Releasing the Urge to Buy

We view advertisements constantly and, at times, unconsciously.

Ads are everywhere.

Which means temptation is everywhere.

We live in the one click purchasing world. You click the button today and a package arrives on your doorstep two days later.

Everything is accessible at our fingertips.

I find myself tempted to purchase physical items often.

When the urge to buy creeps in I ask myself a few questions:

•Will this item add value?

•Will this item enhance my experience?

•Is this item necessary?

Once I go through these questions I find that,

It won’t add value to my life,

It won’t enhance my experience,

It is not necessary. 

So I thank myself for passing the tempting purchasing test and I keep my money where it belongs, in my wallet.

There are times go through the questions and an item will add value, will enhance my experience, and is necessary, so I set myself a purchase timeline.

“If I can answer “yes” in 30 days to all the above questions for the same item, then I will buy it.

I add a waiting period.

I add tension.

I add friction.

Because instant gratification and fleeting impulse purchases dopamine effects fade.

Money is a resource.

Time is a resource.

Energy is a resource.

Resources aren’t always infinite, so I put safeguards in place because I am human - I will be tempted, I am not perfect. 

I am learning and growing.

So I pass along my questions to you when you are online or shopping in person:

-Will this item add value?

-Will this item enhance my experience?

-Is this item necessary?

TANCKS for reading.