5 Tips to Avoid Overspending on Impulse Buys When Shopping Online

Many people struggle with overspending due to impulse purchases. The popularity of shopping websites and mobile apps has made it easy and convenient to purchase the items you need from the comfort of your home. However, it is important to be careful not to spend more than you can afford.

If you spend more than you can afford, your shopping habits can lead to expensive credit card debt. Are you looking for a way to reduce the amount of online shopping you do? Here are some tips to help you avoid overspending due to impulse purchases when shopping online.

1. Follow your budget

A budget can help you stay on track with your spending. If you struggle with overspending because you love online shopping, it’s time to create a budget. Using one of the best budgeting apps can help you become more familiar with this practice and track your progress. Once you see how much you spend shopping for these purchases, you may feel more motivated to change your habits to improve your financial situation.

Many of us have downloaded several shopping apps on our phones. While these apps offer convenience in that they allow us to place last-minute orders on the go, they can also make it easier for us to spend money carelessly.

Deleting your favorite shopping apps can help you spend less. If your app is no longer easy to use, you’ll be less inclined to order as often.

3. Log out after ordering online

It can be frustrating to log into every online account you use. For some accounts, such as email, it may make sense to stay logged in. But staying logged in to your favorite shopping websites and apps can make it more tempting to shop online.

Next time you order online, log out of your account. This may prevent you from placing frequent orders because you’ll have to spend extra time logging back into your account (and having to remember your password).

4. Unsubscribe from marketing emails

Many of us are tempted to shop more when we see our favorite brands advertising sales. It’s important to remember that only some transactions are worth it. For many popular retailers, encouraging non-stop sales to capture consumer attention is an effective marketing strategy.

If you no longer receive emails like these, you may be less likely to shop online. Don’t be afraid to unsubscribe from marketing emails if it helps you save money. If you want to save time and unsubscribe from multiple marketing email newsletters at the same time, you can use a service like Unroll.Me to empty your email inbox faster.

5. Don’t save your payment details.

Another tip that can help you shop less online is to not save your payment details. Many retailers allow users to save their preferred payment method to their online account. This feature is convenient because you don’t have to enter your credit card information every time you check out.

However, it does make impulse buying easier because you can hit “submit order” without deciding whether or not you are doing it. We recommend that you delete your payment method details and do not save them for later.

Keep your finances in mind

It’s always a good idea to keep your finances in mind. Many of your everyday choices have a direct impact on your financial situation. Taking steps to curb your online shopping spending will help you keep more money in the bank and make you more likely to reach your financial goals faster. Check out our personal finance resources for other ways to save money.

NOTE: Our top-tier cashback cards now offer a 0% introductory APR through 2025.

This credit card isn’t just good. This is a very good card that professionals use personally. Features a long 0% intro APR period, cash back rates of up to 5%, and no annual fee!

Click here to read the full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.