Have you heard of a “Yes Day”? It’s where you plan a day to say yes to anything your kids want. Parents wild enough to do it say they plan ahead with some boundaries of course. It’s so appealing to kids because they aren’t in control most of the time and this is a day of kids having full control. 

The thing with us adults is, we could have a “Yes Day” every day of our lives if we wanted to. Think about what our minds, homes and bank accounts would look like if we did. This is where conscious consuming comes into play. There will be stretches of our lives where we might feel like we’ve said yes to buying and spending a little too much. This has certainly happened to me during a birthday month or in the weeks leading up to the holidays, but there are ways to equip ourselves with conscious consuming tools that will help us say no when we want to say yes. 

1. Put it in the cart. 

Sometimes this step actually fulfills the craving that creeps up as we’re shopping online. In a TODAY.com article on cart abandonment we learned “For the consumer, the act of placing items in an online shopping cart does have positive effects. Just the process itself, even without a final purchase, brings a rush, excitement, anticipation and satisfaction,” said Barbara L. Stewart, a professor of human development at the University of Houston’s College of Technology. 

2. Add it to the wishlist.

Amazon wishlists are the best! It’s a one click away and allows us to react to the impulse to buy with a constructive step. Putting it on the list lets us think about it over time, prioritize what we want the most and make smart purchases (or let someone else purchase it for us as a gift ) 😉. This is a great teaching tool for kids too! When you are out shopping, have them add items they want to a birthday or holiday wish list for review later. It lets them feel a bit of control, helps them plan for future gifting events and teaches them how to save for a purchase. 

3. Set your limit.

Speaking of prioritizing what we want – establishing limits for ourselves helps us decide what we really want or need. If it’s one piece of jewelry during a set timeframe you’ll take time to shop, review and decide with thoughtfulness. This is another great strategy for kids. If you’re bringing home a souvenir from a trip, allow them time to decide carefully about the one they will buy vs buying something at every single stop.  

These few tips can be great strategies to curb your impulse buys. Again, thinking like a conscious consumer isn’t about deprivation or skipping the things we enjoy, but rather making choices that are better for us and the planet in the long run.