• Bring a limited amount of cash. Bring only the amount you want to spend. People are likely to spend up to twice as much, if they carry a credit card. Try to avoid the dangerous urge to spend more and you should go for the cash-only strategy. It is a good idea for those who always find it hard sticking to a list. Bringing just enough cash with you will help to discern the difference between needs and wants.

• Sort items in your cart. Place all unplanned items into the front part of the cart. When you’re about to pay, check for the items in your cart and consider whether you should return them. If they’re inessential consider putting them back.

• Have them delivered. If impulse purchases are a huge problem, try the delivery and pickup service if available. Do this for two or three times and compare your overall expenses. Make sure the saved money more than compensate the delivery charges.

• Don’t shop on an empty stomach. Everything looks tasty when you’re starved, making impulse purchases difficult to resist. A good time for shopping is right after a full meal. Keep a couple of granola bars in the car to ward off hunger if you haven’t had time to get a proper meal before shopping.

• Don’t use the cart. Opt for a basket, if you only need to buy a few items. Less space means less room to put unnecessary items and to just get what you need. With less weight, you can walk faster and get out of the supermarket quicker.

• Don’t be tempted when waiting in line. It is no accident that many impulse items are positioned close to the checkout lanes, where people tend to wait in line. As the result these things are slightly more expensive. To avoid being tempted, try to focus your attention elsewhere. Use your time to text a friend, work on a to-do list, update your Facebook wallpost, organize your coupons, whatever.

• Find exciting hobbies. For some people, shopping is a pleasurable activity, to the point where it is considered a hobby. They visit supermarkets every three of four days for “just browsing.” If this describes you, direct your love of shopping into something cheaper or even profitable (such as, planting vegetables and fruits).