reduce temptation for online shopping
Updated: Feb 4
Here we are in 2020. The access to spend is at our fingertips, literally. In a Vox article, the author states that Americans are using our mobile internet an average of 3.5 hours a day.
[I’m not sure I want to see the numbers since physical distancing began.]
This is everyone right now!
When Apple turned our phones into a proxy debit or credit card I’m sure they did it with consumers in mind. I mean, how sad for us that we would actually have to get out our card, input the numbers, confirm a CVV, AND hit submit. The HORROR! I get it, convenience is lovely, but it can be devastating for someone who struggles to control themselves when it comes to keeping up with the Joneses.
[Did you know that Keeping Up With the Joneses was a comic strip in the early 1900s?
The American Dream, to be as wealthy as our next-door neighbor… sigh.]
Now, all we have to do is put our finger on the home button or scan our faces. Boom, your order has been confirmed.
Here are a few tips to slow your roll when it comes to spending:
My number one tip would normally be USE CASH instead of cards. However, in the midst of the current situation (COVID-19), that advice is on hold for the moment.
No surprise here, given the intro: remove your debit and/or credit cards from Apple Pay (or whatever version Android users have - I struggle to understand those people and their phones!)
To piggyback off of #1: remove your cards from Google Pay too. Those magic little numbers that appear when you get to a credit card entry box. Let’s say no thanks to that!
Keeping on the technology theme: block the ability to order directly from your smart speakers (Alexa, Google Home, etc.). [Not to mention this is a good idea if you have children in your home that think they can boss Alexa around any hour of the day. Give Alexa a break!]
A little psychology here: If you have the urge to buy something, use Mel Robbin’s 5 Second Rule. The way she describes the rule, it is typically used to move you toward action. I use it in the opposite vein for spending. If I want to press SUBMIT, I instead count down (5-4-3-2-1) and ask myself if I need this item. That brief amount of time interrupts your brain just enough for you to take a look from another perspective. Is it a need or want? [PS… if you need help in the “I’m struggling to get this thing done” category, check out Mel’s book. I loved it!]
If it’s a large purchase, wait a few days before you make a final decision. Impulse buying = buyer’s remorse. And, talk it over with your family, friends, mom, or dog… see what they have to say about it.
It’s no secret that it is very easy for us to get our hands on almost anything within a matter of moments; our society is designed that way. It’s up to us to protect ourselves. I have faith in you!
Here's to you!
Melissa Mittelstaedt
Money Coach (AFC® Candidate)