A simple hack to help you spend less, by Suze Orman and Alliant

Most adults say they want to be more intentional and thoughtful about their spending.

There’s a simple tool to help you do just that.

Every time you are about to buy something, whether it be $10 or $1,000, stop and ask yourself: Is this a need or a want?

Every time. And here’s how to proceed.

What you’ll learn

• Wants vs. needs
• Why the “need vs. want test” works
• Quick examples: Need or want?
• What to do with the money you save
• Try this pause-before-you-buy habit
• Watch for these common “want” triggers
• Turn small pauses into significant savings
• Get saving with Suze Orman’s go-to credit union

Wants vs. needs

If you are really serious about reining in your spending, you’ll want to forego spending on wants. Or build in guardrails: I will spend only $X a week on wants. Either way, by stopping and identifying a potential purchase as a “want,” you are elevating it as a potential source of saving. Either by forgoing the purchase entirely or opting for a less expensive option.

Now let’s talk about needs. Even with needs, you might be able to reduce your spending. The less expensive brand—whether it be food or clothing—meets your needs and can save you money. And it’s even more in play for huge expenses, such as buying a car or a home (or the place you decide to rent). A car to get to work is a need. As is shelter. But what you choose to spend on both is up to you. Asking yourself if you might be able to fulfill the need and spend 10%, 15%, or 20% less can transform your finances.

This need vs. want test is guaranteed to help you pay more attention to how and when you choose to spend money.

Why the “need vs. want test” works

The need vs. want test works because it forces a pause, and that pause is where good financial decisions actually happen. Most overspending isn't the result of one big mistake; it's death by a thousand small ones. A coffee here, a subscription there, a “treat yourself” purchase that felt harmless in the moment. Individually, none of these will sink you. Together, they can quietly derail your budget without you ever noticing where the money went.

By asking yourself one simple question—is this a need or a want?—you interrupt the autopilot spending that drains your account. You don't have to overhaul your entire lifestyle or swear off fun forever. You just have to pause, one purchase at a time.

Quick examples: Need or want?

Sometimes the line between need and want is obvious. Other times, it takes a second to think it through. Here are a few common scenarios to help you sharpen your instincts.

• Groceries for the week: Need. You have to eat.
• Takeout because you didn't feel like cooking: Want.
• A working pair of shoes: Need. • A fourth pair of sneakers in a color you "don't have yet": Want.
• Gas to get to work: Need.
• Upgrading your phone when the one you have still works fine: Want.

You’ll notice that needs tend to keep your life running while wants tend to make your life feel a little more exciting in the moment. Both have a place in your budget, but only one of them should be automatic.

What to do with the money you save

Here's the part that makes this test actually pay off: Every time you catch a want and skip it, that money doesn't just disappear into thin air. It goes somewhere. The question is whether you decide where, or whether it quietly gets absorbed into your next Target run.

Let's put real numbers to it. Say you skip three $15 impulse purchases a week, such as that streaming add-on you forgot about, the drive-thru run, and the "just because" online order. That's $45 a week you didn't spend. Add it up over a month, and you've redirected roughly $180 straight into savings, without changing your income or taking on a second job.

That's money you already had, you just chose to keep it instead of spending it. Set up an automatic transfer so that redirected cash lands in a high-rate savings account before you have the chance to talk yourself out of it. Give the account a name that reminds you why you're doing this—emergency fund, vacation, down payment—whatever motivates you to leave it alone.

Try this 3-step pause-before-you-buy habit

The need vs. want test works best when you make it a habit. Here's a simple, three-step version you can use every time you're tempted to buy something that isn't on your list:

1. Wait 24 hours. If it's not an emergency, give yourself a full day before buying. Most impulse urges fade with time, and if you still want it tomorrow, you can revisit it with a clear head.
2. Ask the question out loud. "Do I need this or do I want this?" Saying it, rather than just thinking it, makes it harder to talk yourself into a convenient answer.
3. Redirect before you decide. Move the cost of the item into savings first, even if you end up buying it later. This keeps the habit of saving front and center, no matter what you decide.

Watch for these common “want” triggers

Certain situations make it especially easy to mistake a want for a need. Knowing your triggers ahead of time makes them much easier to catch.

• Boredom or stress scrolling: Online shopping apps and social media are designed to make browsing feel like entertainment. Before you know it, browsing turns into buying.
• "Treat yourself" moments: A hard day at work doesn't require a hard hit to your budget. Find a reward that doesn't cost anything, like a walk outside or a call with a friend.
• Sales and limited time offers: Urgency is a sales tactic, not a signal that you actually need the item. If it wasn't on your radar yesterday, a 24-hour sale doesn't make it a need today.
• Social comparison: Seeing what others have—new gadgets, renovated kitchens, another vacation—can quietly convince you that you're missing out. Your budget should reflect your goals, not someone else's highlight reel.

Once you can name your personal triggers, you can catch yourself in the moment instead of realizing after the fact where the money went.

Turn small pauses into real savings

Every want you catch is a small win, and small wins can add up fast. Remember, you're not giving up things that bring you joy. You're just making sure you are spending and saving with intention. Now that you have a system for catching wants and a plan for what to do with the savings, all that's missing is a place to put that money to work. That's where an Alliant Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account comes in, designed to help the money you redirect actually grow, so every skipped impulse buy moves you closer to your real goals.

Get saving with Suze Orman’s go-to credit union

Alliant, an award-winning digital credit union, has partnered with Suze Orman to offer a high-rate savings account and bonus for new members. Jumpstart your savings with the Ultimate Opportunity today!¹⁰³