Between the times of year when friends are having birthdays, the holidays, and the explosion of online retailers in the past decade, shopping on the Internet has never been easier. But as we already know, with ease and convenience can come easy instincts to just buy and buy. It doesn’t really feel like you’re spending money when you don’t really have to hand your card over to swipe, right? But the next thing you know, your budget’s shot.
During last year’s holiday season alone, Americans spent $32.6 billion dollars shopping online, so you can imagine that the big online retailers are trying to make it easier and easier to buy just about anything. Internet browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox offer plug-ins for stores like Amazon that will add a cart next to products you find online so you can easily add it to your cart or wish list.
So how do you resist? Don’t shop online! That sounds really easy, but being mindful about where you buy your products is the first step in resisting buying online. Do you really need that product? There’s probably a good chance you don’t. Alternatively, what might seem like a great gift for a friend may just end up biting you in the budget if you’re not careful about what you’re buying. Add in shipping and possible wrapping costs, and what seemed like a good deal will be a bad dent in your budget.
It’s important to keep the same attitude about online shopping as you would with brick-and-mortar stores: research, research, research (the store, the products you’re thinking of buying, as well as prices). Make a list of things you can buy. Project your budget hits with prices from various places. See if you can find the same or similar product at a real store (hopefully local and independent!). Most of all, ask yourself if you (or your friends or family) really need it!
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Need more assistance in learning to let go of the consumer media’s impact on your life, take control of your finances and find the satisfaction of enough for today? The Get Satisfied Interactive Handbook is a 30-minute web course that walks you through a series of specific questions and then presents a personalized how-to plan for becoming a postconsumer. Launch your evaluation for free right now.
