How to feel like you’re online shopping without spending money
New Years Resolutions are upon us, and I know a lot of us are trying to save money and be more frugal. (I love the frugal life - I love it so much I keep a highlight reel of frugal tips on my Instagram)
But the desire to also online shop is deep within me as well, and for the last six or so months, I’ve been keeping a list of ways that I can feel like I’m spending money online, without actually spending any. These are things I do online that help me scratch that itch of online shopping, but keep my money square in my wallet.
Creating Pinterest boards
I’m a huge Pinterest user. I got really into Pinterest when I had a “finally, enough!” moment with TikTok and decided to delete the app for a month and use social media apps with no discourse whatsoever on them. Enter: Pinterest.
I have boards for the typical things (wedding dresses, food recipes) but I also created boards for furniture I like, things that I want to buy, and clothing I’m interested in.
Something about listening to a podcast while I scroll Pinterest and add things to my board makes me feel like I’m buying something - even when I’m not. If I get itchy to buy something, I’ll hop onto Pinterest instead and add a bunch to my board (aka ‘shopping cart’) and after 15 minutes of scrolling fun I’ll find that my shopping urge has been fixed.
Favoriting items on ThredUp and Facebook Marketplace
Would you judge me if I said this is part of my daily routine? I absolutely love favoriting items on ThredUp (and then, like a Wall Street Banker, watching the website for the best time to buy items). And I don’t want to brag, but I am freakishly good at this. Like, just bought a Theory sweatshirt for four fucking dollars good at this.
I also do the same for Facebook Marketplace - bookmark items and then observe them over the next days and weeks to see how the price changes, and if they’re not bought, try to haggle the price down.
This is great for two reasons: firstly, the favoriting of items makes you feel like online shopping. Secondly, the waiting part of the game (for the price to go down) means that you’re taking yourself out of the mindset of panic buying, and teaching yourself to be more rational with purchasing timelines.
Change your wallpaper and screensavers
This probably seems like such a low-ball thing to do, but the impact this makes is actually enormous and I’m surprised more people don’t do this/talk about it!
We look at our phones and laptops constantly and I think we tend to believe that our wallpapers are just second nature, background images. But when you change your phone wallpaper, you feel like you have a new phone. And when you update your desktop background, your computer feels like an entirely new computer.
If you’re looking for a way to get something “new” without spending money, try going on a wallpaper deep dive and updating your devices with a fresh look.
So, let me know if you’ve tried any of these hacks yourself! I have a lot more (I’m truly obsessed with trying to hack out of consumerism, while still loving things) that I would love to share in another blog post down the road.
Happy Resolutions!
Until the next one,
S