One trick (technique?) I use to not buy stuff is to make lists of the things I want/need. I then look at the prices and decide, okay, this will be for my bday, this is for easter (the easter bunny visits me still), this is for mother's day (from my dogs), this is for xmas. I wait until that month to buy whatever. Sometimes its groups of smaller items. This gives me something to look forward to and keeps buying under control. Also, something I think I love, I find that by xmas, I don't want, so that is good too. Fewer useless items.