i hate my impulsive shopping
By mazdakid
@mazdakid (347)
Philippines
November 19, 2008 9:50am CST
i hate it when i plan on buying just one item of clothing, or just one jar of my favourite Marmite at the supermarket, and a few minutes later, the cash register rings a whopping P2000 or more. I was just planning to buy something that's worth P400 pesos, and i end up buying too much. I'm usually a stingy type of guy. But i just hate it when i become impulsive, even if i know my cash is running low to pay whatever i swipe on my credit card.
fortunately, since i've resigned and the upcoming severance pay would be a bit more than enough to pay off all credit card dues, i can have this mindset that "hey, you're jobless. don't buy that. you can't pay for that". but what if i get a new job in a few months (or years, because of the global recession). will i go back to my impulsive shopping tendencies?
how about you people? do you feel impulsive at times? or if you can control yourselves, can you share your tips with us? thanks!
2 responses
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
21 Nov 08
I have my share of impulsive-buying. I solve it by not having a credit card at all! :D I think that's the best way to do it, or you can try leaving it home when you're really sure that all you HAVE to buy is that one piece of clothing. Then bring with you just the right amount of money that you are WILLING to spend ;) does the trick all the time! What's especially nice here in the Philippines is that the ATM machine have long lines so even if you did bring yours, you'd have to fall in line. You can also get rid of your credit card and stick to a debit card instead - that will help you see just how much money you really have :)
Thanks for replying in my discussion!
@mazdakid (347)
• Philippines
30 Nov 08
hi oyenkai! thank you for replying! those are very good suggestions @ not bringing credit card and right amount of money. however, sometimes i'm just worried that i might lose my cash or i might need to use my card (e.g., when the car is running out of gas, etc.). oh well. financial discipline requires personal discipline.
and i have to agree that here in our country, the Philippines, ATM lines are soooo long, or that most likely, the machines are offline (especially in Alabang Town Centre... i don't freakin' know why the BDO ATM near Armani Exchange is always offline. grr). but it helps me control my buying urge since i hate waiting in line. hehehe.
anyways, thanks again and have a nice day! =)
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
20 Nov 08
Oh, everybody hates their impulsive behavior. I think this behavior is a really bad thing. You would not only be spontaneous (which is good because it means you are not a boring person), but you also do anything without think about the effects after what you did. Being impulsive, my partner often feel sorry about things that she did. She tried not to be so impulsive, it is hard in the beginning because you have to get a total control of yourself. The only thing about an impulsive person is the lack of self control. Once you are able to control your emotion you would be able to get rid of this impulsive behavior. Including your impulsive shopping behavior.
@mazdakid (347)
• Philippines
30 Nov 08
hi klaudine! thanks for your reply! you're right, controlling emotion will help remove this impulsive behaviour. my friends say that i sometimes lose control of my emotions. sometimes i get too sensitive (especially with this ill-mannered boss of mine at a background screening company), sometimes i get too angry (with nagging partners or friends) and sometimes i get too sad. and most of the time, these emotions help me become too impulsive in shopping since it makes me feel better (well until i park in my garage and start looking at the receipts and bags in my trunk. haha).
thanks for replying! it made me realise that i should start working on controlling my being too emotional... coz emotional instability will definitely cause financial instability. hehehe.
