Buying on impulse is one of the most damaging things you can do to your finances. It’s easy for other people to say “control yourself,” but like other bad habits, it takes much more willpower (and possibly therapy) to curb impulse spending. Quitting cold turkey isn’t a good idea if you’ve been impulse buying for years—it’s easier and more realistic to go slow and set achievable goals. Here are simple, no-nonsense ways to curb your spending habit:
Put It on a Wish List
Make a wish list, either on paper or on Amazon. Write down all the things you want to buy. It’s a good way to defer spending money on anything because your time frame is set to future and not to “now.” It doesn’t mean you can never have the things on the list; you’re just waiting to see if they’re worth having at a later date. Those golden booties may look like a necessity now, but utterly ridiculous in a few weeks. Anything that is really worth buying is still be worth buying next month, so procrastinate a bit and see if your mind changes. Often, it will.
Write Down All Expenses
By “all expenses” I mean everything, including that pack of gum and Starbucks latte. If you’re like many people, you’d be surprised at how much money you spend on non-necessities. Before grocery shopping or going to the mall, check your pantry, fridge and closet. How many socks/jeans/shoes do you have? How many leftover snacks are still sitting in the fridge? What do you really need? Write it down and prioritize. Save your wants for the wish list.
Use Cash
Put cash in envelopes—one for groceries, one for eating out, one for fun, etc. If the money runs out, you can’t withdraw money until the reset. It’s easier to use cash if you hide your credit cards. Entrust them to a family member or close friend who lives in another town. If you go over budget and have no more cash, borrow money or sell your stuff to buy food. It may sound drastic, but a little punishment can help you discipline yourself. Or you can counter the impulse with another impulse—donate $50 (or whatever amount) to a charity you hate each time you go over budget.
Auto-Save a Portion of Your Salary
Talk to your HR and see if you can have a percentage of your monthly pay go straight to a savings account, preferably an account separate from your main bank and one that makes it hard for you to withdraw the money. You can’t spend what you can’t see, and you don’t have to worry about impulse spending because you’ve already saved the money for that week/month.
Easy Frugal Living 
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