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Realistic Ways to Save Money (you don’t have to buy everything you like)

You’re in control.

You decide whether you walk into that store.

You decide what you pick up off the counter.

You decide if you spend money you technically don’t have.

Deep down, you know when you’re overspending. But here’s the hard truth: it doesn’t matter how many money-saving tips or “under consumption hacks” you watch. None of it will stick if you keep buying.

If you want to save money and gain real control, you have to retrain your brain.

1. Practice Saying No in Low-Stakes Areas

Think of self-control like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

Start with the little things. Skip that “buy one, get one free” item you don’t need or pass on small indulgences like a $2 candy bar.

Every time you say no, your brain learns how to resist. You start realizing that you’re in control, not your impulses.

The cool part is that practicing with the small stuff prepares you. If you keep at it, saying no to bigger purchases won’t feel impossible because your brain is already trained to handle it.

(Related: Download your mindful spending Money Mindset Bullet Journal — it’s your personal spending coach). 

2. Verbalize Your Choice

It sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference. When you pick up an item and put it back, say to yourself, “I’m choosing not to buy this.” Hearing the words reinforces your decision because verbalizing activates a part of your brain that helps control impulses.

A lot of overspending happens on autopilot. You see something shiny, you like it, and before you know it, you’re swiping your card.

Speaking your decision out loud, however, interrupts that autopilot loop. It forces you to pause, really consider the action you’re about to take, and actually save money. It works even better if you say it to someone else. With that being said, an accountability buddy can add another layer of control over your money.

3. Name the Enemy to Save Money

You probably know the stores, websites, or apps that suck you in. Call them out. Write them down. Name them like the villains they are.

Target, Amazon, Sephora – they are not your friends. So instead of thinking, “I can’t resist” or “this is my weakness,” tell yourself, “I’m not letting these stores trick me. I’m smarter than that.”

It’s a mental shift that puts you in the driver’s seat. When you see a store or app as a villain, it changes how you approach it. You may still shop there, but now you do it mindfully instead of mindlessly.

4. Put a Sticky Note on Your Debit or Credit Card

Write something like, “Do I really need this?” or wrap a picture of a financial goal around your card.

Every time you reach for it, you see the note or picture, which forces a micro-pause and reminds you that spending is a choice.

Most overspending happens on autopilot. This tiny visual blocker interrupts that behavior and helps you build more control while saving money.

5. Check Your Bank Balance Before Shopping

Before leaving the house or opening an app, take a look at your current balance.

This gut-check moment matters. If you check your balance and get a sinking feeling or don’t like what you see, it makes it harder to ignore the reality of your finances.

That number is your truth, not the inflated “I can afford it” sense in your head. And what you do next (after facing reality) indicates whether you’re serious about changing your habits and getting ahead with your money.

6. Count How Many Things Still Have Tags

Go through your closet and count items that still have tags or packaging.

Seeing shirts, shoes, or accessories you haven’t even touched is a reality check. It is proof that you don’t need a third pair of black boots or another unused candle.

This visual reminder shows that spending more isn’t necessary. You can survive without it.

7. Save Money With a Regret List

Write down every dumb purchase you’ve made that still annoys you. Pull it up when you feel the urge to spend.

Reading it before buying is a harsh but honest reminder of how it feels to regret your choices. Regret tends to stick with us, so tapping into it before a new purchase helps you pause and ask, “Do I really want to feel like this again?”

If you struggle to come up with items, check your junk drawer or the back of your closet. Half of what you buy and don’t need ends up there anyway. Open it, touch it, smell it. Let it remind you that mindless spending produces clutter and wasted money.

Bottom line: matter how many saving tips or money hacks you know, none of it will matter unless you practice control. Learning to pause, saying no, and retraining your brain is how you take control and start saving money consistently.