I’m picky with how I spend the money I’ve worked so hard to earn. One of the last things I want to do is drain my earnings into things that aren’t necessary or don’t put a lasting smile on my face. Especially not during a recession. I can thank Marie Kondo and my desire to simplify my life for helping inspire this mindset. 

The results? A better spending strategy and less stuff cluttering my space. But what’s the easiest way to develop a mindful shopping habit while simultaneously alleviating decision fatigue and being less trigger-happy with a credit card? 

Utilizing Pinterest is a fun tool for shopping mindfully without depriving yourself. Here’s how:

Visualize your future purchases on Pinterest

Create a private board. Add sections to organize your pins by type of item (e.g. tops, dresses, activewear, home goods, etc). While browsing online, save products to your Pinterest board by creating a pin using the URL for the product. The Pinterest browser button extension makes adding pins from the web even more effortless. 

Creating a mood board of actual items you’re interested in will allow you to visualize and edit your ideal wardrobe and home. It’s also an easy way to house all of the links from different sites in one place. 

Avoid impulse buys

Sometimes extra purchases can set you back from being able to buy the items you’ve wanted for a long time. Using your Pinterest board as a one-stop shopping list will help you focus, make thoughtful decisions, and avoid impulse buys. It also lessens your chance of buying something misaligned with what’s on your wish list. 

Beware of sales distractions

This Pinterest board method is also helpful during distracting holiday sales. Sales are incredible and should be taken advantage of, but stick to buying items you know you’ll love, like the ones you’ve been saving to Pinterest. Hopefully, you get lucky, and some of those items will end up on sale too.

Is it a hell yes or a maybe?

Unless it’s a “hell yes!” item, try to wait at least a day, a week, or maybe even a month before purchasing. Take some time to make sure you want it before handing over your money. 

Now that everything you desire is at your fingertips and you have a handy tool to help make decisions, happy shopping!