I’m a former shopping addict – my simple tip will help you stop buying things you don’t need

MANY of us are impulse shoppers.

We see something we like, we feel like we have to have it, so we make the purchase—only to regret it days or even just hours later.

TikTok/renee.benes

A former “shopaholic” said this hack helped her start saving money[/caption]

TikTok/renee.benes

Instead of impulse buying, she takes a photo of the object she is considering[/caption]

A former self-proclaimed shopaholic named Renee Benes, who goes by @renee.benes on TikTok, said she has a method that will help you stop buying things you don’t need—and people think it’s pretty genius.

“Want to know a crazy hack that might help you spend less?

“Whenever I see something that I want but don’t need, I just take a picture and then put it back on the shelf.”

By doing this, the woman will remember that the object was there and can give herself more time to decide if she really wants to make the purchase.

When she looks back at her photos a few days later, if she still has the itch then she’ll go back to the store and spend the money.

Although Renee said it sounds silly, she claimed it actually works to help you save—and commenters agreed:

“I’ve done this before too! It’s very helpful,” one person wrote.

“I do this and then scroll back for birthday/Christmas gift ideas when family and friends ask,” added another.

As for another way to slow down impulse buys, another woman named Alexandra Hourigan, who co-hosts the podcast Two Broke Chicks, revealed how she limits herself.

Her simple trick involves taking a step back whenever you find yourself reaching for something in a shop that you hadn’t planned on buying.

“If you see an iPhone case that you really want and this iPhone case is $25, and I turn to you and say, ‘You can either have the phone case or I’ll give you $25 cash.’

“If you’re like, ‘I do really need a new phone case as mine is looking tired,’ then you know to buy that.

“Whereas if you think, ‘You know what? $25 – that’s maybe two happy hour cocktails this weekend. I’m going to go with that,’ then you know which way you need to go.”

The helpful tip is meant to make you think critically about what you actually need, while still allowing yourself some leeway for fun.

TikTok/renee.benes

The photo-taking method helps you think on the purchase for longer to decide if you really need or want it[/caption]