How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need | Mel Robbins

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"How do I stop buying dumb stuff?!"

Except for simply turning away from the new dress you don’t need or closing out Amazon before it’s too late, you have to understand the reason you spend – it’s because you aren’t being compassionate to yourself in other areas of your life.

Overspending has been proven to be a sign of insecurity and lack of compassion for who you are and where you are in your life. You feel a certain way about yourself, and use spending as a temporary solution to make you feel happier in a moment.

I have a personal story about how materialism has ruled my mind before, and I’ll share how you can stop yourself in your tracks before making impulsive decisions, and how you can start to show yourself the love and respect you deserve.

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[CFinch]

My mother used to say "The fastest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket" :-)

[paoloangelino]

“If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.”

― Warren Buffett

[mindibear]

Whenever I'm out and see something I want to buy I take a photo of it instead. That way I can take a piece of it home with me and get the thrill without the bill. Then every few weeks I scroll through my photos and realize I'm glad I didn't buy all of that crap.

[Beatnikzombie]

People have forgotten the difference between need and want.

[twofoursevenbeauty]

Whenever I see someone in a nicer, newer car than me, I comfort myself with the fact that it's all mine and not financed 😊. It's a great feeling.

[sanusiaunfiltered]

Hi I am 20 years old and I needed to hear this. For the past year I have been spending way too much money, money that I dont have on things that I don't necessarily need. I keep buying makeup but I really only use a fraction of it. I have gotten myself in debt which I am not determined to get myself out of before the end of the year. I had associated my happiness with that rush feeling I get when I spend over £400 on makeup in one day. Thanks for giving me the compassion perspective and 5 second rule.

[rosarosa]

ıf u stop watching tv and commercials, automatically buying stuff will decrease. It happened to me. watching TV and commercials are brainwashing. I watch everything on the internet now and I skip the advertisements.

[simoroshka]

One year later I am still getting positive feeling from my slightly more expensive better than usual shoes. So, I am trying to buy things that I really like, and remember that less if actually more

[Andrea-xsny]

I realized one day that, just because something was your own adjective, I did not have to POSSESS it. This is the "Oh, I must HAVE it!" feeling we get. Just like a beautiful flower, if you just HAVE to HAVE/possess it, you must cut it to bring it into your house. You have just deprived the flower of its natural life and, more importantly (as a life lesson), you have deprived others of its beauty as they walk or drive by. You can apply this to anything that can be bought or even to other people. If you desire someone else's partner, that means, like a beautiful piece of jewelry or flower, you want to possess that person (i.e., be involved with them, have them for yourself, take them away from another). If you can let go of the need to possess things and people, let that go, and be content with leaving things to be appreciated, admired, and loved, but not possessed. Leave it where you found it. I hope this helps someone! Blessings! Also, MEL, thank you!!

[kathrynmcnerney]

100% agree about investing in yourself in meaningful ways and not in materialism

[janebaker]

1).Stop going to the shops
2). Meet your needs in other ways
3). Don't keep up with the Joneses.

I take photos of things I want to see if I'm still keen a day later.
I go to the library cos it feel like shopping, but free!! You get that feeling of the hunt and taking it home without money

[McFraneth]

My bank manager says he has clients with expensive cars who live in hovels. Car and clothes for appearance. I think that's heartbreaking.

[KyleKroha]

Actually, I find this to be applicable on another level- not for 'what I don't have' but more so for past decisions/ consequences for former choices.' There's a type of grief that happens when you see that others made a better choice than you did, or were able to take advantage of circumstances, etc. that were not available to you at the time- even if honest valid reasons surround it all.. When you see a former peer whose career choices yielded more rewards than did yours, etc. - jealousy/envy is not always the first reaction for some; and honest sadness/self- diminishment often is. The self-compassion is usually non-existent unless you see a lovely video like this to give you perspective. Thanks very, very much!

[sqgkfri]

Become a minimalist. Ditch
TV's, cars and too much junk
in your life. Luckily I live in
Switzerland where we have
a marvelous integrated transport
system. Generally we are not
clutterbugs but prefer experiences. Glad I live here.

[ryanhealey]

My key? Getting laid off! I was laid off earlier this year out of the blue (after twenty years I did not see that coming) but I was lucky enough to get severance and have money stashed away. Well when I knew a check was coming every two week I had boxes from amazon a few times a week and new clothes each season. Guess what? Because I wasn’t sure when my next check was coming I just suddenly stopped shopping unless I NEEDED something and I haven’t missed a thing! I have plenty of clothes. I have plenty of stuff. I was shopping for “something to do” and it’s been one of the lessons of having to start a new career.... I learned I don’t need 75% of the stuff I was buying all the time. Amen! I’ve started my own business and am starting to see money come in now but will never handle money as I did before. What a blessing!

[dianer]

Make a llist of things that do not cost money that would make you happy. Such as going for a walk, taking the kids to the playground, visiting a friend, admiring a sunset, etc. Fill your day with happy things that are free.

[dianer]

We shop at the recycling shed at our dump. It gives me great pleasure to clean something and make it like new again. We also find useful things for our friends and neighbors. It's an art to take good care of things, to treasure what little you may have, to be generous with your time and help support those that may be without.

[twofoursevenbeauty]

I did this today. I love handbags and there was a basket of them for sale outside a charity shop. They were only £1 each but I knew they would only sit in the wardrobe. So I didn't buy them.

[kidney]

You really are a great woman. Thank you. This video is very useful and made me think about many things. I was materialistic, I still am actually and I try not to think about buying useless things anymore. When you accumulate so many items in the house it is not nice to see. Sometimes I just looked up the items I bought and ask myself: "But... do I really need these stuff?"

[joeygagliardi]

My issue is that I tire of things quickly. So, what I do is buy things are cheaper, , simply for the change. I need to purchase things I really like and spend less for it. Even if is something I look at daily on the wall. I also now will go into a thrift shop and pick up a designer shirt, for practically nothing, get it home. wash it.. iron it, , and its new again. This has helped me, , even with pieces of Art on the wall, , I now do the same. This has really saved me from the spending. It is not trying to show anyone up, , it is mostly how quickly I tire of things. It really works, and helps a lot financially. Them switch items at those times, , back and forth, Thanks for the Video, , Happy Holidays to all..