Mastering Spending Habits: A Personal Journey of Saving Smarter

Spending habits or expenses in recent years for an adult is becoming challenging due to the speed of rapid growth in marketing strategies. I know its a big term or claim that I made in my previous sentence but its true. Would you want to know why? Below is an example where I can clearly give you an example where I fell for it, how I took control of it and majorly some points outlined for you to make most of your savings.

Introduction: Why Managing Expenses Is So Hard These Days?

I have been managing my expense since last 4 years, pretty decent or atleast better than average of my circle. Recently my purchases on ecommerce/fast delivery applications ruined my savings due to these awesome marketing strategies. Recently I wanted to setup my gaming PC which I did at Chenoy Trading centre, Secunderabad. As it was a gaming PC, I needed a gaming controller which I couldn’t but at CTC (Chenoy trading centre) due to lack of money during the mid-month where my savings went into Mutual funds/Chit fund already and I didn’t feel like using my credit card for a 2% additional charges which these vendors take as a part of some taxes (not sure why they quote this). I went back home with the gaming PC setup and used it for a day, which is all good from my end.

How I fell for the best marketing strategy or got tricked into an Impulse Purchase?

As I was at office the very next day, I was looking at some gaming controllers in Amazon app which are showing up as delivery on the very next day in hitec city area which I wouldn’t want to buy as I won’t be in office the next day. I tried checking in blinkit by installing the application which showed 23 minutes for the same product at same cost shown in Amazon. Now comes the trickier part of my financial brain, since I was wanting to buy an item but it wasn’t satisfying my delivery timelines I went ahead into a comfortable app which could do the same in minutes. So my thoughts were like why to buy this its mid-month and if we wait for 2 more weeks I can afford the same without any debt on my credit card, that too what if the product price fall by 20 to 30 rupees by then. With this mindest, I quit the application and continued with my work. Around 4 PM in the evening just before I wanted to leave office, I got a notificaiton from blinkit that they can deliver now in 8 minutes.

Boom! I purchased the product by using a credit card within seconds. It got delivered in 8 minutes as promised, I took it home and used for about 2-3 days and now it lies in my cupboard dusted and unused for about more than a month. Here I’m talking about my spending habits, thanks to this experience.

The Bigger Picture: Why Spending Habits Matters

This is just an example where I spent about 1800 rupees for a wireless gaming controller but I see many of my friends/collegues mentioning the similar experiences. They want to quit these kind of marketing experiences and save some good amount to ensure they have better living experience in future. You might say what matters, its just 1800 or 3000 rupees, but what if I say that around 30% of their savings are moving into these kind of quick decisions where they are buying food just because of good marketing from food delivery apps, electronic or apparel delivering applications. Many of these friends/collegues want to quit spending their expenses atleast for 1-2 months as they don’t have a need for a new item but just because these apps mentions there are offers raining now they fall for it.

Read other post: Daily routine – How I balance to have Productive Day

How I Started Controlling My Spending Habits

Over time, I realized I needed to change the way I approached money. Here are a few steps that worked for me—and they’re so simple that you can start using them today:

1. Pause Before You Buy: Anytime I feel the urge to buy something, I give myself at least 24 hours to think about it. Usually, I realize I don’t even want it that much anymore.
2. Turn Off Notifications: I turned off notifications from shopping and food delivery apps. They’re designed to grab your attention and push you into making impulsive decisions. Out of sight, out of mind.
3. Set a Fun Budget: I started setting aside a fixed amount every month for “fun” expenses like gadgets, takeout, or clothes. Once I hit that limit, I don’t spend any more, no matter how tempting something looks.
4. Wait for Big Purchases: For bigger expenses like electronics, I create a wish list and revisit it after a week or two. Nine times out of ten, I realize I don’t really need the item—or I find a better deal.
5. Keep Your Goals Front and Center: I started writing down my financial goals—whether it’s building my emergency fund, saving for a trip, or investing more—and I revisit them regularly. It helps me stay focused and reminds me why saving is more important than a short-term impulse.

Why It’s About More Than Just Saving

Here’s what I’ve learned: financial freedom isn’t just about saving money or following investment tips from influencers. Sure, those things help, but the real game-changer is training your mind to think differently about money. When you stop falling for quick-fix deals and start making intentional decisions, you reduce stress and live a more secure life.

Share Your Story!

Have you ever bought something you didn’t really need, only to regret it later? Or do you have your own tricks for controlling your spending? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments—let’s learn from each other and help each other grow to take control of spending habits!

And don’t forget to check back this blog, where I’ll dive deeper into how to stay consistent with your goals and truly take control of your money habits.