5 Money-Saving Rules From a ‘De-Influencer’ To Correct Impulse Buying Habits

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Normally, social media influencers tell you what clothes to buy, where to travel, what to eat and so on. However, there’s one popular personality advising you to stop wasting money, often because your spending reflects boredom and not a true need.

Katia Chesnok, who goes by @economikat on Instagram, has a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degrees in international business and finance. She also started her career in banking. Of course, that didn’t stop her from quickly racking up almost $40,000 in credit card debt.

Chesnok started a digital marketing side hustle that eventually turned into a six-figure business, and she was able to clear her credit card debt in 18 months. Then, in 2019, she launched her Economikat platform to share some of the lessons she learned firsthand, particularly about overspending.

Here’s some of this Miami-based millennial mom’s best advice recently when it comes to not wasting money unnecessarily:

1. Remember What’s Normal

Too often, we see others’ highlight reels on social media and assume our own lives are on the wrong track. However, in some of her Instagram reels, Chesnok reminds viewers plenty of things they may be tempted to throw money at are the exceptions, not the rules.

For example, some things she said are normal include:

• Living in an outdated house
• Living with your parents or roommates
• Staying home during a holiday break
• Buying secondhand
• Wearing old clothes to work out
• Skipping alcohol when going out

2. Resist Trending Items

A common refrain in Chesnok’s posts is that you don’t need more stuff, you’re just bored. Instead of using shopping as an outlet, there’s plenty of more productive and money-saving ways to spend your time.

For example, a few months ago, she posted about how you don’t need to buy the viral Starbucks “bearista” cup, holiday pajamas or another plastic water bottle. Instead, you should change your AC filter.

That doesn’t mean you literally need to change your AC filter, but the idea is your energy can go toward tasks you’ve been putting off rather than stressing yourself out more by spending what you can’t afford.

3. Ask if This Deserves Your Money

One way Chesnok shared she got out of credit card debt and avoids impulse spending is through a mindset shift — she went from “I deserve this” to asking whether a purchase, investment or interaction deserves her money, time and energy.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that working hard is an excuse to splurge, but if you think about it another way, why would you want to throw away your hard-earned money on something you won’t really value long-term?

This mindset shift has helped her move from the “fear of missing out” to the “joy of missing out,” where she’s happy to miss out on something that doesn’t deserve her money and all that comes with it.

4. Use What You Have First

Another money pit can be buying multiples of items you already have, such as lipsticks, perfumes and skincare products. Chesnok suggested making 2026 the year you engage in project panning — a popular trend, particularly for beauty items — to finish your existing products before buying new ones.

Doing so can help you save money and avoid cluttering up your drawers with every new color and variety that you come across — especially because you can’t use them all at once.

5. Rewear Clothes

It’s easy to be influenced into buying new clothes, but Chesnok attempts to de-influence you by trying to normalize rewearing clothes. It’s okay to wear the same dress to multiple weddings, take a trip without buying a new outfit first, or wear something you’ve already posted on social media, she said.

Presumably, you buy new clothes because you like them, so it’s normal to want to rewear them. No one really cares if you’re not always showing up in a new outfit.

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