How To Start And Stick To A Shopping Ban

We’ve just come out of a very expensive time of the year, and the January sales are in full swing. Whether you can’t stop buying clothes that won’t fit in your wardrobe, you have a drawer crammed full of candles, or your bathroom cabinet is full of skincare, it might be time to consider a shopping ban.

A lot of us have spent the past almost 2 years spending money to make ourselves feel better about what’s going on in the world. And it’s taking its toll on our finances. Whether you find yourself swiping your credit card partway through the month as you’re out of money, or you’re not saving as much as you’d like a shopping ban can help.

What is a shopping ban?

A shopping ban is when you set a period of time where you don’t buy certain things. It could be as extreme as not spending anything that’s not non-essential (like basic food and bills). Or it could be a shopping ban on particular items such as clothing and shoes.

You choose the conditions that work best for you based on your shopping habits. And you choose how long you want to do the ban for. You could decide to take a full month off shopping, or six months off buying any handbags or shoes.  Or you may just choose to avoid online shopping. I find it much easier to click purchase on items when I’m sitting at my laptop or on my phone, than when I’m in a physical store. So your ban may simply be no online shopping.

Whatever you decide will lead you to spend less and meet your financial goals. This might be clearing off some debt with the extra money, or finally starting an emergency fund.

Do you need a ban?

I’m sure most of us could benefit from a shopping ban every so often. Yes, things can make you happy, and a lot of things can be useful, but are they necessary?

If you have achieved all of your financial goals you may not feel you need to do a shopping ban. But for most of us, there’s always a goal. For us, it’s to save more for our wedding and to start overpaying on our mortgage to be mortgage-free earlier in our lives.

If you’ve found that overspending is a problem for you, or that you know your local delivery couriers by name you may need a ban. I know I struggle with self-control sometimes and I feel the pull of the buy now button too often.

If nothing else doing a shopping or spending ban can help you to understand your buying habits better.

The benefits of a shopping ban

Your finances will thrive

This is a bit of an obvious benefit, but a shopping ban will have a great effect on your budget.

The money you are no longer spending can be used to help your financial goals and change your future. You’ll also be able to budget better as there will be no spontaneous or unplanned spending. You may find when your ban is over you naturally spend less or that you budget for spending at the start of the month.

A shopping ban alleviates pressure

Sometimes it can feel like there’s pressure to buy things everywhere; on social media, in magazines, in shop windows etc. But when you know you’re on a shopping ban you’ll have a chance to look past the pressure. You don’t need to read the sales pitch as you know you’re not buying. And it’s quite a freeing experience.

You’ll appreciate things more and have an attitude change

By embarking on a shopping ban your attitude to things and spending is likely to change. Chances are you’ll be more grateful for the things you already have and you may be forced to shop your own stash more. I spend a lot on skincare even though I generally don’t need anything. When I put myself on a beauty spending ban it pushes me to look through what I already have.

After you’ve done your shopping ban you’ll appreciate new items and spending so much more. And it may help you to change your spending habits long-term.

After a shopping ban spending will feel more special

A bit like the above point you will appreciate things more.

I know when I step back from spending when I do start again the things I purchase feel more special. When you’ve not bought clothes for 3 months that first item you buy will feel amazing.

Beginning a shopping ban

If you’re ready to start your shopping ban then you need to start with defining the rules. As it’s your shopping ban you can make the decision but try and be specific such as ‘No buying X, Y or Z’ or ‘No shopping for non-essential items for two months.  If you spend a lot then try to start small rather than going straight to no spending for a long period of time. If you go all out then you’ll be more likely to fail your ban.

Choose a set period of time and think about your calendar before you set them. Perhaps you should start small at one or two months and see how you feel. Knowing your end date is likely to help spur you on.

To make sure that you’re set up to successfully avoid temptation you can:

• Transfer money into your savings as soon as you’re paid then you can’t spend
• If you spend cash frivolously don’t take cash out with you. But if you’re quick to spend on your card withdraw the specific amount you need for the event/ item and don’t spend more
• Unsubscribe from store mailing lists if you know you may be tempted to spend
• Find a habit to replace your shopping habit, perhaps something you always said you had no time for
• Keep a spending chart so you can track your good and bad days. If you have a bad day don’t just go off the bandwagon as you feel you have ruined your plan. Remind yourself that it’s just one in a whole month
• Keep reminding yourself of your end goal and why you are doing the shopping ban
• Spend less time on social media. Not only will you see fewer adverts for products and things, but it will have a positive effect on your mental health
• Make a list when you go out shopping for necessities and stick to it

Do you need to go on a shopping ban? Or have you ever done one before?

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