5 Ways To Save Money With A Personal Loan

  • By CompareHero.my
  • May 24, 2021

Loans are generally an avoid for most people. But, if a certain individual knows how to properly use it, a loan is a great tool that can give a person a boost in terms of personal finance. 

Personal loans can give us quick access to instant cash, meet urgent expenses, and save money in the long run. One of the benefits of it includes not being tied to a specific reason, that’s why it can be spun to be taken advantage of. Also, there may be tax benefits available on personal loans that will ensure future monetary savings. 

Assuming that you are a responsible person who doesn’t spend the personal loan in a reckless manner, here are 5 ways you can save money with a personal loan. 

1. Consolidation of debt

Specifically, credit card debt. Personal loans typically have lower average interest rates when compared to credit cards. This is why it is a common practice to use personal loans and first pay off the credit card debt. Furthermore, it is beneficial because you may have credit card debts with different banks in terms of simplifying it. There are even specific loans that target this benefit. 

Related: What Is Debt Consolidation? How Can It Work For You? 

This lower interest rate that comes with a personal loan is aimed to help you pay off your debt faster. However, be very careful with it and don’t use it as an excuse to postpone debt repayment. You may end up with even more debt if you delay the payments. 

2. Use it as capital for your business

save-money-with-personal-loan-1
Business capital

Getting funding to start your dream business is not an easy task but it needs to be done if you want to survive and thrive among the competition. The pros of using a personal loan to finance your business include an easier application and quick approval for it. 

However, also be very careful about the amount you’re taking on. Because if your business fails, the risk will fall on to you, not your business. Hence, the bigger the amount that you’re planning to take a loan on, the higher the risks will be. Ask yourself if you really need it first. Avoid if possible, but be careful if necessary. 

3. Upgrade your skills

One of the indirect ways that you can level up personally and financially is through taking courses and getting a better qualification than your previous one. One of the options is to use this fund to pay for a skilled course. The other is to ensure that you have sufficient funds while you take a break from your working life and pursue an education that will give you a boost. 

For instance, you can take a month or two of unpaid leave and sign up for a course. Use this period to make yourself better and hone your skills so that when you do get back to your job, you have the upper hand that can potentially give you leverage or a raise. 

In the short term, you may have to pay a little bit more, but in the long term, it will definitely be worth it. 

4. Making a big purchase

Medical expenses, emergency home repairs, home refurnishing, and weddings. When big moments like these happen, you might be prepared and you might not be so sometimes, you’ll find yourself in need of cash for a short period of time. This is when a personal loan can really help you. 

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Buying a home.

The big difference is that although you might have some money saved up, you might not want to spend it on high-value expenditures in one single shot. Leave those funds for the real emergencies. Instead, take out a personal loan that allows you to pay it back in instalments over a period of time. 

5. Improving your credit score

Your credit rating will directly be impacting if you default on any loan over a period of continuous time span. Furthermore, banks or financial institutions will then label this individual as a defaulter. The first issue is that the debts are accrued, and the second issue with this is that it will make it twice as difficult for such individuals to get loans approved in the future. 

Taking personal loans provide you with the benefit of diversification, which improves your credit score. Besides that, when you opt for a personal loan, you can reevaluate your current situation and decide upon the repayment plan. Your current circumstance may be different from when you first took on those credit card debts so it makes sense to revisit the repayment plan. 

Conclusion 

Just like any other loans, treat it like a tool and use it to your advantage. If you use them carelessly, you might get hurt; if you use them carefully and responsibly, they can get the job done much easier and faster. 

As you can see, getting a personal loan that suits your needs can help you save money in the long run. So if you’re looking for the best personal loans in Malaysia, feel free to visit our comparison page.

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6 Places In Klang Valley To Donate Your Preloved And Old Clothes

  • By CompareHero.my
  • May 21, 2021

If you’re Marie Kondo-ing your closet and found some clothes that you no longer use and can’t fit in anymore, you would either make a choice to sell them as preloved clothes or throw them away.

But sometimes it never seems to be worth the effort to take pictures, post them online and earn just a few Ringgit for that. The easiest and most rewarding way is to donate them to any local charity that can get all your unwanted clothes into the hands of people who can use them.

There are many charities in the Klang Valley that accept old, preloved or unwanted clothes and help distribute them to those in need. If you don’t know where to go, here are some of the places you can consider:

1. Community Recycle for Charity (CRC)

Founded in 2008, Community Recycle for Charity (CRC) is a non-profit organisation that collects not only clothes but also other recyclable items like furniture, paper, glass, plastic and more and helps give them to the poor.

CRC has also installed 400 bins around the Klang Valley to encourage more people to recycle, and at the same providing convenience by dropping off the recycled items. You can view the bin locations here.

2. Salvation Army Malaysia

The Salvation Army in Malaysia has ten corps and a range of social service programmes that provide both spiritual guidance and assistance to people in need.

Red Shield Industries (RSI) is the social enterprise arm of The Salvation Army that aims to encourage people to donate their preloved items such as clothing, electrical items, furniture, books and household items that still can be used.

By using donations from the public and corporations, they generate income through its Family Thrift Stores to support their mission to provide holistic care to the community.

Drop-off locations:

Red Shield Industries Warehouse
15,Jalan Subang 7/1,Twin Park,Taman Perindustrian Subang,
47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Section 12 Booth, PJ
1, Jalan 12/17, Section 12,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Kuala Lumpur Corps & Community Service
1, Lingkungan Hujan, Taman OUG
58200 Kuala Lumpur

Related: 5 Supermarket Store Brand Items That Can Save You Money

3. Kechara Soup Kitchen

Kechara Soup Kitchen is an organisation that collects surplus food from hypermarkets, wet markets, hotels and bakeries, and distributes them to those in need. The team consists of dedicated members who are passionate in serving the poor and homeless in the community.

Besides food, they also accept preloved clothes, toys, umbrellas, shoes and other unused items. These donated items will be given to the recipients of their feeding programs.

Drop-off locations:

10, Jalan Seri Rejang 3, Setapak Jaya, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday, 11.00am to 2.00pm

Block D, 63-67 The Suites, Level P1,
72A, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz,
Jaya One, 46200 Petaling Jaya
Sunday, 10.00am to 6.00pm

4. Kloth Cares

Kloth Cares is a Malaysian social entrepreneurship movement that aims to keep fabrics and plastics away from landfills by giving them new life and purpose. They reuse unused clothes for bundle shops and donate to those in need.

Their approach focuses on managing fabric and textile wastes by staying true to the 5R principles of “Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle”.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Kloth (@klothlifestyle)

Find Kloth Cares Bin locations here.

5. Kedai BLESS

Kedai BLESS is an outlet store that collects and sells preloved clothes in their thrift stores. Rejected donations that cannot be sold at their outlets will be sent to the Shuang Fu (Dual Blessing Bhd) organisation for people with disabilities (PWD).

Not encouraging wasting, Kedai BLESS makes sure that all donated items so that they won’t let it all go to waste. All proceeds and sales made from the thrifted stores will be contributed to the charitable organisations that they work with.

Outlets:

MIDVALLEY MEGAMALL
Unit CP-01, Level P1
Center Court Midvalley Megamall,
59200 Kuala Lumpur

One Utama Shopping Centre (Old Wing)
LG126 (one floor down from The Body Shop)
Lebuh Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Click here to find out other locations.

6. H&M

h-m-donate-recycle-clothes

H&M runs a global garment collection initiative to promote a “sustainable fashion future”. This garment collecting program is available at all H&M stores in Malaysia. The best part is you will receive one voucher of 15% off one item for every bag of unwanted garments you donated with a maximum of two vouchers per day.

View H&M store locations in Malaysia here.

Keep your home clutter-free and help those in need

There are many benefits of donating your clothes, one of them include helping those who cannot afford to wear comfortable clothes. Some of the organisations we listed above turn the donated clothes for monetary donation and contribute the proceeds for charitable causes. You also want to keep your closet packed with clothes you no longer need and wear, hence, donating is the best way for you to get the space you need in the closet.

Also read:

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Ways To Sell Your Car & Transfer Car Ownership Online In Malaysia

  • By CompareHero.my

Selling a used car isn’t easy, it can be time-consuming, tedious and downright frustrating. With that said, is there a way for you to sell your car without going through all the hassle? Do you know what you need to do before you do sell your car, and how to increase its selling appeal to the buyers? We’re here to answer all your car-selling inquiries.

Should you go through a car dealer?

Going to a car dealer would make selling your car a breeze, but at a huge cost on your end. Selling your car to car dealer is definitely less risky than BUYING a used car from them, but you’ll need to be prepared to get a MUCH lower quote than what you would get if you sell your car privately. Think thousands of ringgit less than what you would have gotten for your car if you sell it directly to a buyer.

The good thing about car dealers is that they will buy your car even though it may be in a not-so-pristine condition (translation: car-full of problems), but they will quote the lowest price they can because, well, that’s how they make money out of you and the future (unlucky) owner of your car. So if you’re looking to sell your car without spending money to fix it and can live with the low-baller prices, see a few car dealers and try to get the highest quote you can.

Beware of their many tactics to decrease the value of your car, it’s common for them to quote a decent price for your car to attract you at first.  However, after the viewing process, the final price may be slashed to half of what was originally offered due to some sort of problems found in your car – scratches included.

If you aren’t keen on the low prices quoted by the car dealers, you can look into selling your car yourself or sell it through an agent. Agents are normally single entities who are not attached to any dealers, but they have the means and expertise to sell your car just like one. They normally take smaller commissions than dealers too, making them a great alternative to car dealers. Bear in mind that you’ll need to leave your car to the agent while he/she tries to sell it for you, so make sure that the agent is someone who is trustworthy and honourable.

How To Sell Your Car In Malaysia
Is going to a car dealer the best option for you?

Related: How To Spot A Bad Car Salesperson (And A Good One)

How do you sell your car privately?

The perk about selling your car privately or on your own is that you’ll get to sell it at a higher price, but it will involve a somewhat tedious process. We also highly recommend you check out websites like Carreviewsncare to learn more about what additional upgrades (at minimal cost, naturally) that you can offer to increase the sales value of your car. So don’t worry, you aren’t the first to do it, and we’ve gathered a few pointers on how you can sell your car on your own as below:

Step 1: Create attractive advertisements

Advertising your car online or in the newspapers with a brief description and a single photo of your car is not enough; you need to get creative and go the extra mile to make sure your advertisement stands out than the hundreds of other similar ones.

Be thorough with your description, include several high-quality photos and if the site allows it, upload a short video that showcases the specs and condition of your car. The key is to attract potential buyers’ attention and spark their interest. Avoid saying overused phrases like ‘tip-top condition’; everybody says that, which makes it meaningless. Advertise your car on websites like Mudah.my and invest in ‘bumping’ or boosting your advertisement to increase the selling rate.

Step 2: Determining the right price

Do you know how much your car actually worth? Comparing the prices from other cars of the same model from the same year is not going to cut it, as no one car is ever in the exact same condition or features (in the case of add-ons). It doesn’t help your case if you advertise a too-high price in the hopes of lowering your loss when it comes to the actual negotiation.

The best thing to do is to advertise a price that is close to your final price, after an extensive market evaluation. This will require a little bit of market research on your part, so go on sites like Carlist.my, Motor Trader and oto.my to compare the current market prices.

Tip: Sales rates before festive seasons (e.g. New Year, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya) are always higher than the rest of the year because people will be looking to drive a newly bought car to celebrate the festivities. Time the advertisements wisely to increase the chances of people buying your car.

Step 3: Invest in maintenance

A lot of private car sellers overlook this, but people will less likely be interested in purchasing a car that looks as if it’s straight out from a Mad Max movie. The condition of your car at the point of selling matters, as no one would want to pay heaps of money to purchase a problematic car.

Invest in car servicing (especially the air-conditioning), CAR WASH, change of tyres, and little but important things to buyers such as working power windows, removing dents and scratches, plus fixing cracks on the windshield. Fix the external things first because people will always look at the exterior of your car first, before all else. Besides, better looking cars always sell for higher prices.

Related: How To Make Your Car Last 500,000km – Car Maintenance Tips

How To Sell Your Car In Malaysia - Check Your Mileage Add details like your car’s mileage in your advertisement

Step 4: First impression is the make-or-break

When a prospect buyer is viewing and test-driving your car, make sure to give the best first impression of it as possible. Send your car for a wash before the viewing date and prepare related documents that will help convince the prospect buyer such as car service manual/records, car repair receipts and a copy of your JPJ car registration.

You should also consider bringing a friend/family member with you (especially if you’re a lady) and do it in a public area to avoid any unwanted circumstances.

Step 5: The negotiation

Here’s when things get real. Everyone wants a discount, especially when you’re spending thousands on an item. First, you need to determine if your prospect buyer is paying with cash or with a bank loan. Cash-payments are much faster and less tedious, as the loan-takers will have to go through various channels to get the loan approved, IF it’s approved.

You would want to lean towards giving a better price to the cash-payers to seal the deal. Once you reach an agreement on the price of your car, the now-buyer will need to put a deposit (a.k.a booking fee) of any amount set by yourself. Most people put it at RM500, but go with whatever sum that you’re comfortable with, as long as it’s not too high (you don’t want to scare off your buyer, would you?). Congratulations, you’ve now got yourself a buyer for your car!

Related: Tips For Buying A Second Hand Car In Malaysia

Step 6: The inspection and record clearance

A few more steps before you can transfer the ownership to your car, for now you need to take your car to the nearest PUSPAKOM centre for an inspection. We recommend just going there early in the morning as they rarely answer phone calls for appointments. Before going to the PUSPAKOM, remember to remove all the tinting on your car’s windows.

The inspection will cost RM30 (another RM60 if your buyer is taking up a car loan). Remember to bring your original JPJ inspection card. Upon the passing of the inspection, you will be given a certificate from PUSPAKOM to certify that your car is in fit condition for a transfer of ownership. Do NOT lose the certificate as you’ll need it during the transfer of ownership process with Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalanraya (JPJ) later.

Next you need to check the status of summons that might have been made under your car’s registration number. It’s no use skipping this part as you can’t pass your summons to your buyer (bummer). You can try checking the status of your existing summons (you’ll need to register first) by clicking on the links below:

For JPJ summons: http://www.jpj.gov.my

For Police (PDRM) summons: https://www.rilek.com.my/

You can also check your summons via SMS*, just send POLIS SAMAN (NRIC number or Car registration number) to 15888 for police summons and JPJ SAMAN (NRIC number) to 15888 for JPJ summons.

*Telco charges will apply.

How To Sell Your Car In Malaysia - Successfully Selling Your Car
Time to pass on the keys

Step 7: The transfer of ownership

This is the final step, therefore if your buyer is paying with cash, it’s time to get your buyer to prepare the banker’s cheque (or direct transfer). It’s not advisable for you to accept personal cheques for security reasons. Make sure the money is transferred to your account first before you take the trip to JPJ to officiate the car’s transfer of ownership.

At this point both you and the buyer will need to walk in to the nearest JPJ office, and you’ll need to bring your car’s original registration card and NRIC. The buyer will need to purchase a car insurance prior to this visit, and if he/she is taking a loan for this purchase, the sum assured must be at least 90% of the car’s purchased price.

You will both need to fill up the appropriate forms for the transfer of ownership, and the buyer will need to pay around RM100 for the transfer fee. The buyer’s name will then be imprinted at the back of the car’s registration card as the new owner. And there you have it, you’ve just sold your car!

Related: The True Total Cost Of Car Ownership In Malaysia

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15 Most Expensive Traffic Offences In Malaysia

  • By CompareHero.my

In Malaysia, we are quite familiar and equally frustrated with the traffic disasters caused by poor road conditions and reckless drivers. Hence, summons and roadblocks by the authorities including JPJ officers and police traffic officers are designed to minimize the traffic offences and help create a safer environment for all of us.

However, it is safe to say that many Malaysians are still not complying with the rules and regulations set by law despite hefty summons and the demerit system on our driving licences. For example, in just the first six months of 2017, the death toll of motorcyclists for running a red light is at 301 fatalities, while 299 others have suffered injuries due to their own negligence, as reported by Malaysian Digest.

Apart from that, it is important to know that some of these cases are caused by road bullies and this shows how important it is for the whole community to step up in order to minimize the hazardous road conditions.

From a financial perspective, you can’t avoid paying a hefty fine if you ever get caught by the police or traffic officers. Here are 15 of the most expensive (at RM300) traffic offences by Malaysians.

1. Driving, parking or towing your car in the emergency lane

Whatever your excuse is, the emergency lane is meant for emergency use only and that includes the ambulance, police officers and other authorized parties to attend to a certain emergency which may involve life and death.

This traffic offence is commonly seen on the highway, especially during peak traveling or holiday seasons. If you do not wish to pay the hefty fine and want to avoid being shamed on social media, always make sure to refrain from using the emergency lane.

Summon Amount: RM300

2. Overtaking another vehicle in a dangerous manner (or from the left side)

As shocking as this may sound, you will get a hefty summon of RM300 if you are caught by the authorities for overtaking another vehicle from the left side, not using the signal light or overtaking the vehicle in a dangerous manner which may cause harm to others on the road.

Summon Amount: RM300

3. Disobeying traffic lights

One of the most common traffic offences in Malaysia is also one of the most expensive ones. Causing a high rate of death toll among drivers, Malaysians tend to speed while running the red lights and this is extremely dangerous as any error in a split second can cause severe damage to both drivers and pedestrians. Green means go, yellow means slow down (not speed up) and red means stop.

Summon Amount: RM300

4. Failure to obey JPJ officers

When you are stopped by JPJ officers in a roadblock, you better make sure to do as they command and keep calm even if you were stopped for conducting any traffic offences. If you fail to comply with these officers, they can charge another traffic offence for not complying immediately.

Summon Amount: RM300

5. Blocking cars from overtaking

Ever encountered a driver who blocked you from overtaking their vehicles on purpose? They could face a serious fine of RM300 or more if they were caught by the authority for doing so.

Summon Amount: RM300

6. Speeding

Another common traffic offence by many Malaysians who clearly ignore or are not aware of the maximum speed limit stated in the road signs for most of the highways and roads. This is often the main reason behind many tragic road accidents and lost lives.

Summon Amount: RM300

7. Carrying too many people in your vehicle

Surprisingly, if you carry more people than your car’s capability, you can get fined for it. So make sure you do not carry too many people or do not overload your car with too many belongings that may block your car’s rear view mirror.

Summon Amount: RM300

8. Entering a one-way lane

Either it’s a one-way road or there is a do not enter sign. You need to be able to identify the signs and do not enter the lane with any of these two signs. If you are caught for doing so, you will be fined up to RM300, not mentioning causing a huge traffic jam at the same time.

Summon Amount: RM300

9. Failure to display your licence plate

Similar to an immigrant, if you fail to display your car plate at the front and back of your car, you will get fined up to RM300 by the police or JPJ officer.

Summon Amount: RM300

10. Not wearing seat belts

Though this act does not harm anyone on the road, it is considered as a serious offence by the authority because you are risking yourself and your passengers for not complying with basic safety guidelines while driving.

Whether you are the driver or passenger, you must make sure everyone in the car puts on the seatbelt to minimise the risk of getting into severe damage from an accident. It just might save your life.

Summon Amount: RM300

11. Not wearing a helmet (motorcycle riders)

While most of us know the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle, it is shocking that many are still not wearing one when they are riding on a motorcycle. Some of them are known as ‘Mat Rempit’, or an individual who participates in immoral activities and public disturbance with a motorcycle as their main transport while the rest are mostly villagers in the vicinity near their homes where they feel reluctant to wear a helmet.

Summon Amount: RM300

12. Sleeping or carelessness while driving

The trend of sleeping or being careless while driving can cause horrifying accidents and these are on the rise. Authorities are taking this matter seriously by imposing an expensive fine on those who break the law.

If you ever feel tired or unwell during the journey, you must pull over at the nearest stop and get some rest or help before you start moving again.

Summon Amount: RM300

13. Using mobile phones or other devices while driving

Being in the 21st century, it is somewhat difficult to stay away from your smartphone but to do that while you are driving will get you into serious trouble. So make sure you use a Bluetooth earphone or loudspeaker when you are in a call and avoid smartphone usage at all cost while you are driving.

Did you know using a phone while driving is the cause of 35% accidents in Kedah last year?

Summon Amount: RM300

14. Being a hazard by stopping along the road

Not that you are not allowed to stop your car when you are parking, but stopping your car in the middle of the road or highway without a valid reason can cost you a good summon. Imagine someone stopping his or her car in front of you in the middle of your journey and you will need to either overtake them or get into an accident if you couldn’t brake in time.

Summon Amount: RM300

15. Drunk driving

By now, we should know better than to be drunk and drive at the same time. Yet, this is one of the highest traffic offences in the country and hence, the fine is also one of the most expensive ones.

Summon Amount: RM300

By now, you should know that the road is not a playground and do not challenge the regulations put in place at the expense of your safety (and wallet too). Drive safe, everyone!

Don’t forget to get the best cash back credit card to save some money from your fuel expenses too!

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6 Ways To Stop Impulse Shopping

  • By CompareHero.my
  • May 20, 2021

Have you ever been to the mall with the plan to only get 3 items but ended up leaving with a bunch of items that aren’t even on your list? Overspending during shopping and impulse buying happens too often. There are advertisements everywhere we look, whether it’s on the Internet or a billboard giving us a ton of reasons to swipe our card. 

We’ve all been there and done that before. While it’s okay to occasionally break the rules and splurge on something you’ve been longing for, giving in too much and too often to impulse buying can impact your personal finance in the long term. 

The good news is that if we can just implement tiny little changes to our lives and how we perceive spending, we can take back the control of our money and be much more conscious about spending them. 

Here are six ways to stop impulse shopping: 

1. Include discretionary spending 

We call this the “splurge budget”, where we essentially allow ourselves to spend a little on the fun and unnecessary stuff. This is surprisingly a healthy practice as it is somewhat similar to healthy eating. You have to give yourself some flexibility or room for that retail therapy. These are items that you might need to fuel your hobbies or perhaps books or courses for yourself. 

The reason we want to be more aware of our spending is to have more control over it, but if we become completely militant to this, it defeats the purpose. It may even discourage you from sticking to the budget altogether. That said, you don’t have to spend the entire budget for this, if you don’t have anything to buy, there is no need to accumulate more items than you need. Stash this cash elsewhere or just save for the rainy days. 

2. Use cash for your discretionary spending

The reason for this is that swiping a card often feels like you’re not spending “real money”. Because of that, it is much easier to go over budget as there is no limit to how much you can spend. On the other hand, if you’re carrying cash, once it’s gone, it’s gone. You cannot summon any extra cash and therefore, have no way of going over budget at all. 

Go a step further and leave your credit or debit cards at home. The further it is away from you and the more difficult it is for you to get to it, the less likely you will be tempted to use it. 

Related: Use These 7 Cash Tricks to Grow Your Savings

how-to-stop-impulse-buying-1
Paying in cash.

3. Waiting period before buying

When you see something you really want, don’t buy it yet. Wait. Let it simmer. Research has found that these are the times when most people impulse buy and regret afterwards. Unless that item is something you really need and you’ve done your research on it, give it a grace period of about a week. 

Marketers use scarcity to urge buyers to make that impulse decision. For example: “When it’s gone, it’s gone” or “only 2 stocks left”. This is not our rational mind talking, this is our fear of missing out on talking. 

The worst thing that can happen is that the promotion deal is gone and you get to save this chunk of money. Life goes on, no big deal, there’ll be another one that’s similar to this. And the best thing that can happen is that this grace period has just saved you from that impulse purchase. 

4. Shop less often

Everything is just so enticing when we go to the mall. So how can we combat this? We just don’t go there. We change the narrative. 

If you really need to, then yes, have a shopping list and head to the mall. But if you don’t have to, find another hobby or way to spend your time that isn’t shopping. While retail therapy can sometimes be fun, there are other ways you can cheer yourself up including watching a comedy show, baking a cake, walk around the park, or simply hanging out with some friends. 

how-to-stop-impulse-buying-2
Don’t impulse buy.

5. Don’t shop when you’re emotional

Let’s talk about retail therapy. This term initially came about upon the idea to fight the feeling of being bored, stressed out, or sad. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it as long as you can afford it. But it’s important to also know what are the triggers that make you want to go for retail therapy. 

Ask yourself: 

  • Why are you there? 
  • Is it because you have nothing else to do? 
  • Did you have a bad day? 
  • How are you feeling? 
  • Can you afford it? 
  • Are you sacrificing something else? 
  • Can this item wait? 


Asking yourself these questions each time you find yourself splurging will grant you the clarity you need to understand your buying habits. And over time, you’ll find yourself more conscious about the buying decisions you make. 

6. Remember your financial goals

Keep a clear financial goal in your mind at all times. This financial goal will be the pivot of your life, this means that it will be your priority and everything else comes second. Your responsibility is first to fulfil your financial contribution to your goals and your spending budget is whatever that is left after. Not the other way round. 

Impulse buying is the opposite of taking care of your financial goals. So the more you impulse buy, the further you are away from your goals. Create visible triggers that will remind you of this, because as humans, our emotions (excitement) tends to blind us from it. Your goals will guide your behaviour, but only if you remember them. 



To reduce your shopping expenses further, you might want to consider spending with a credit card that could earn you up to 30% cashback. Apply for one with us today and you could be rewarded with prizes and cash!

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