Stop the parcels you never meant to order
Most impulse buys happen in a few idle minutes on the sofa. FocusMe blocks or limits shopping sites and apps on your computer and phone, so there’s time for the urge to pass.
Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No credit card required.
Sound familiar?
- You browse “just to look” and check out with three things.
- Flash sales and “only 2 left” get you every time.
- Parcels arrive that you barely remember ordering.
- You’d rather your partner didn’t see the bank statement.
Shopping apps are built to make buying effortless: saved cards, one-tap checkout, a notification the moment something drops in price. FocusMe adds back the pause that used to come with walking to a shop.
Signs shopping has gone past a habit
Everyone buys things online. It’s worth taking a closer look if several of these sound like you:
- You shop to cheer yourself up, then feel guilty soon after.
- You buy things you don’t need, or don’t use.
- Unopened parcels or tagged clothes are piling up.
- You hide purchases or play down what you’ve spent.
- You use buy now, pay later to afford things you otherwise couldn’t.
- Spending is causing arguments, debt or worry.
Only a doctor can diagnose a problem. If spending is affecting your health, money or relationships, talk to your GP or doctor, and a free debt or money advice service can help with the finances.
Why it’s so hard to stop
Online shops are designed to remove every moment where you might change your mind. Saved cards and one-tap checkout cut out the pause at the till. Buy now, pay later makes the price feel smaller than it is.
Then there’s the pressure. Countdown timers, “only 2 left” and lightning deals make it feel like now or never. Recommendations follow you from page to page, and abandoned-basket emails bring you back. The buzz comes from the buying, not the owning, which is why it fades so quickly once the parcel arrives. Putting the shop out of reach for a while gives that buzz time to pass.
How FocusMe helps
Block the shops you overspend in, the websites and the apps, on your computer and phone.
Shop at set times only. Block shopping sites in the evening, when most impulse buys happen, and allow them on Saturday morning when you’ve made a list.
Keep the useful parts. On your computer, block the shopping pages but keep the parts you need, such as your orders or a work account.
Cap your browsing. On your computer, a Time Limit gives you, say, 20 minutes of shopping a week, then the sites are blocked until next week.
Make it hard to undo. Choose how strict each plan is. At the strictest setting, it can’t be stopped until the plan ends.
Start in three steps
Download FocusMe and start your free trial.
Add the shopping sites and apps you use most.
Set when shopping is allowed, choose how strict, and start the plan.
Tips that help alongside FocusMe
- Delete saved cards from shopping sites, so every purchase means finding your wallet.
- Use a 48-hour rule. Add it to a wish list and come back in two days. Most of the urge will have gone.
- Unsubscribe from marketing emails and turn off shopping app notifications.
- Shop with a list, and only buy what’s on it.
- Turn off buy now, pay later where your account allows it.
- Notice the mood. If you shop when you’re bored, tired or low, find another way to meet that need.
Frequently asked questions
Can I block Amazon but still use it for work?
Yes. On your computer you can block part of a site, or allow it during set hours only. Many people keep a short weekly window for the things they actually need.
Does it block shopping apps on my phone?
Yes. FocusMe for Android and iPhone blocks apps as well as websites. Both are free to download, and every desktop licence includes Premium for up to 2 mobile devices.
Will this fix my spending?
FocusMe removes the easy route to impulse buying, which is where most unplanned spending starts. If spending is causing you serious worry, a debt or money advice service is a good next step alongside it.
Which shopping sites can I block?
Any of them: Amazon, eBay, Temu, SHEIN, ASOS and the rest. Add the sites and apps you use and FocusMe blocks them on every device you’ve set up.
What about sales events like Black Friday?
Those are exactly the weeks to make your plan stricter. Block shopping for the whole event, or allow a short window with a list you wrote beforehand.
Keep your money for things you really want.
Try FocusMe free for 14 days. Full features, full support, no credit card required.
Start your free trial