How to shop mindfully

Are you ready to revolutionise your spending habits and start your journey towards becoming a more mindful shopper? With fast fashion, unethical manufacturing, and consumer waste becoming hot news topics in recent years, Loqbox asks whether shopping with intention could save you money. 

Learning how to shop mindfully involves more than just a change in habits — it’s about changing your mindset, breaking free from old patterns, resisting impulse buys, and aligning your spending with your values. Mindful spending is a matter of stopping and thinking before you part with your hard-earned cash.

What is mindful spending?

Being a mindful shopper and making mindful purchasing decisions is about considering the financial, environmental and societal impact of the things that you put into your shopping basket. Mindful spending is thoughtful and sustainable shopping that benefits your financial wellbeing as much as the wellness of other people and the planet.

Why go mindful shopping?

Our shopping habits have a significant impact on people and the planet. Did you know that the manufacture of the things we buy accounts for almost half of global greenhouse emissions? And as much as 99% of that stuff is wasted within six months of purchase? Those are scary numbers, right?

Not only that, but shopping mindfully — saving and not making unnecessary purchases — can help with your financial wellbeing. That’s about having control of your money, being able to save for things you need, supporting your big life decisions, and feeling more relaxed about your finances. 

You can find out more about financial wellbeing here.

How to shop mindfully: 12 mindful spending tips

When considering how to shop mindfully, it’s important to try and make the most of what you already have. Not shopping as much, and being more deliberate about your purchases, can help you save more money and reduce your environmental impact. Here are 12 mindful shopping tips to keep in mind.

1. Work out what prompts you to spend

When you decide to make a change, you might find it helpful to start by reflecting on your current spending habits.   What are the things that prompt you to go out and shop? What aspects of your life make you seek retail therapy? Do you react to trends on social media, or do you shop to make yourself happier when you’re feeling down? 

Be honest about why you buy what you buy. Working out what sends you online shopping or off to the mall can help you to understand your shopping habits better. This knowledge can help you work out how to avoid your triggers or find other solutions to overcome them in the future.

2. Make shopping less convenient

If you find yourself using retail apps a lot, perhaps you could delete them? Apps like these are cleverly designed to make shopping really convenient, and with goods delivered to your door, it couldn’t be easier. Of course, retailers want you to spend as much as possible, so maybe ask yourself if you’re making it too easy for them.

Look at your inbox, and think about reducing the number of  mailing lists that you’re subscribed to. Retailers use these emails to tempt you with new products and offers. But remember, before you knew what was available you probably weren’t thinking about it. So why give yourself the temptation to buy something you may not even need?

Resist impulse buying by giving yourself more hoops to jump through at checkout. Retailers will encourage you to save your card details so that you can buy things with just one click. This can be convenient, but taking a few more steps in the buying process could give you time to consider whether you really need what’s in your cart.

3. Research where and how your products are made

One way to go about your mindful shopping is to research what you’re buying and who you’re buying it from. Not only can that keep you safe from dodgy retailers, but it also gives you a better idea of your shopping’s sustainability and ethics. Understanding the environmental impact of your shopping can help you to make better decisions for the planet.

Look at the bigger picture. Seek out Fairtrade items, brands who treat workers well, and reduced shipping distances. Supporting retailers who go the extra mile for the environment, rather than just letting the cheapest price guide you, can have a positive and long-term impact on the future of shopping.

4. Plan your shopping to avoid impulse buying

Impulse purchases are often things you have no real need for. Otherwise, you’d have been looking for them in the first place. A great way to avoid spur-of-the-moment purchases is by making a good old-fashioned shopping list and sticking to it. Tick off everything you find and don’t put anything in your basket that’s not on the list. 

Avoid buying unnecessary products by checking what you already have. Do you have an item of clothing at the back of your wardrobe that could do the same job as the one you want to buy? Do you already have enough ingredients to make dinner in your cupboards? Planning ahead lets you focus on buying what you need, rather than just what you want.

5. Take a breath before you take out your card

A simple way to become a mindful shopper is to slow down and take your time. Don’t rush to make purchases. Shopping can be frantic, there can be a fear of missing out if you don’t get the thing you want right here, right now. But that just works in retailers’ favour. Before you reach for your card, take a big breath and ask yourself: “Do I really need this?”

If you’re making a bigger purchase, maybe consider taking even longer to think about it. Give yourself a rule to not buy anything on the day you find it. Sleep on it, or wait 48 hours. Then ask yourself: “Do I still really want this?” If the answer is yes then you know you’re making a considered purchase rather than an impulsive one.

6. Find alternatives to buying new things

Getting that ‘new car smell’ is intoxicating. After all, you’re spending your hard-earned cash so you want the very best. But once you’ve got any product home it’s already secondhand. So why not get a bit more creative and look for alternatives to buying brand-new stuff? Giving pre-loved items a second life takes a load off your pocket and the planet. 

There are lots of ways that you can find hidden gems without buying new ones. Find friends or communities online where you can swap your old clothes for other secondhand items. This way you can trade up your old fashion, get some new inspiration, and reduce waste at the same time. 

Searching charity shops for thrifty diamonds in the rough is fun. Or, if you only need something for a short period of time, like a wedding or a specific event, why not look for options to rent or borrow? This can reduce your impact on the environment and save you from spending on something that will just hang about at the back of your wardrobe. 

7. Repair, maintain, donate and recycle

 Many mindful shoppers avoid making unnecessary purchases by getting more life out of the things they already have.  Looking after your things can prolong their usefulness. Keeping them looking new for longer can save you a trip to the shops, and save you money.

And if they do break, visible mending is a trend that turns fixing old clothes into new fashion statements. Get creative with your repairs and give your clothes a new lease of life. This is great for going green and can be crafty fun too. And it’s not restricted to clothes, you can boost your home decor by getting arty with your old furniture as well.

If you really can’t find any more use for your old things, don’t just throw them away. Bag them up and take them to your nearest charity shop or freecycle community, where they might find a new home and benefit somebody else. You will be doing your bit for the community, and you might find that the favour comes back around one day.

8. The best things in life are free!

You might be surprised at how much stuff you can actually get for free. Look for communities and websites that offer free products in return for as little as some social engagement or for filling out a questionnaire. Or make use of free trials for things like subscription services. Just remember to cancel before they start charging.

9. Shop local

Shopping locally is a great way to practise mindful spending. Resist the urge to head into your town centre, or visit the big online shopping retailers. Give your money to the smaller, independent shops that line your local high street instead. You might still want to check their green credentials, but you will often find more sustainably sourced options. 

10. Reduce packaging and wastage

We all know that single-use plastic is terrible for the environment. So mindful shoppers avoid it as much as possible. Lots of retailers have already taken steps to improve their packaging in recognition of consumers’ needs. Making greener choices, and voting with your shopping options, helps to keep that movement going.

Consider using refillable products instead of single-use packaging. Lots of shops let you refill washing liquids, shampoos and conditioners, and groceries. And remember to take your tote bag with you so you don’t need to pay for a plastic bag at the supermarket. You can also help to reduce landfill by only buying products that use recycled materials. 

11. Try a savings challenge

If you’re spending the time and effort to reduce and improve your shopping habits you might actually be able to use the savings to work towards longer-term financial goals. Why not tackle a savings challenge? Set a target, like building a deposit for a house or going on a dream holiday, and use your mindful shopping techniques to give it a boost.  

Also, why not use your savings to work towards improving your credit score with Loqbox? As you make your regular savings payments, we report them to the top three Credit Reference Agencies in the UK: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and give your credit score a boost. 

Improvements to your credit score are not guaranteed. 

12. Find other ways to scratch the shopping itch

For many people, shopping gives you a little happiness bump. This is a release of dopamine that is triggered when you make a purchase. It is one of the reasons why shopping can become addictive. But, there are lots of other ways of getting your kicks that don’t have to cost the earth. 

‍Instead of always looking to buy things, maybe seek out experiences that make great memories. Those are the things that are most meaningful and stay with you the longest. Try to use your money to enrich your life rather than burden it with lots of stuff. Remember, being a mindful shopper is about looking after your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the planet.