A mum has revealed her seven tips to quit overspending and cluttering your home with impulse buys.
An expert at keeping things neat and tidy, Suzanne Strydom is a professional home organiser living in southeast London with her partner, Le Fras, 45, and their three kids, aged 12, 10, and eight.
She believes people could save hundreds every year – up to £100 a month – by following her savvy hacks and tackling bad spending habits.
Photo credit: Jam Press/ MICHELLE RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPHY
In one of her latest reels, dubbed “pause before purchase”, Suzanne shares everything from her 48-hour rule to the key questions to ask yourself before splashing the cash (@finally_sorted).
“It truly is very freeing to have control of your shopping habits, but take it one step at a time,” she told Needtoknow.co.uk.
“I have always been quite organised, so all my many things as a child and young person would be very organised.
“It was organised clutter.
Picture Credit: Jam Press
“Then I moved to England [from South Africa], and all of a sudden, I found myself in a very small house.
“I simply couldn’t keep things organised.
“Then children started to join the family and things got even worse, with even more stuff coming into our home.
“The pain of having to maintain everything at home outweighed the benefit of having lots.”
These are Suzanne’s seven top tips to save money and declutter your place.
PURPOSE:
Before splashing the cash, identify a specific need for the item.
If you can’t find one, then it doesn’t deserve a place in your trolley.
She said: “Before buying an item, ask yourself: “What is the primary purpose of this purchase?
“ If you cannot identify a clear, specific reason for needing the item.”
VALUE:
Assess the value of an item – whether you really need it or just want it.
Suzanne said: “Consider the value the item brings to your life.
“Does it enhance your daily routine, align with your values, or improve your well-being?”
If it’s a no, walk away.
DUPLICATION:
Do you already own something similar? Then you probably don’t need a duplicate.
Try to reuse what you already have or save the pennies instead.
Suzanne said: Challenge yourself, even if you don’t have something similar, do you have something else that you could use instead?
“Often we buy items out of habit, forgetting that we might have a version of it already.”
SPACE:
Do you actually have the room to store your new purchase?
Suzanne said: “By considering space, you ensure that your home remains organised and free from the chaos of overcrowded spaces.”
TRUE VALUE:
Assessing whether something still holds your interest and not just falling for the slashed price tag can help you save your cash.
Suzanne said: “Understanding true value ensures that you’re getting your money’s worth and discourages buying items that won’t see much use.”
ORIGINAL INTENT
Remember why you entered the shop or clicked on the website to begin with.
This will enable you to bring yourself back to reality and allow you to not be sidetracked by discounts when having a browse.
Suzanne said: “Keeping the original intent in mind curbs impulse buys and ensures you stick to your shopping goals.”
48-HOUR RULE:
Having a two-day rule allows you to ponder over your potential purchase for longer.
If you still feel the urge to buy your desired item after 48 hours and you’ve considered the other rules above, then it’s meant to be.
If not, you’ve saved yourself some extra cash.
Suzanne said: “This waiting period allows emotions to settle, giving room for rational thought.
“It’s a buffer against impulsive decisions and often, after reflection, the urge to buy fades.”
Picture Credit: Jam Press/ MICHELLE RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPHY
Although Suzanne follows her own tips closely, she is still sometimes a sucker for a bargain.
She added: “We have a small home, so I am very intentional when I go shopping.
“Always take a list with me and I definitely evaluate the value.
“I am not immune and do still sometimes fall for a good deal, but far less so now that I am more intentional.
“It is difficult to change behaviour and habits, but small changes can build up to something significant.”
