Four words we regularly say to ourselves can destroy your savings — here's how to stop them from convincing you to overspend

But on the other hand, you may just be blowing up your budget on extras that could add up to thousands of dollars a year. Here are three shopping scenarios where a “since I’m already here” purchase may cause you to overspend.

At the grocery store

If you arrive at the grocery store with intentions to stick to your list but can’t resist a deal, your heart might be in the right place.

But with inflation for grocery items at 2.2%, and the all items Consumer Price Index rate at 3.4%, higher prices don’t seem to be going anywhere. It may make sense to want to save on everyday grocery staples when you spot a deal, but straying from your list can still break your budget, even if the deal seems too good to turn down.

If you’re struggling with whether an item counts as a “since I’m already here” overspend or a deal you’d be foolish to pass up, feel free to put it in your cart, but consider whether it’s truly needed as you shop. Ask yourself: is there a reason it wasn’t on my list? Is there another item I can leave behind to make up for it? Do I already have this item at home?

Also, consider whether the size or volume of the item actually makes it a good deal. You can check the tag on the shelf to see if it identifies the cost per unit in order to verify if the deal is actually a lower price than other sizes or volumes.

A doorcrasher price on a staple you know you’ll use makes sense, but watch out for how many deals sneak their way into your cart, and whether those purchases are regularly putting you over budget.

Online ‘deals’

Shopping online is simple, but this purchasing method can easily cause you to overspend. Loading up a digital cart can be effortless, and without a checkout line to wait in or another aisle to turn down at the grocery store, there’s less time to consider whether you actually need everything you’ve put in your cart.

Online shopping can also be a minefield for “since I’m already here” purchases because of one tempting offer: free shipping. This discount can be appealing and often makes online shoppers feel as if they’re saving money by adding a few more items to their cart just to get the shipping discount.

But free shipping can easily lead to overspending, and your credit card bill can provide the proof. The next time you’re waffling over whether to add another item to your cart in order to get free shipping, remember these four words: shipping is never free. Say them out loud, and then step away from your screen.

The costs of shipping still tend to trickle down to consumers, whether that means the delivery cost is baked into the cost of the item or through subscription fees that make it seem like you’re getting a great deal.

And if it feels like free shipping is always annoyingly just out of reach, that’s because it’s engineered to be: retailers often set free shipping rates just above average order amounts to encourage you to buy more.