I'm an Aussie online shopper - this is how I save hundreds of dollars by making a two-second tweak to my card settings
- Shopper revealed clever tip to prevent impulse spending
- Read more: Millennial couple earning $395,000 'constantly feel poor'
A regular online shopper has revealed the clever way she prevents herself from spending money impulsively.
Browsing retailer's websites very can quickly turn into a pricey spree on products shoppers often have no need for.
This was the case for one shopper on TikTok who found it far too easy adding products to her cart when her card details were saved on her phone or laptop - the transactions were just one click away.
So she removed the saved information permanently from her browser and it has saved her a fortune. How? She's either too 'lazy' to find the card or has plenty of time to reconsider the purchase while searching for it.
New Zealand money expert and founder of the Girls That Invest podcast Simran Kaur praised the tip and agreed it can help save you money because it's 'all about convenience'.
'When your card details are saved, it's super easy to make impulsive purchases because it's just too easy. Just a few taps, and boom - you've spent money!' Simran told FEMAIL.
'If your card is not saved you might reconsider taking a few seconds to enter your card information each time manually. You create a pause - a moment to reconsider if you really need that item. In this instance, your laziness is a win!
'This little trick can help you cut down on unnecessary spending and make more mindful decisions.'
Online transactions are just one click away when your credit card details are saved to your phone or laptop. A woman on TikTok removed the saved information for good - and the laziness of not wanting to get up to find the card has saved her thousands (stock image)
New Zealand money expert and founder of the Girls That Invest podcast Simran Kaur (pictured) praised the tip and agreed it can help save you money because it's 'all about convenience'
Simran also revealed other ways to break bad spending habits, including unsubscribing from marketing emails.
'Those "SALE!" emails are designed to tempt you, and out of sight means out of mind. Delete shopping apps from your phone - if you don't see the app, you're less likely to browse out of boredom,' she said.
Simran also suggested setting up a shopping schedule by only allowing yourself to shop online once a month. This will help plan and prioritise what you need.
'Lastly use the 48-hour rule and wait 48 hours before making any online purchase. Often, the urge to buy will pass,' she added.
The money-saving tactic of removing your saved credit card details was praised by hundreds online and encouraged many to do the same.
'I was just thinking about doing this yesterday because I know I'd also be too lazy to get up and get the card,' one agreed.
'It's practical with all the cards but using cash I see the money and feel an actual exchange, thinking twice before spending,' another said.
'This is me. I don't save any credit card anywhere and by the time I get my card to pay for it it's made me think do I need it,' a third wrote
'As a mortgage broker, this is the number one excuse I hear for people using [buy now, pay later services],' someone else said.
One more added: 'I find it helps me too! It breaks the pattern of mindless spending.'
The money-saving tactic of removing your saved credit card details was praised by hundreds online and encouraged many to do the same (stock image)
Another person who used to work at a bank said she never has her personal information saved online because 'fraud is everywhere'.
But others said even if they were to remove their credit card details, the trick wouldn't work as they have the numbers memorised.
Another woman said she cancelled her credit card completely and it made 'such a difference' to her finances.
Last year another shopper was praised for sharing her clever way to prevent buying products she doesn't need.
American home décor fan Morgan Smith found that whenever she went shopping she felt 'overwhelmed' by the colours and gorgeous displays and often bought far more than she planned to.
As it turns out, décor items look far less appealing without aesthetically pleasing items surrounding them
So to ensure she doesn't spend money needlessly, she uses the 'rubbish bin' trick - or as she likes to call it, 'taking it to the trash'.
After spotting a product she likes, Morgan removes it from the display and takes it to the bin aisle to see how it looks. As it turns out, décor items look far less appealing without aesthetically pleasing items surrounding them.
'If I like it in the trash can aisle then I will buy it because I know it'll be pretty anywhere,' she said in a video.
'It frustrated me so much when I used to pull out my holiday storage containers and not like some of the décor that was only a year or two old,' Morgan wrote on Instagram.
'The impulse buying had to stop. It was honestly just wasteful, so I started 'taking it to the trash'. Definitely recommend.'
In the video, Morgan visited her local Target and demonstrated the theory by taking different products to the rubbish aisle.
