For this viral TikTok Money Hack, all you need is the Notes app

If you’re a big-time shopper who constantly adds things to your cart, fills your tabs with essentials, and ends up spending more money than you’d like, then you already know how quickly your purchases can add up. Nothing beats the rush of a momentary frenzy, but according to TikTok, there may be a way to get that same feeling while saving your coins.

In a video posted July 22, creator @averagesisi, aka Sierra, shared her best money-saving tip, which leaves room for occasional purchases, and all you need to get started is the Notes app on your phone. “This way, we’re going to save money and get a dopamine rush at the same time,” she says on the TikTok, which has over 174,000 likes. “Because a lot of times, we don’t really want the thing—we want the dopamine that we give it.”

Instead of buying something on impulse, she recommends adding the item to your Notes app and leaving it there. This isn’t a new idea. Financial gurus recommend waiting a few days or making a list of things you want before buying. Taking a moment to breathe can help you reduce the likelihood of impulse buying and wasting money. But Sierra’s advice is even better.

Instead of just adding an item to your list, you also write down the date you saw it and its price. Then, at the end of the month, you add up the cost, put half of that into savings, and spend the rest on whatever you want. It’s a reward, she says, for slowing down and being more mindful of your spending.

In their comments, one person wrote, “(This is) GENIUS. My ADHD thanks you so much for this, queen.” Another person said, “Wait…this might work for me,” and yet another wrote, “Oh my! I thought that dopamine boost was just to see how much you saved! Andddd do we get a treat? You got something.”

How to save money with the Notes app

To try out this viral money-saving trick, go to the Notes app and tap “Table.” You’ll only see two columns and rows, but you can easily add an extra column — and as many rows as you need — by tapping the screen and pressing the three dots.

Start with three columns horizontally and one row. In the left column, list the item you want. In the middle, write the date you saw it or added it to your cart. And on the right, write how much it costs. Throughout the month, as you browse TikTok, Pinterest, and your favorite stores, try adding items you see to this table instead of buying them right away.

Sierra, it looks like she wanted to buy a wall shelf on July 15 and art supplies on July 18, among other things. Your list could include expensive items worth hundreds of dollars, like a new purse or fancy desk chair, or cheaper items like viral lip balm or cute reusable bags. To get the most out of this trick, keep track of everything.

At the end of the month, add up the right column to see how much everything would have cost if you had actually made every sale. In July, Sierra almost impulsively bought more than $750 worth of things. By reviewing the list, she could see her buying patterns as well as how much she had saved.

Save money, but also have fun

While most people would stop there and just appreciate how much money they’ve saved, Sierra recommends taking a few extra steps—and that’s why her trick is so brilliant. After you’ve amazed yourself with your total, split it in half and put one half in a savings account.

The goal of this trick is to save money and break the habit of impulsive purchases. You can use your savings to pay off credit cards or other bills, or just put it aside for a rainy day. The best part is that you can spend the other half on whatever you want. “The half is important because you honor your commitment to saving and then reward yourself for it,” she says. “And that’s where the dopamine hit comes from.”

To treat yourself, go through your list and pick out all the things you really love and allow yourself to have them—as long as they fit your budget. Chances are you’ve forgotten most of the items, which is a great reminder that you probably don’t really “want” or “need” half of what you see.

However, if you still like something at the end of the month, that’s a good sign that it could add something meaningful to your life. Or at least it’ll be something that you’re really excited about. You’ll appreciate those things a lot more because you were waiting for them.

Some months, you might only have a few things on your list. Other months, you might have hundreds—and that’s OK. “If your list gets as long as mine, you won’t be ashamed, will you? We live in a world where things are being pushed on us all the time,” says Sierra. “It’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility to stay on track to achieving your financial goals.”