With the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, holiday shopping and more, it is easy to fall into impulse buying during this time of year. You want to get the best deals, fill up your gift list, and follow those spur of the moment inspirations.

But, impulse buying is very dangerous. It can lead to not getting a good deal, spending too much money, or having buyer’s remorse. If you struggle with impulse buying, or want to stay in control this holiday season, here’s some tips to follow.
 

Stick to a List While Shopping
 

Before heading to a store for grocery or holiday shopping, make a list. This list should have every item you are planning on buying. It might take a bit of research and work, but is well worth it to help keep you focused.

When you go shopping, stick to the list. Leaving the list too much will give you excuses to indulge in impulse purchases, and by that point, why even have a list? Buy what is on the list and get out.

That doesn’t mean you should be blind to your surroundings. Go ahead and look at the deals, walk around the stores, and find things you like. Just don’t buy them now. Write them down so you can think about it and do more research.
 

Research Your Purchases
 

Retailers want you to make impulse purchases because it means they get your money and not have it go to a competitor. So they make deals with time limits, saying things like “Today Only” or “Hurry, limited stock.” They create a sense of urgency, that you will miss out on a great deal by waiting.

You need to research items before making purchases. This can help prevent unnecessary spending, save you money, and prevent buyers remorse.

For example, you are planning on buying a new TV for Christmas and see a deal on Prime Day. You don’t know the brand of the TV, but it’s the right size and a killer price. Over 75% of the TVs have been purchased. Take a few minutes to Google and research the TV. Is the brand trustworthy? What are the reviews for it and similar products? Does it have the features you want? Even this little bit of work can help prevent you from making bad impulse purchases.
 

Set Limits on Your Spending
 

Set limits on how much you can spend daily, weekly, and monthly and be very restrictive with it. More than just a budget, these limits are to hamper and prevent unnecessary spending. You can do this yourself by keeping track of your purchases or with your debit card.

In myPioneer, you can set spending alerts and limits for different categories or transaction types. This will notify you of when you go over a certain amount, or limit the amount of money you spend. This tool can keep you accountable and remind you of your set limits.
 

Contain Your Impulse Spending
 

If going on a shopping spree is your idea of a good time, you don’t have to shut it off completely. You just need to give yourself set constraints to avoid spending all of your money. 

Give yourself a smaller amount you can afford to spend and go nuts with it. Got a spare $100? Treat yourself. Have a good time. Once that money is spent though, you tighten it back up and don’t go over your set amount. A great way to do this is to give yourself only cash to work with when impulse spending and once it is gone, you are done.

What’s better than impulse spending for fun? Doing it with extra money you earned! Pioneer members who use the Pioneer Platinum VISA Credit Card earn Rewards points everytime they make a purchase. So you are being diligent and smart with your spending, using your Pioneer credit card and earning enough points for a $100 gift card. Take that gift card and indulge in some impulse spending!

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