One Planning Trick That Prevents Impulse Purchases

Check what you already have before buying anything new!

Spend 2 minutes doing a quick inventory before shopping trips or online purchases.

This prevents duplicate buying and reduces items that end up unused and wasted.

Make it systematic:

• Food shopping: Check fridge, freezer, and pantry first

• Household items: Look in storage areas and under sinks

• Clothing: Review what’s already in your closet

• Personal care: Count current products before buying backups

This simple pause prevents the frustration when you arrive home with items you already had plenty of. You’ll also discover forgotten items that need to be used up first.

Try it out this week:

Before your next buy, spend 2 minutes checking what you already have. You might be surprised by what you find!