These days, shopping has become super easy. Need a new phone? No need to hit the stores, just hop on a marketplace. Want some new clothes? Marketplace again. The convenience of shopping online is definitely fun, but if you're not careful, you might fall into a consumptive lifestyle.

A consumptive lifestyle is when you buy things you don’t really need, just because you feel like it. For example, buying a new pair of high heels just because they look pretty, even though you already have over 20 pairs at home.

This kind of behavior can harm your financial goals in the long run. You might end up living paycheck to paycheck because of it. So, it’s important to steer clear of this lifestyle. But how do you do that? Check out the tips in this article:

Signs of a Consumptive Lifestyle

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Kalau kamu ingin menghindari gaya hidup konsumtif, kamu harus tahu ciri-cirinya dulu berikut ini:

1. Impulsive Buying 

Ever spotted a cute pair of shoes at the mall and thought, "Oh, these are nice, let’s get them"? Even though you already have a closet full of shoes at home? That’s called impulsive buying—making purchases without careful planning.

Impulsive buying is a major sign of a consumptive lifestyle in today’s world. Try to cut back on this habit to avoid overspending.

2. Overusing Credit Facilities 

These days, there are all sorts of credit facilities, from credit cards to online loans and pay-later services. These make shopping quick and easy but can also encourage consumptive behavior.

Using these credit facilities is okay as long as you manage them well. To avoid getting caught up in this lifestyle, ensure your total debt, including any loans, doesn’t exceed 30% of your monthly income.

3. Cluttered with Unused Items 

One sign of a consumptive lifestyle is having a lot of useless stuff piling up in your closet or storage. People with this behavior tend to get bored with the things they already own, so they buy new ones and stash the old ones away, even if they’re still in good condition.

Tips to Avoid a Consumptive Lifestyle

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1. Make a Budget

The first and most important step to overcoming a consumptive lifestyle is to make a budget. You can do this monthly or when you’re about to go shopping, plan a vacation, or hang out with friends and your partner.

In your budget, note your income and the expenses you must cover. For example, in your monthly shopping budget, you can set a maximum spending target and list the items you need to buy along with their estimated prices.

2. Use What You Already Have

Do you have shoes that are still in good condition? Don’t throw them away! Clean them up and fix them if needed, and keep using them. Not only does this help reduce consumptive behavior, but it’s also good for the environment. Avoid buying new things if the old ones work just fine.

3. Limit Debt to 30%

Another way to fight a consumptive lifestyle is limiting your debt to 30% of your income. For example, if you earn Rp3,000,000 monthly, your total debt, including installments, pay-later loans, and credit cards, should not exceed Rp900,000.

This helps curb consumptive behavior and ensures that you can easily pay off all your debts and bills.

4. Track Your Spending

It’s not enough to have a budget; you must also track all your monthly spending. This helps you evaluate whether your expenses align with your budget.

Tracking your spending also makes you more aware of unnecessary expenses so you can cut back before it’s too late. Nowadays, you don’t need to log your spending in Excel or similar apps. You can use the Honest app, which automatically tracks all your expenses made with the Honest credit card. So, no need to jot down every little detail.

With the Honest app, you can quickly curb spending if your credit card expenses are nearing 30% of your income. Plus, with the Honest credit card, you can enjoy promotions available to Mastercard users. If you pay your bills in full and on time, you’ll get 0% interest on installments and zero credit card fees.

In today’s world, a consumptive lifestyle might be trendy, but remember, if you don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck and still have financial goals for the future, it’s best to cut back on this lifestyle as much as you can.