Op-ed by Borka Schuster
For years, I honestly believed I wasn't a big spender. I didn't buy luxury goods, I didn't splurge on designer bags, and I certainly wasn't ordering new furniture every week. And yet, month after month, my money simply disappeared.
I couldn't have told you where it went — but my bank account made one thing very clear: it was leaking out somewhere.
Then one day I scrolled through my transaction history
And there they were, one after another — all those perfectly innocent-looking purchases. A T-shirt, because it was on sale. A mug, because it was cute. A book I'd "definitely read someday." A new skincare product someone swore by online. A few small things from the drugstore that never felt like much on their own.
Together, though, they added up to a serious amount of money.
That's when it hit me: my problem wasn't the big expenses. It was impulse buying.
Since then, I've worked consciously to break the habit, and my finances today are unrecognizable compared to a few years ago. Not because I earn much more — but because I buy far less that I don't actually need.
These four habits helped me the most
1. I introduced the 48-hour rule
This was by far the most effective change I made.
In the past, the moment something caught my eye, it practically threw itself into my cart. My brain would instantly produce the perfect justification: I deserve it, I'll need it anyway, it's on sale, it won't be here later.
Now I almost never buy anything on the spot. If I spot something I hadn't planned to buy, I simply walk away. I save the link or snap a photo in the store, and I wait at least two days. Surprisingly often, 48 hours later I've completely forgotten about it. And if I haven't, there's a much better chance it's something I genuinely want or truly need.
2. I started shopping with a list — and sticking to it
It sounds like obvious advice, but for me it made a huge difference. I used to walk into a drugstore for shampoo and leave with a full basket. There was always a new scent, a promotion, or some pretty packaging pulling me in.
Now I always write a list before I go. If something isn't on it, I don't buy it. Sure, a shiny new product still tempts me now and then, but I stop and ask myself: Is this what I came here for? And if the answer is no, the item goes right back on the shelf.
If you struggle with the same pull, it's worth looking at how a short dopamine reset can rewire the way you chase quick rewards.
3. I learned to tell the difference between want and need
This was probably the hardest part of the mental shift I had to make. It's incredibly easy to convince yourself that you need something when, in truth, you just want it. These days I pause for a second and ask myself: if this cost twice as much tomorrow, would I still buy it?
If the answer is no, it probably isn't that important. I also think about whether I already own something at home that does the exact same job. Surprisingly often, I realize that a sixth notebook or a twelfth lipstick adds nothing to my life. It only offers the fleeting thrill of buying.
4. I started spending on experiences instead
As I bought fewer and fewer unnecessary things, I noticed something important: it wasn't the shopping I actually missed.
It was the feeling of joy. I'd just been trying to manufacture it with objects. Now, when I have a little extra money, I'd much rather spend it on a dinner with friends, a day trip, a concert, or a weekend plan. I remember those far longer than the top I rediscover at the back of my closet three months later.
And here's the biggest surprise: the fuller and more meaningful my life feels, the less I feel the urge to reward or comfort myself with a purchase.
I won't pretend I never buy on impulse anymore. Every now and then something catches my eye and comes home with me. The difference is that today it's the exception, not the habit. And that single shift transformed my whole relationship with money.
What is impulse buying, exactly?
It's buying something you hadn't planned to purchase, driven by a sudden urge in the moment. On their own, these buys rarely seem like much — but together they can quietly drain your budget.
How does the 48-hour rule work?
When you spot something you hadn't planned to buy, you don't purchase it right away. You save the link or take a photo, then wait at least two days. Often the urge fades — and if it doesn't, the item is more likely something you genuinely want.
How do I tell a want from a need before buying?
Ask yourself whether you'd still buy it if it cost twice as much tomorrow, and whether you already own something that does the same job. If the answer to either question makes it feel less essential, it's probably a want.
Why spend on experiences instead of things?
Because the joy tends to last far longer than the object itself. Experiences like dinners, trips, and concerts stay with you, while many purchases end up forgotten at the back of a closet within months.
