This Tip Could Help You Cut Back on Your Impulse Shopping Habit

Do you remember back-to-school shopping? At the end of the summer, you'd make a special trip to the mall to pick out new jeans, new shoes, new shirts -- then you'd race home to try them all on again and decide what your first-day-of-school outfit was going to be. That bag of new clothes meant you were going to be a new you, and this was going to be your year. Sigh...I can still smell the Cinnabon all these years later.

These days, I'm not a big shopper, and I don't usually buy more than one or two items at a time now -- probably because I'm not outgrowing my clothes every year anymore, so I can hold onto items a lot longer. But I'm only human, and I'm plenty susceptible to the little thrill that comes with buying new things. Research shows that the act of spending money and anticipating the item releases dopamine in our brains, sending a happy little signal that this is good, and we want more. This can lead to an expensive shopping habit that blows your budget.

How to curb the urge

On one of those back-to-school shopping trips, maybe in early high school, I went to the mall with my friend and her mom. It was a lot of fun, but I remember her mom had a strict shopping policy: For every item you buy, you have to pick something in your closet at home to give away. I didn't love the idea as a teenager, but it stuck with me. And all these years later, I not only understand it, but practice it myself.

Employing a one-in, one-out policy in my wardrobe has several benefits. First, it gives me a reason to sort through my clothes from time to time and take stock of what I actually wear versus what stays on the hanger or in the back of the drawer. Do I need that collared shirt that never fits quite right? Do I want to keep that pretty sweater that itches like crazy? Do I really want to keep wearing my millennial skinny jeans?? By sorting through my clothes before I shop, I can clear some space in my closet and only hang on to the pieces I really like.

Another benefit is that if I see something online or in a store that I like, I take a mental step back first and consider whether there's anything I have at home that I'd be willing to let go of and replace with this new item. That keeps me from making impulse buys and overcharging my credit card for things I don't need. It gives me the chance to decide whether I like the item so much that I'd be willing to part with something else to have it.

Make mindful choices

A one-in, one-out policy is sort of like taking stock of your kitchen pantry before you go to the grocery store. You don't want to buy a bunch of snacks or canned goods when you already have those items at home and forgot about them. And you don't want to buy that sky blue dress, only to hang it up next to your cornflower blue dress that you forgot about while you were at the store. (This is how I ended up with two white turtleneck sweaters, so I'm speaking from experience.)

Being more mindful both before and during your shopping trips can lead to a more organized closet and a fuller bank account. That's a double dopamine rush, in my book.