How To Be Intentional With Online Shopping
Online shopping has become incredibly popular because of its convenience and accessibility.
However, sometimes it’s so convenient that we can get a little carried away and end up spending too much money on products we don’t actually need. Not only does this waste your hard-earned money, but your home is also cluttered with unnecessary stuff.
So, how can you be more intentional when shopping online? In this article, I’ll explain why we love online shopping, and share some practical tips on how to shop with intention and make mindful purchasing decisions.
Why does Online Shopping Makes people Happy?
I recently came across an article in Time Magazine that explained the psychological aspects of online shopping. Let’s dive into these reasons and explore why they make us feel so good.
Convenience and Accuracy
One of the biggest advantages of online shopping is the convenience it offers. No more driving to the store, searching for a parking spot, and walking through aisles to find what you need.
With online shopping, you can easily browse through a wide range of products from the comfort of your own home.
This is especially beneficial for those of us who have specific needs, like finding the right size or style. As a petite woman, I really appreciate the ease of online shopping because it can be challenging to find my size in physical stores.
Immediate Gratification
There’s something incredibly satisfying about the immediate gratification that online shopping provides.
When we see an enticing ad online, the feeling of “I want it now!” and the desire to own that product can be overwhelming. Being able to buy it with just a click of a button gives us great satisfaction.
With just a few clicks, you can add items to your cart and complete the purchase within minutes. It’s like a little burst of happiness, knowing that your desired item is on its way to you.
Excitement of Anticipation
Just like the anticipation you have for Christmas gifts during the holiday season, waiting for your online purchases to arrive is thrilling. Every day, you have something to look forward to as you eagerly await the delivery of packages.
How to be intentional when shopping online
Now that we’ve explored why online shopping brings us happiness, let’s shift our focus to how you can be more intentional with online purchases.
The two main goals of being intentional with online shopping are to avoid wasting money, and to prevent unnecessary stuff that makes your home cluttered.
In a nutshell, there are 2 major categories of strategies for this:
- Avoiding the opportunities where you are likely to impulse buy, and
- Making online purchases more difficult so you have time to cool down and think through your decisions.
Let’s take a closer look.
Avoid impulsive buying opportunities
Here are some practical tips to help you avoid impulsive buying opportunities:
1. Set Screen time limits
This is the most straightforward way to reduce your exposure to online shopping platforms. By consciously limiting the amount of time you spend on your devices, you can minimize the chances of making impulsive purchases.
2. Develop new hobbies
Find hobbies or activities to keep you busy so that you won’t feel the urge to use the phone.
3. Be Selective About Social Media Accounts to Follow
Social media platforms often showcase tempting advertisements and promotions that can influence your shopping habits. Choose to follow accounts that align with your values and goals to avoid unnecessary temptations.
4. Take control of store email subscriptions
Unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists and only keep subscriptions to stores that truly align with your needs and preferences. This way, you won’t be bombarded with tempting offers and promotions that may lead to impulsive purchases.
Make online purchasing inconvenient
In addition to avoiding temptations to shop online, there are also some strategies to “cool you down” and allow time to think over your shopping decisions.
Here are some ways to create a little extra hurdle before making an online purchase:
1. Avoid storing your credit card information on websites
One effective strategy is to refrain from saving your payment details on websites. By not having your information readily available, you’ll have to go through an extra step of entering your payment information each time you make a purchase.
This additional step gives you a moment to pause and consider whether the purchase is truly necessary and aligns with your goals.
2. Implement a waiting period before finalizing a purchase
Give yourself some time to think it over before clicking that “buy” button. Consider implementing a waiting period, such as 24 hours or even a week, before finalizing your purchase.
This waiting period allows you to reflect on the necessity and value of the item, ensuring that you make mindful and intentional choices rather than impulsive ones.
3. Read user reviews
Take advantage of the wealth of information available on the internet by reading user reviews of the products you’re interested in buying. It’s important to approach these reviews with a neutral mindset, considering both the positive and negative feedback.
By gathering insights from other users, you can make a more informed decision about the product’s quality and suitability for your needs.
Conclusion
Online shopping offers convenience, accuracy, and immediate gratification. But it’s important to shop online with intention to avoid getting carried away by impulsive buying.
By following the practical tips I’ve shared, such as avoiding impulse buying opportunities and making online purchasing inconvenient, you can make more mindful and satisfying purchases.
