The English word spaving comes from Spaving / Urban Dictionary from the phrase spending to save and literally means "spending money for the sake of saving." For example, when we buy unwanted items on sale, it's sparing. Of course, a discounted sweater costs only 1,000 rubles. But this does not make the purchase profitable if we do not need it, but only means that there is 1,000 rubles less in the wallet.
It's generally hard for Spavers to get past the sale. It seems to them that they are saving money in the long run when they spend it now on things that they would not have bought otherwise.
The main problem is that it forces us to spend more in the hope of getting some benefit in the form of savings in return. One of the most common examples of the sparing trap is free shipping, which stores offer to customers when ordering for a certain amount. As a result, we add items to the cart that we don't need. Yes, we will not spend money on delivery, but the total purchase amount is likely to exceed the originally planned limit.
Another trick of sellers that leads to spaving is a sense of urgency, fueled by, for example, formulations such as "Only today", "Price of the day" or "Limited offer". It makes us feel like we're missing out on a rare opportunity to make a good purchase. Although this is not really the case, because promotions are held regularly, and if we have not bought an item on sale now, this does not mean that we will not be able to buy the same item on sale later.
In addition, many people get real pleasure when they find a thing at a good price, and it doesn't matter how much they need it or how much they wanted it. But this is a temporary pleasure. Because we're still spending money that could have gone to something more important, like investing, topping up a savings account, or paying off debts.
Even small amounts spent in a rush of sparing accumulate over time and punch a noticeable hole in the budget. In addition, goods purchased under the promotion often cannot be returned, which means that when the euphoria of a successful purchase passes, we may find ourselves surrounded by things that we do not like and do not really need.
In particularly severe cases, sparing even leads to serious financial problems, such as debts, the amount of which exceeds the savings saved when buying discounted goods.
Unsubscribe from store newsletters and turn off notifications in marketplace apps to stop receiving messages about new promotions and discounts and protect yourself from the temptation to "profitably" spend money.
Always make it up before you go to the store. When an item on sale attracts your attention, before you buy it, check if it is on your list.
This advice can also be applied if you prefer to buy things at a discount and rarely arrange a big shopping trip. Make a list of everything you are going to buy someday, and check it when you find yourself in the store during the sale.
Don't buy things right away, but give yourself time to think. When emotions about a potentially successful purchase subside a little, you will calmly figure out how much you need it. In addition, you will have the opportunity to check if there is already something similar at home. If there is, even if you don't need to spend 500 rubles anyway.
You can withstand a 24‑hour waiting period to inspect the cabinets and in addition, for example, compare prices in different stores. Or you can go even further and take a 48‑hour break before buying, even if the product is sold at a discount.
To make a final decision, ask yourself how you will feel about this purchase in three, six or nine months.
Namely, those where tempting promotions are regularly arranged. If you know that you always spend more in a store than you planned, or often make impulsive purchases there, try to enter it less often. And turn off your phone while shopping, because conversations or correspondence can distract you and prevent you from making a sound financial decision.
The more inconvenient the spaying is, the better. Therefore, delete the card data in applications and on store websites so that you can enter them manually each time. While you take the card out of your wallet and re-enter the necessary information, the desire to buy may weaken and you will avoid reckless spending.
Evaluate your shopping habits and calculate how much you spent on extra things in a year. Perhaps the picture that opens up motivates you to change something and make a plan to reduce spending.
In addition, it will be useful to think about what emotions provoke spewing. If you buy something to cheer yourself up after a terrible day or reward yourself for a good job, feelings will disappear, and unnecessary things and a hole in the budget will remain. Therefore, it is worth looking for another way to cope with sadness or celebrate victories.
When making a personal budget, it is important to take into account your goals, principles and values. Therefore, before you go shopping, you should ask yourself how much the upcoming purchases will correspond to your overall well-being.
To ensure that this issue does not escape your attention, you need to make the goals visible. Write them down on stickers and stick them on a laptop or even on a bank card. Then every time you are tempted by spaving, you will see where it is better to direct money in order to achieve what you want faster.
When we do this, we lose sight of our own values and spend too much money to "be no worse than others." If you realize that you are buying beautiful and expensive, but unnecessary things because of social pressure, find an opportunity to change your personal and professional environment.
For example, spend more time with friends who support you, or discuss career development ideas with colleagues you trust. This will remind you that you have your own unique needs and desires.
