During quarantine times, you— or we (cause tbh, I’m guilty of it too) are more likely to fall for the trap of online shopping. Given the circumstances we are in, it is safer to shop online because as much as possible we have to take measures and stay indoors as much as possible. 

However, this means that we are more prone to shopping for unnecessary things as it feels good and we experience a moment of gratification; but bear in mind, this is only temporary. Sometimes, we are tempted by what we see and immediately press the *payment* button and this is not safe for our bank account and our future investments, including savings. And so we have narrowed down some ways that we found helpful in managing and controlling our spendings: 

WAITING PERIOD

Giving yourself some time to think allows you to rationalize whether you really need what you want to buy. Allotting 2 weeks will let you evaluate and see if you still want to make that purchase. If you find it tough, you can put your items in the shopping cart when doing online shopping. Wait a few hours before processing your payment and see if you still feel the same way about it.

MAKE A LIST

Same concept as making a to-do list, writing your wishlist along with your essential needs help you narrow down everything. It gives you a clear picture of what you need on a daily basis. As a result, it stops you from making impulsive purchases. You can even go further and specify a time when you want to get the items based on your monthly salary. If you still want it when that time comes, go for it!

READ REVIEWS

Reading reviews is like your good and bad conscience; it allows you to evaluate your reasons for getting that bag or shoes. If the cons outweigh the pros, it provides you a definite answer—in this case, a *no*

EVALUATE YOUR GOALS

This ties with making a list because visualizing your short term and long term goals allow for a conscious effort on your end when making decisions. Comparing your short term and long term goals let you see the overall picture and assess the value of an item you are thinking of buying. Does it serve you a purpose in the long run? Or is it something that’s just for the moment?

DISCONNECT QUICK ACCESS TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT

Disconnecting access to your account allows for an extra step when making purchases. It buys you time from when you grab your card to typing out your details to pressing the *proceed payment* button. Remember, it is about the time and the access you have!!! Most of us tend to have our bank accounts connected to our cell devices making it easier to reach out for it. As a result, we fall for the trap of making unnecessary purchases.