Optimal Finance Daily – Episode 3359

“9 Painless Ways To Trick Yourself Into Spending Less”

Based on the article by Sarah Von Bargen of Yes and Yes
Aired: November 20, 2025
Host: Diania Merriam

Episode Overview

This episode, narrated by host Diania Merriam, explores easy and effective strategies for reducing everyday spending without feeling deprived or overwhelmed. Drawing from Sarah Von Bargen's article, "9 Painless Ways To Trick Yourself Into Spending Less," the discussion focuses on small behavioral tweaks and mindset shifts to create more friction at spending moments and develop money-saving habits. Diania adds her own reflections, encouraging mindfulness and intentionality in spending.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Misconception About Spending Less [01:08]

• Sarah immediately reassures that curbing spending isn't about deprivation or suffering:
  • “Does spending less feel like a long slog of coupon clipping, ramen noodles and watching everybody have more fun than you on Instagram? Friend, it doesn't have to… I swear by these tricks to spending less that feel completely painless.” (Sarah, 01:11)
• Note: These tricks help reduce unnecessary purchases but don’t address deeper issues behind spending habits.

9 Painless Ways to Spend Less

1. Unsubscribe from Tempting Newsletters [01:55]

• Newsletters often lure you into impulse buying.
  • “If you impulse buy things you don't need every time a well designed newsletter appears in your inbox, opt out.” (Sarah, 01:59)
• Consider using tools like Unroll.Me.
• Still want updates? Follow on social media instead.

2. Block Yourself from Tempting Websites [02:25]

• If email isn't the problem but specific sites are (Anthropologie, eBay, Amazon), block those sites entirely.
  • “Maybe you can't let anthropologie.com ever darken your URL bar again… you can block yourself from it.” (Sarah, 02:32)
• Tool mentioned: Blocksite for Chrome.

3. Turn Off Autocomplete for Credit Cards [02:48]

• Make buying online less frictionless by removing saved credit card info.
  • “It's really easy to buy things when all that's required of us is two mouse clicks. Make it just slightly more difficult…” (Sarah, 02:51)
• If fetching your card feels like too much work, you probably don’t want it that much.

4. Order Online, Pick Up In-Store [03:08]

• Avoid in-store temptations (especially at Target) by picking up only what you actually need.
  • “You'll only order what you actually need and won't be lured in by sales racks and pretty end caps.” (Sarah, 03:13)

5. Eat Before Shopping—Any Kind [03:24]

• Shopping hungry increases overall spending—up to 60%-70% more.
  • “Multiple studies have shown that people who shop hungry spend 60 to 70% more than their non-hungry peers… ” (Sarah, 03:28)
• Hunger increases the desire to acquire—any kind of goods, not just food.
• Keep healthy snacks handy to avoid physical and financial hunger.

6. Three-Day Waiting Period for Purchases [04:10]

• If you’re not sure about an item, wait three days before buying.
  • “If you still find yourself thinking about it three days later and you can afford it, pull the trigger. If you forget all about it, which you probably will, great…” (Sarah, 04:19)

7. Cash-Only Budget [04:38]

• People spend more slowly with cash; the pain of parting with physical money is effective.
  • “Did you know that we're much slower to spend cash than we are to use our credit cards…” (Sarah, 04:43)
• Try a cash cleanse as a “reset.”

8. Reminders In Your Wallet [05:03]

• Place a note or photo in your wallet to reinforce your savings goals or remind yourself to think before buying.
  • “My free ebook… comes with a wallet sized set of questions to ask yourself before buying something.” (Sarah, 05:07)
• Ideas: a photo of what you’re saving for or a custom debit card image.

9. Unfollow Social Media Accounts That Tempt You [05:28]

• Curate your feeds to eliminate comparison and spending urges.
  • “One of the best things I've ever done for my mental health was unfollow accounts that made me feel less than and fill my feed with people who are in my size, age and tax bracket.” (Sarah, 05:32)
• Replace with accounts that bring joy, not envy or shopping impulses.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Making Buying Harder:
  • “Make it just slightly more difficult by removing your credit card info… If we can't be bothered to stand up and go get our credit cards, we probably didn't want the item that much to begin with, did we?” —Sarah (02:51)
• On Shopping Hungry:
  • “Being hungry increases our desire to acquire, and our brains aren't always great at realizing that our bodies are trying to acquire food, not some bookends shaped like pineapples.” —Sarah (03:35)
• On Social Media Influence:
  • “If someone or something is nudging you to buy things you don't need, call them from your feed and replace them with accounts that make you feel great.” —Sarah (05:55)
• Host Reflection:
  • “I think the point is to pause and bring some mindfulness into spending behaviors... When I paused long enough to question my assumptions around what was a necessity, I was often surprised by the answer and delighted by my own creativity in getting my needs met.” —Diania Merriam (09:07)

Host’s Commentary & Practical Advice [09:03]

• Diania underscores the value of "creating more friction" before spending.
• She shares her own mindful spending practice—asking herself:
  • “Do I actually need this thing or is it more of a want?”
  • “Do I already have something that could be repurposed or could I borrow it?”
  • “Could I buy it used or find a better price with research?”
• Concludes: Making spending a more mindful, deliberate act leads to surprising savings and satisfaction.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Opening & Main Theme Introduction | 01:08 | | Tip 1: Unsubscribe from Newsletters | 01:55 | | Tip 2: Block Tempting Sites | 02:25 | | Tip 3: Turn Off Autocomplete | 02:48 | | Tip 4: Order Online, Pick Up | 03:08 | | Tip 5: Eat Before Shopping | 03:24 | | Tip 6: Three-Day Waiting Period | 04:10 | | Tip 7: Cash-Only Budget | 04:38 | | Tip 8: Visual Reminders in Wallet | 05:03 | | Tip 9: Curate Your Social Feed | 05:28 | | Host Commentary & Reflection | 09:03 |

Tone and Language

• Friendly, encouraging, and conversational.
• Presents practical advice without shaming or moralizing.
• Infused with humor and self-awareness (“bookends shaped like pineapples”).

Summary

In this episode, Diania Merriam animates Sarah Von Bargen’s approachable, no-nonsense tactics for spending less painlessly. Each tip is actionable and rooted in behavioral science and personal experience, emphasizing that financial well-being is about mindful habits and smart environmental tweaks. Diania’s enthusiastic narration and personal stories inspire listeners to adopt these practices, confronting spending temptations with creativity and self-compassion—making financial independence feel accessible, not austere.