<pdata-textannotation-id="58a492029dca5e6a6e481d21b6b2933a"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--hqqO9fze--/n1s6c2m6kc07iqdyllj6.jpg"data-chomp-id="n1s6c2m6kc07iqdyllj6"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--hqqO9fze--/n1s6c2m6kc07iqdyllj6.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="a043044f9b3e31fd85568b17e3b1b5f3"class="first-text"><span>We all buy things from time to time that we don't really need. It's okay to appeal to your wants every once in a while, as long as you're in control. If you struggle with clutter, impulse buys, and buyer's remorse, here's how to put your mind in the right place before you even set foot in a store.</span>
</p>
<h3data-textannotation-id="e51cbbc52eb8c3b33571908351076cf7"><strong>Understand How Your Own Brain Works Against You</strong></h3>
<pdata-textannotation-id="268f7702467d33e3b0972dd09f1cf0a6"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--QeUTCiuW--/o4dpyrcbiqyfrc3bxx6p.jpg"data-chomp-id="o4dpyrcbiqyfrc3bxx6p"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--QeUTCiuW--/o4dpyrcbiqyfrc3bxx6p.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="89992f1ca493b248eea6ed1772326c46">For example, confirmation bias makes you only believe the information
that conforms to your prior beliefs, while you discount everything else.
Advertisers appeal to this bias directly by convincing you one item is
better than another with imagery and other tricks, regardless of what hard
facts might say. Keep your mind open, do your own research, and accept
when you're wrong about a product. The Decoy effect is also a commonly
used tactic. You think one product is a deal because it's next to a similar
product that's priced way higher. Even if it's a product you need, it's
probably not as good of a deal as it looks right then and there. Again,
always research beforehand and be on the lookout for this common trick
to avoid impulse buys.</p>
<h3data-textannotation-id="eedde8c384145f2593efc2a15a4d79de"><strong>Make a List of </strong><em><strong>Everything</strong></em><strong> You Own and Do Some Decluttering</strong></h3>
<pdata-textannotation-id="8044cf9aab698fd28931acd90ba96f7a"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mlR3Ku0_--/xrhkwleyurcizy4akiae.jpg"data-chomp-id="xrhkwleyurcizy4akiae"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mlR3Ku0_--/xrhkwleyurcizy4akiae.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="bbe57b7aa20b48550e5f66b7c530822c">The purpose of this exercise is twofold: you see what you already have
and don't need to ever buy again, and you get to see what you shouldn't
have bought in the first place. As you list everything out, separate items
into categories. It's extremely important that you are as honest with yourself
as possible while you do this. It's also important you actually write this
all down or type it all out. Here is the first set of categories to separate
everything into:</p>
<ul>
<lidata-textannotation-id="8d7dc912152eddd0e3d56e28ad79e6f2"><strong>Need:</strong> You absolutely need this item to get by on a day
to day basis.</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="6f60a79627f0746d1f611999251e9f1b"><strong>Sometimes Need:</strong> You don't need this item every day, but
you use it on a somewhat regular basis.</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="54e10b108f95548966b657bd90fdbed4"><strong>Want:</strong> You bought this item because you wanted it, not
because you needed it.</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="26c461a85fbc78651be442e205cac58b"><strong>Crap:</strong> You don't have a good reason why you have it and
you already know it needs to go (there's probably a few of these items,
at least).</li>
</ul>
<pdata-textannotation-id="5743cf753f68fd8ee3443cc0f8e815dd">Leave the things you listed as "needs" alone, put your stuff listed as
"crap" in a pile or box to go bye-bye, and move your attention back to
your "sometimes need" and "want" lists. You need to go back over both of
those lists because you probably fudged some of the listings, either subconsciously
or intentionally. Now ask yourself these three questions as you go through
both the "sometimes need" and "want" lists:</p>
<ul>
<lidata-textannotation-id="2048d6c0436bd34811442d6df32989a4">When was the last time I used this?</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="3f4b3686d822171b35e27bf1afde530b">When will I use this again?</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="63728605cc4fa66f5b225f674d12bbff">Does this item <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/declutter-by-asking-one-question-does-this-spark-joy-1651256422">bring you joy</a>?</li>
</ul>
<pdata-textannotation-id="816cd504161fecc6f3e173779b33d5db">Remember to be honest and adjust your lists accordingly. There's nothing
wrong with keeping things you wanted. Material items can <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/how-to-buy-happiness-the-purchases-most-likely-to-brin-1681780686">bring happiness to many people</a>,
but make sure the items on your "want" list actively provide you joy and
are being used. If an item doesn't get much use or doesn't make you happy,
add it to the "crap" list.</p>
<pdata-textannotation-id="675103d9c0da55e95f93c53bb019f864">Once you have everything organized, it's time to do some serious decluttering.
This listing exercise should get you started, but there are <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5957609/how-to-kick-your-clutter-habit-and-live-in-a-clean-house-once-and-for-all">a lot of other great ideas</a> when
it comes to ditching the junk you don't need. Regardless, everything on
your "crap" list needs to go. You can donate it, sell it at a yard sale,
give it away to people know, whatever you like. Before you get rid of everything,
though, take a picture of all your stuff together. Print out or save the
picture somewhere. Some of it was probably gifts, but in general, this
is all the crap you bought that you don't need. Take a good look and remember
it.</p>
<h3data-textannotation-id="f15ab0a628b159459f095f04fef851ba"><strong>See How Much Money and Time You Spent on the Stuff You Threw Out</strong></h3>
<pdata-textannotation-id="bc2f55587bf4ab07a1852a8d26217233"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Tacb0tyW--/qodag11euf2npkawkn9v.jpg"data-chomp-id="qodag11euf2npkawkn9v"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Tacb0tyW--/qodag11euf2npkawkn9v.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="bafeac1c3808e0d2900190979f058b2c"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--x9hLbIKJ--/imfc9ybqfw0jmztbhfrh.jpg"data-chomp-id="imfc9ybqfw0jmztbhfrh"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--x9hLbIKJ--/imfc9ybqfw0jmztbhfrh.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="4bd8fbaabb33ff1cb5dc93c16e1f83cc">Now it's time to make a different list. While material items may bring
plenty of joy, the things in your life that make you happiest probably
can't be bought. Get a separate piece of paper or create a new document
and list out everything in your life that makes you happy. If you can't
buy it, it's eligible for the list. It doesn't matter if it only makes
you crack a smile or makes you jump for joy, list it out.</p>
<pdata-textannotation-id="104a646a62ad7a0cfb4e3ff086185fdc"><span>These are probably the things that actually make you want to get out of bed in the morning and keep on keepin' on. Once you have it all down, put it in your purse or wallet. The next time you feel the urge to buy something, whip this list out first and remind yourself why you probably don't need it.</span>
</p>
<h3data-textannotation-id="532cf992ff45d52de501c1a8f80fc152"><strong>Spend Some Time Away from Material Things to Gain Perspective</strong></h3>
<pdata-textannotation-id="64f5c7155ad89bd2835399d33c1ae28a"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6NwBgQLy--/afy7n45jfvsjdmmhonct.jpg"data-chomp-id="afy7n45jfvsjdmmhonct"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6NwBgQLy--/afy7n45jfvsjdmmhonct.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="ff438b878771354bb7f6d065ff50dbb2"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ciqk42G0--/s3pq8vjrvyjgne4lfsod.jpg"data-chomp-id="s3pq8vjrvyjgne4lfsod"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ciqk42G0--/s3pq8vjrvyjgne4lfsod.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="4af04ae83f18d9c37da21527bcd4a290">If you don't have a personal "should I buy this?" test, now's the perfect
time to make one. When you find an item you think you need or want, it
has to pass all of the questions you have on your test before you can buy
it. Here's where you can use all of the data you've gathered so far and
put it to really good use. The test should be personalized to your own
buying habits, but here are some example questions:</p>
<ul>
<lidata-textannotation-id="fcfd78b1619bdf0b7330f4b40efb899d">Is this a planned purchase?</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="c16e7d5feae7cc2c3c6a8dd312ea206f">Will it end up in the "crap" list picture one day?</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="54d877fdee56080c87508fc9e6402889"><ahref="http://lifehacker.com/prevent-clutter-by-asking-yourself-where-items-will-go-1649480461">Where am I going to put it</a>?</li>
<li
data-textannotation-id="59d5245217c84e6b2b2969b3492f2f2d">Have I included this in my budget?</li>
<lidata-textannotation-id="8fe1582808b4d89f5c88c2708744d27d"><em>Why</em> do I want/need it?</li>
</ul>
<pdata-textannotation-id="0162d779382cdc7de908fc1488af3940">Custom build your test to hit all of your weaknesses. If you make a lot
of impulse buys, include questions that address that. If you experience
a lot of buyer's remorse, include a lot of questions that make you think
about the use of item after you buy it. If buying the latest and greatest
technology is your weakness, Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist suggests
you ask yourself <atarget="_blank"href="http://www.becomingminimalist.com/marriage-hacks/">what problem the piece of tech solves</a>.
If you can't think of anything it solves or if you already have something
that solves it, you don't need it. Be thorough and build a test that you
can run through your mind every time you consider buying something.</p>
<h3
data-textannotation-id="c0ed0882675acc340dcd88e13ca514b3"><strong>Learn to Delay Gratification and Destroy the Urge to Impulse Buy</strong>
<pdata-textannotation-id="1d43712fc5ce8f156e4661cca5750575"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mtob1sjR--/y2ldv5eufb3jcrtfouye.jpg"data-chomp-id="y2ldv5eufb3jcrtfouye"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mtob1sjR--/y2ldv5eufb3jcrtfouye.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="3d8086719c5da749f877629d498ccab9">When it comes to the unnecessary crap we buy, impulse purchases probably
make up a good deal of them. We love to feel gratification instantly and
impulse buys appeal to that with a rush of excitement with each new purchase.
We like to believe that we have control over our impulses all the time,
but we really don't, and that's a major problem for the ol' wallet.</p>
<p
data-textannotation-id="620ca9836425e09ec7fa50bfad204665">The key is teaching your brain that it's okay to <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/overcome-the-need-for-instant-gratification-by-delaying-1636938356">wait for gratification</a>.
You can do this with a simple time out every time you want something. Look
at whatever you're thinking of buying, go through your personal "should
I buy this?" test, and then walk away for a little while. Planning your
purchases ahead is ideal, so the longer you can hold off, the better. Set
yourself a reminder to check on the item <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5859632/buyers-remorse-is-inevitable-how-to-make-purchases-you-really-wont-regret">a week or month down the line</a>.
When you come back to it, you may find that you don't even want it, just
the gratification that would come with it. If you're shopping online, you
can do the same thing. Walk away from your desk or put your phone in your
pocket and do something else for a little while.</p>
<pdata-textannotation-id="a85d9eb501c898234ac5df2a56c50a13">You can also avoid online impulse purchases by <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5919833/how-to-avoid-impulse-purchases-in-the-internet-shopping-age"
x-inset="1">making it harder to do</a>. Block shopping web sites during
time periods you know you're at your weakest, or remove all of your saved
credit card or Paypal information. You can also <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5569035/practice-the-halt-method-to-curb-impulse-purchases"
x-inset="1">practice the "HALT" method</a> when you're shopping online or
in a store. Try not to buy things when you're Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or
Tired because you're at your weakest state mentally. Last, but not least,
the "<ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5320196/use-the-stranger-test-to-reduce-impulse-purchases"
x-inset="1">stranger test</a>" can help you weed out bad purchases too.</p>
<pdata-textannotation-id="27385752c06848647540ad931892b21e">The last thing you should consider when it comes to impulse buys is "artificial
replacement." As Trent Hamm at The Simple Dollar explains, artificial replacement
can happen when you start to <atarget="_blank"href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/balancing-spending-and-time-how-time-frugality-can-save-you-lots-of-cash/">reduce the time</a> you
<pdata-textannotation-id="21154394d63f1943d01f2b717aa31115"class="has-media media-640"><spanclass="img-border"><imgwidth="636"height="358"data-format="jpg"data-asset-url="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4Ajak63w--/atb9qm07fvvg7hqkumkw.jpg"data-chomp-id="atb9qm07fvvg7hqkumkw"alt="How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need"src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4Ajak63w--/atb9qm07fvvg7hqkumkw.jpg"></span>
<pdata-textannotation-id="6141942e977cc058fd7a0fa06a3f7389">Once you've programmed your mind to stop buying crap you don't need, you'll
have some extra cash to play with. Take all that money and start putting
it toward your future and things you <em>will</em> need further down the
road. You might need <atarget="_blank"href="http://twocents.lifehacker.com/how-to-start-saving-for-a-home-down-payment-1541254056">a home</a>,
a vehicle, or a way to retire, but none of that can happen until you start
planning for it.</p>
<pdata-textannotation-id="90f08afddc08e2c3b45c266f2e6965ec">Start by paying off any debts you already have. Credit cards, student
loans, and even car payments can force you to <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/how-to-break-the-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-cycle-1445330680">live paycheck to paycheck</a>.
Use the <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/5940989/pay-off-small-balances-first-for-better-odds-of-eliminating-all-your-debt">snowball method</a> and
pay off some small balances to make you feel motivated, then start taking
out your debt in full force with the <ahref="http://lifehacker.com/how-to-pay-off-your-debt-using-the-stack-method-576070292">stacking method</a>:
stop creating new debt, determine which balances have the highest interest
rates, and create a payment schedule to pay them off efficiently.</p>
<p
data-textannotation-id="1106cb837deb2b6fc8e28ba98f078c27">With your debts whittled down, you should start an emergency fund. No
matter how well you plan things, accidents and health emergencies can still
happen. An emergency fund is designed to make those kinds of events more
manageable. This type of savings account is strictly for when life throws
you a curveball, but you can grow one pretty easily <atarget="_blank"href="http://twocents.lifehacker.com/how-to-grow-an-emergency-fund-from-modest-savings-1638409351">with only modest savings</a>.</p>
<p
data-textannotation-id="347c2a36f114a794d559d929da1b15b7">When you've paid off your debt and prepared yourself for troubled times,
you can start saving for the big stuff. All that money you're not spending
on crap anymore can be saved, invested, and compounded to let you buy comfort
and security. If you don't know where to start, talk to a financial planner.
Or create a simple, yet effective <atarget="_blank"href="http://twocents.lifehacker.com/how-to-build-an-easy-beginner-set-and-forget-investm-1686878594"
x-inset="1">"set and forget" investment portfolio</a>. You've worked hard
to reprogram your mind, so make sure you reap the benefits for many years