My ‘take it to the trash’ technique stops me from impulse

Apr 13, 2024

A HOME decor expert has revealed her must-try technique for preventing impulse purchases.

Morgan Smith (@olivebranchcottage) explained that she often changes her mind about buying an item after using her “take it to the trash” technique.

She shared advice for not going over budget when shopping for homeware with her over 165,000 followers on Instagram.

Morgan said: “Do you find yourself buying decor and then when you get it home you really don’t like it as much as you thought you did?

“When I go shopping all of these colors and pretty displays overwhelm me.

“But before I buy anything I take it to the trash, meaning the trash can aisle in the store.

“So this vase, it looked gorgeous surrounded by all this beautiful foliage. But in the trash can aisle it kind of looked like a weird donut.”

Morgan showed a cream-colored vase with a hole in the center, before also trying her technique with a glass vase.

She continued: “And then this vase I loved it surrounded by the wreath, but in the trash can aisle I realized I could probably find the same thing at Goodwill for cheaper.

“If I like it in the trash can aisle then I will buy it because I know it will be pretty anywhere.”

The DIY enthusiast explained in the caption of the post that she has been doing the technique since she fell out of love with a number of recent homeware purchases.

She wrote: “TAKE IT TO THE TRASH! I call it the Target Trance.

“You love everything because it’s so beautifully curated and styled in the store (darn you and your talent too, Studio McGee).

“But then you get the decor piece home and it’s just… meh?

“It frustrated me so much when I used to pull out my holiday storage containers and not like some of the decor that was only a year or two old.

“The impulse buying had to stop. It was honestly just wasteful, so I started “taking it to the trash.” Definitely recommend it.”

Over 264,000 people liked the post and thanked Morgan for sharing her advice after trying it for themselves.

One person commented: “That’s such a good idea.”

Another said: “Love this! I have to separate stuff at the thrift for the opposite reason too.

“I think I love something just because it’s surrounded by ugly things, but in reality, it’s just less ugly and not that great either [laughing].”

A third added: “Oh my gosh genius. but what’s the antique/thrift store equivalent of the trash can aisle?”

A fourth chimed in: “This is as hysterical as it is ingenious, who would have ever thought! But it’s so so clever. Good thinking!!”