One Simple Trick to Curb Impulse Spending
I’m not a shopper, never have been. I am not a fan of wandering around stores browsing. I can’t stand looking at multiple items unless there is something I specifically need, and increased prices usually keep me from buying right now. Sometimes, though, I’m an impulse spender online. It’s so easy to sit in my office chair and buy. Most things I really don’t need and can do without. So lately, I’ve been trying to be more conscious of what I’m going to buy and more conscious of cancelling any subscriptions that I already have. The funny thing is, Trump’s tariffs have helped me to stop some of my spending. Items I have bought from US sellers before are a thing of the past, especially when I bought a bookish subscription box and paid more in customs fees than the box itself. That was the last time I ordered anything from the United States.
Saving your credit card details on shopping sites makes it almost too easy to spend money. With just a click or two, you've bought something you probably didn’t plan to buy—and maybe didn’t even really need.
By removing your saved payment methods from places like Amazon, Walmart, or even that clothing shop that emails you every two days, you create a pause. That moment of inconvenience gives you time to think:
“Do I really need this?”
“Do I have the money for it right now?”
“Will I even remember I bought this next week?”
Cancel your subscriptions
Saving credit card details makes it too easy to spend
That pause can save you hundreds. Another way to pause is to leave any items you're interested in buying in your cart and sign out of the site. When you come back much later, you may realize you don’t really need or even really want that item. It’s worked for me many times, especially on Amazon.
How to Do It
Here’s a quick checklist to help you get started:
✅ Log in to your most frequently used online stores (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.)
✅ Navigate to your account settings or payment methods
✅ Delete or remove saved credit card details
Also check:
Food delivery apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash
Subscription services like Netflix, Spotify, or Audible
Auto-renew boxes like beauty, book, or snack subscriptions
One-click checkout services like PayPal or Apple Pay
Yes, it’ll be annoying the next time you want to buy something. But that’s the point.
The Subscription Trap
Monthly subscriptions can be a silent drain on your budget, especially the ones you forgot you had. Gym memberships, streaming platforms, apps, cloud storage, software trials, they all add up. We’ve all done this, I’m sure. Just recently, I signed up for a music app that provides royalty-free music because I wanted to use it on my YouTube channel. The thing is, I only used the site once. I forgot I had paid for this site until I received my credit card bill and saw another monthly payment there.
If you want to force a clean break, HERE’S THE ONE TRICK that can save you the headache of remembering where you signed up for a subscription:
Cancel your credit card (especially if it's mostly used for online shopping).
When companies try to auto-renew, the charge will fail—and you’ll be notified. That’s your perfect opportunity to ask yourself if it’s really worth re-entering your new card information.
This trick is especially handy when you’ve lost track of everything tied to your card. Just be sure you’ve taken care of your essentials first (like bills or necessary recurring payments).
Pause before you buy
Cancelling your credit card can make you rethink wanting to rejoin those subscriptions again
The Bottom Line
Removing your credit card from your online accounts might seem like a small change, but small changes can make a big difference, especially when it comes to money. That’s what I try to impart here at House of Six because I’ve lived this way myself while my husband and I raised our four children. Many small ways of saving can add up to big savings down the line.
This one trick puts distance between you and an impulse. You’re creating friction between “want” and “buy.”
And that friction? That’s where your savings grow.