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Don’t Regret A Purchase Ever Again With This Guide on How To Avoid Buyer’s Remorse

Have you ever felt super excited to buy something only to feel guilty about it a week later? That’s called buyer’s remorse. And it is way more common than you think. Want to know how you can get rid of this nasty feeling? Keep reading! In this blog, we’ll tell you all about buyer’s remorse and how you can avoid feeling it ever again.

What is Buyer’s Remorse?

What is Buyer’s Remorse

Buyer’s remorse or buyer’s guilt is kind of the aftermath of an impulsive purchase. It means freaking out over all the money you “wasted” on something you technically didn’t even need.

Buyer’s guilt can stem from the following reasons:

  • The purchase didn’t live up to your expectations
  • You found the same product for a better price elsewhere
  • You bought it on a whim and now realize it’s useless to you
  • It’s not being used as much as you thought it would be
  • The product doesn’t seem worth the price (most common in online purchases)

Related: Impulsive Buyer’s Guide To Slow Shopping

How to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse

It’s okay, though! Buyer’s remorse is not that difficult to avoid. Learn how to get over buyer’s remorse with these tips below.

1. Say NO To Tempting Sales/Offers

Say NO To Tempting Sales Offers

Imagine you’re mindlessly scrolling on Instagram when you see a sponsored post from a popular makeup brand. They’re offering free lipstick of your choice, and all you have to pay is for the delivery! Considering how expensive good lipsticks are, this sounds like a steal, right?

Wrong! It’s just a marketing gimmick to lure you to their website. Once you add the lipstick to your cart, they’ll suggest other products at “discounted” prices (and waive the delivery fee). And then you keep stacking your cart because you think you’re saving money.

Related: 7 Best Shopping Apps

2. Invest in Experiences Over Material Things

Invest ain Experiences Over Material Things

When you spend your money on experiences like a vacation or a Taylor Swift concert, you’re less likely to get buyer’s remorse. In fact, you’ll probably end up feeling super good about it in the long run.

This is because material things like earphones or lipstick can always be compared to other brands that may be better or provide more value for money. However, an experience like a vacation or a concert is unique every time so there’s no cause for comparison.

Related: How To Save Money On Etsy

3. Ask Yourself Why

Ask Yourself Why

A great way to avoid buyer’s remorse is to ask yourself why you’re purchasing something. If it’s something important or necessary, you won’t feel guilty for investing in it. On the contrary, if it’s something you don’t really need, you may regret it later. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself before hitting “add to cart”:

  • Why am I buying this?
  • Is it really worth the money?
  • Can I absolutely not live without it?
  • How much longer can I go without buying this?
  • Am I just buying this because it’s popular?

Related: 10 Mind-Blowing Costco Secrets To Save Money

4. Create a Budget

Create a Budget

Having a budget set for every month can do wonders in avoiding buyer’s remorse. This will make you second-guess every purchase you’re about to make, leading to fewer unnecessary purchases.

Besides that, you can also create a savings fund for something you really want that’s priced on the higher side. So every time you feel like buying something you don’t need, think of putting that amount of money into the fund instead.

Related: Online Shopping Safety Tips

5. Reward Yourself on Your Achievements

Reward Yourself on Your Achievements

Incentivizing your tasks not only helps you remain motivated but is also a foolproof way to get rid of buyer’s remorse. Create a list of tasks or milestones you want to accomplish every month. If you’re a writer, one of them could be to complete a certain number of chapters. Reward yourself as you complete each task. Maybe buy the pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing for weeks or go in for a much-needed massage appointment. A reward should be something meaningful, something that you find valuable. And an impulse buy is the exact opposite of it.

Related: How To Find The Best Deals

6. Don’t Buy If You’re Unsure

Don’t Buy If You’re Unsure

A lot of times, even after hitting that “checkout” button, you’re still unsure of whether you really want to buy the item. And then you end up buying it anyway. But when you receive your parcel, you can’t help thinking you made the wrong decision. So, if you’re unsure of that product, don’t buy it! Wait it out and see if you still want it a week later. Buyer’s remorse averted!

7. Wait 48-72 Hours Before Checking Out

Wait 48-72 Hours Before Checking Out

We know you want nothing more than to make that purchase and eagerly wait for the delivery. But try waiting at least two days before you do so. Impulse buying can almost always lead to purchases that you regret later. However, revisiting a product page after a few days helps you figure out if you actually want or need the product. If you still want to purchase it three days later, you’re a lot less likely to have buyer’s remorse.

Related: 5 Chrome Extensions For Shopping That Will Help You Save Money

8. Review Return Policies

Review Return Policies

Reviewing a return policy before making a purchase provides a safety net that helps avoid buyer’s remorse. It offers peace of mind, allowing you to reconsider your choices if the product doesn’t meet their expectations or needs. This knowledge promotes informed decision-making, reduces impulse purchases, and ensures financial security, all contributing to a more satisfying and regret-free shopping experience.

Related: 23 Stores With The Return Policies

9. Use Price Comparison Tools Like Carrot

Use Price Comparison Tools Like Carrot

Carrot is a shopping tool that lets you compare and track prices using ‘deal hop’ and organize your online finds in thoughtful wishlists, gift registries, and mood boards. All these features help you time your purchases, get the best deal online (up to 90% off), and store all your items in one place so you never lose them, reducing impulse buying considerably.

Related: The Ultimate Guide On How To Use Carrot

10. Emotional Awareness

Emotional Awareness

Shopping when you’re upset or sad can lead to impulsive decisions. Recognizing and understanding your emotions can prevent impulsive and reactive purchases driven by temporary feelings. By distinguishing between genuine needs and emotionally driven wants, you can make more deliberate, rational decisions, reducing the likelihood of regretting purchases later.

11. Shop with a List

Shop with a List

Shopping with a list is a simple yet highly effective strategy to ward off buyer’s remorse. It keeps you focused on your intended purchases and prevents impulsive buying. With a list in hand, you’re less likely to be swayed by marketing tactics or tempting promotions for items you don’t truly need. Instead, you stick to your planned purchases, ensuring that your shopping aligns with your priorities and reducing the chances of regretting impulse buys later.

Second Guessing Your Buys? Choose Carrot!

Second Guessing Your Buys Choose Carrot

Tired of constantly dealing with buyer’s remorse? Carrot has good news for you.

With this ah-mazing shopping tool, you can:

  • Find the best price and deals for any product up to 90% off
  • Coupon codes for all your fav stores
  • Inexpensive dupes for all your fav luxury stores using Deal Hop
  • Influencer and celeb-inspired collections and outfit recommendations
  • Organize your online finds in neat collections, wishlists, mood boards, and gift registries

All this for FREE!

All you need to do is to get the Carrot app or download the browser extension. Easy, free, and simple with no added guilt!

Shop with Carrot. No regrets, Only Rewards!

Carrot is that shopping companion that lets you compare prices, find deals, and track your favorite products effortlessly. Shop smarter with Carrot!