A MONEY-SAVING pro has revealed three simple hacks she used to help pay off her £16k debt in 12 months – and how she was still able to impulse shop.
Lexa explained that she would head to the library any time she wanted to impulse shop or delay checking out when shopping online to make sure she was only buying what she really wanted.
The money coach, known online as @theavocadotoastbudget, regularly shares money-saving and budgeting tips with her 478,200 followers.
In a new TikTok reel, she said: “When it comes to impulse spending, we can sit here and talk all day about how you shouldn’t do it.
“The reality of it is sometimes you just want to buy s***.
“Berating yourself for that obviously isn’t working, so we need to find ways to just lessen the impact when it does happen.
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“Personally, some of my go-to's are the library, the thrift store, Five Below, or the dollar store.
“I figured out that I get the same feelings from carrying out a stack of books in the library as I do from Barnes and Noble.
“And if I know that I just want to buy s***, then going to places like the dollar store, or Five Below or a thrift store, where generally the things around cost less than they would if I went to Target when I was in that state of mind.
“I’m going to end up spending less money.”
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Lexa also revealed that she would shop at places with easy returns policies so she could take things back if ‘buyers remorse’ set in.
She added: “Another thing that you can do is try to shop at places that have very easy return policies.
“That way, if buyer remorse sinks in when you get home and you realise that you impulse spent and you don’t really want those things, you’re able to return them and get your money back.”
Her third tip – you can still shop online, but try waiting 24 hours before you checkout to make sure you really want those items.
She added: “You can also allow yourself to online shop, add things to your cart, but tell yourself you have to wait until tomorrow to actually buy them.”
Fans loved her money-saving ideas, with the video gaining more than 240 likes and 3,100 views.
In the comments, other TikTok users shared their thoughts, with one writing: “The thing with the library is so true. sometimes I don't even read them. And I read a LOT but ‘new’ books are always satisfying.”
“Dollar Tree is my go-to place when I feel like I need to shop,” another said.
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Others shared their own hacks, with one adding: “I’ve started buying a little stock on the days I don’t spend or into my high-yield savings account. Even if it’s just $5.”
Someone else put: “I pay extra on a bill.”
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