Help & Support
How to stop impulse buying
By Lúcia, who's building Roopa
Impulse buying rarely feels like a decision. You see something beautiful, the shop says only two are left, and a minute later it's in your basket. I know that feeling too well. For a while, shopping was how I dealt with a stressful job, and I had wishlists everywhere.
What helped me was creating a bit of space between wanting and buying.
Save it instead of buying it
When you want something, save it rather than buying it. Wanting doesn't go away when you say no to yourself, but it gets quieter once the thing is safe somewhere. You haven't lost it. You've just put it down for a moment.
Ask a few honest questions
This is tricky in the heat of the moment, but try to pause and ask yourself:
- Why do I want this?
- Do I already have something similar?
- How am I feeling right now?
- How will I feel about it in a month?
Jot down the first things that come to mind. Just going through these will tell you a lot about whether the want is about the thing or about the moment.
Give it a few days
For me, most "I need this" feelings faded within a couple of days. Pick a waiting time that suits you, two days or a week, and don't decide before it's up. If you still want it afterwards, then it might be worth buying. (Fun fact: I've often wondered why I even wanted it in the first place.)
Look at it next to your budget
A price on its own may look fine, like a good deal even. Seen next to what you meant to spend this month, it can look different. Keep a rough budget for the things you tend to buy, like clothes or make-up, and check where you stand before you decide.
Compare before you choose
If you're torn between a few options, put them side by side and write down the pros and cons. Often one stands out, or sometimes the better answer is none of them.
Let it go
The decision not to buy something is just as important as buying. You make space for the things you truly want, that align with your reality. I like to mark these "Let go" so I can see them add up.
Check in afterwards
About a month after you buy something, ask: was it worth it? Over time you'll notice patterns, such as which shops, moods or kinds of things lead to purchases you're happy with, and which don't.
How Roopa helps
I built Roopa to do all of this in one place. Paste a link from most shops and it saves the item. It waits for as long as you choose, then sends you one reminder. You can set budgets and compare options side by side. It also keeps a list of what you own, so you can search "do I already have something similar?". You decide to buy it or let it go, and about a month after buying, Roopa asks whether it was worth it. There are no countdowns, no urgency and no "you might also like".
Start your first wishlist