The only way to get out of debt, stay out of debt, and reach financial freedom is to improve your cash flow. So how do we increase our personal cash flow? You could start by asking for a raise, picking up extra hours, or starting a side hustle. But it’s often easier to get ahead by cutting expenses and living below your means rather than adding to your income. Everyone is guilty of buying things we don’t need and spending more than we should on non-essential items. In fact, a 2018 study showed that consumers spend almost $6,000 annually on impulse purchases. That’s a big chunk of change!

Here are five crucial questions you should ask yourself when tempted to make an impulse purchase.

1. “Can I do without?
   Whenever you feel the urge to spend, ask yourself, “Can I do without it?” Doing without could mean doing without a specific purchase indefinitely or putting it off until you can afford it. Stop to ask yourself this question gives you time to think and decide if you truly need or want something. For example, if you choose not to buy that new car, consider all the money you saved! And, if you only paused buying, you just gave yourself more time to research better deals.
2. “Can I use what I have?”
   We all have way more than we need. Too often, we throw money at problems rather than finding solutions. Yet, you already have what you need! For example, if you need a new wardrobe, you might try to dry clean something old, make new combinations of tops and bottoms, or even alter a garment for a fresh effect. All it takes is creativity and a commitment to increasing your cash flow.
3. “Can I DIY?”
   We love to do it-yourself projects! Rather than buying, have you considered making what you need? Of course, this will only work for some things, but we could still make and/or fix plenty of things ourselves. The good news is that there are tons of free DIY guides online.
4. “Can I get it for free?”
   If you need or want to buy a specific item, ask yourself, “Can I get it for free?” The saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!” There’s no shame in free! If you’re trying to improve your cash flow instantly, look for all the opportunities to avoid spending money. Improving your cash flow from week to week will allow you to start progressing on things like paying off debt or increasing savings.
5. “Can I get it at a discount?”
   Most of us jump right to this last question first. But let’s take each question in order when we’re tempted to purchase. If you’ve decided that you can’t do without, you don’t have what you need, you can’t make it yourself, and you can’t find what you need for free, then you have to start thinking about how to get the best deal. There’s no reason to pay the total price for anything. That goes for everything from clothing to cars and even houses.

Reference
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/taxes/instantly-improve-your-cash-flow-with-these-6-questions/ar-AA10JDgv.