A Guide to NOT Letting Buyer’s Remorse Ruin your Day.

Made a purchase that made you guilt-trip a little and experience buyer’s remorse? Been there. Done that. We’re all in this together.

Three months ago I spent my entire six-month savings on a pair of shoes that were supposed to bring me joy, luxury, solace, cure depression, ease my crippling anxiety, and sing me love songs from my closet. It wasn’t until I walked past my shoe graveyard (aka my beloved closet) a week ago that I realized that I was better off without them. With me resorting to exercising my privilege to stay at home all day every day, I didn’t need a scarlet-colored, six-inch stiletto that cost me an arm and a leg. Knowing that the only strolls I’d be taking would be from my bedroom to the kitchen 15 times a day, the only shoes that I would ever require were my furry slides. End of the story.

If the tale above made you think “Is it me or is it me?”, here’s a cheat sheet to not let Buyer’s Remorse get the best of you.

Analyze Your Current Predicament.

Yes. I mean the status of your bank account. If it’s the end of the month and the only meals you’re able to afford consist of plain bread and tomato ketchup, splurging money mindlessly isn’t a good idea. You wouldn’t want to become bankrupt after a hefty purchase, would you? Don’t click the “CONFIRM ORDER” button. It’s not worth it.

However, if your Monday dawn was a pay-day morning, STILL PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL! You can do this. I have faith in you. What did you think I was gonna say?

Stop Justifying Your Irrational Purchases.

Remember that scene from the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic” in which Rebecca Bloomwood walks into a shop eyeing that gorgeous green scarf? She justifies her ridiculous purchase by convincing herself that adorning that green scarf is going to make her hair color look more expensive. While that may make us break into a giggle, there’s no denying that what she did was pretty stupid. With a crazy debt collector hounding her, she surely could have done without that green scarf. So can you.

No, that hundred-dollar pink lipstick wouldn’t make your lips look magical or big or that of a unicorn’s. You’re better off without it. Trust me.

Know That Companies Play Over-Smart…But You’re Smarter

With all these advertisements lingering all over your social media, you surely get lured by their florid display. Well, that’s the reason they make everything look so magical. To make us go weak in the knees. But once you understand the psychological theory of cognitive dissonance, which is “a state of psychological discomfort when at least two elements of cognition are in opposition, and which motivates the person to appease it by changing how they think about the situation.”, you’re able to shun it away. For e.g. You saw a smartwatch online, you “think” it’s “affordable”, you really want to buy it but you already have one. What would you do? Change the way you think about the situation. Make use of reverse psychology here. Remind yourself that these companies are trying to rip you off and you’re better than that. Be mindful, be present, and take a deep breath…ahhhh. Turn the lights off and go to sleep. You just avoided being a buyer’s remorse victim. Congratulations!

Spend on Experiences. Not on Materials.

Two opposing wants playing a tug-of-war in your head? Don’t let the materialistic one win. If you want to take a hiking trip to Trail 5 or buy the Nike Air, choose the hiking trip. Chances are that the shoes are going to wear and tear and tether but the friendships formed, life skills learned and priceless memories gained during the hike will last you a lifetime. Not going on a hike will bring you greater guilt than letting go of the Nike’s this time. Plus, you’ll have better stories to tell your kids. Vouch on me for that.

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Ask Yourself These Three Magical Questions…

Before pulling the shopping trigger every time, ask yourself these three questions:

• • • • • Will this purchase spark joy?
        • Is it worth it?
        • Do I really need this?

If the answer to these questions is a “yes”, you should probably invest in the procurement. However, don’t be like Becky Bloomwood. To whomever it may concern, you DO NOT need a pair of cashmere gloves worth thousands of bucks just because you have hands and it’s cold outside. N O. Louder for people at the back.

Sometimes You Do What You Gotta Do.

Not able to kill that urge to shop? Fill a cart instead. Talking from personal experience, filling a cart online is so therapeutic. You fill it up to your heart’s content, you don’t care about how rich or poor you are. You put the plush bedsheet to the silk gown to the synthetic fur slippers in the cart. Sixty-five items? No problem.

Just when you’re about to place your order, empty that cart or simply close the tab. You just fooled your mind into thinking you placed an order that you didn’t. Plus, you can’t feel guilty for a crime you didn’t commit, can you? Thank me later!

Have any tips, tricks, or methods to avoid buyer’s remorse? We’d love to hear from you!