buying a coffee doesn’t sound like much but if you work out how much you spend a month I think you might be surprised!

I hope this list will help you to stop shopping. If you found it helpful please do share it on social media and help your friends to kick the habit too!

20 Ways to Stop Shopping and Save Your Money