Ikea, Home Depot. God, all of them. I’ll have 50 feet of Romex™ at the Depot and as I’m in line, I suddenly realize I must have 2 Snickers for lunch. :smack:
Thrift stores, specifically buying jigsaw puzzles there. Though I have enough thrift store puzzles stocked up to last me a year (and I do them fast) anything remotely appealing will get gobbled up.
I’d say bookstores also, but as a collector getting stuff is not really an impulse, it can be justified as filling in holes in my collection.
Hardware stores, dollar stores, thrift stores, and the pharmacy. I love a bargain, and I can always find a bargain at those stores. (Seriously, I once spent over $40 at the Dollar Tree on clearance Christmas items! Clearance! But I didn’t have to buy gift bags or wrap or boxes or ribbon for about 10 years. There are still a couple of those giant gift bags floating around - I got my quarter’s worth out of them!)
Book stores definitely count - I might go in for one specific book for The Boy’s literature class, but I know I’m leaving with a bagful of books.
And kitchen stores. Oh how I love kitchen stores…
I’ve been targeted with the daily emails from Tiger Direct and other ‘Daily Deal’ emails. Those are hard to pass up because I do have a list as long as my arm of things I want / need. I have a very limited monthly amount I can spend, and it usually goes to something I drop down on there.
Oh yeah…and Steepandcheap.com. I’m a suckaaaaaaah.
Yeah, Woot gets me.
Home Depot/Lowes - Look, honey, I need one of these!
Harbor Freight Tools - Oooh, I’ve always wanted a ______
I don’t understand how this works. How does it take care of the problem? The problem is buying things, so to solve it you buy things? There must be a vital step missing! 
I get eating an apple before going shopping so you don’t fill the basket with crisps, but buying lots of stuff so you don’t buy lots of stuff is new to me…
Think of it as a type of innoculation. You’re trading an out-of-control, unplanned financial splurge for a planned, controlled, limited spendage.
Does this mean I’m successful at this approach?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah>gasp<hahahahahahahahahahahha
Obligatory link to money magnet store
Got it in one.
Please note the escalating price points at the stores I listed. There’s a reason I go to different places to impulse buy. If I know I’m tight on cash, I’ll go “splurge” at Goodwill (just did today, actually - spent 3 hours and $11 
) but if I’m a bit more flush, I happily go and buy something unnecessary that costs a bit more (Weird-ass crafty thingies from Michaels most recently) to get it out of my system. Then I feel all happy that I bought something “for me” and I can easily stick to my lists everywhere else I have to shop that day.
I have too much shit going on that requires self-control for me to waste precious mental resources resisting something as simple to “fix” as this is.
For those of you who have the time and patience, freecycle.org is an excellent resource. Go to the site and look for groups in your area. I’m pretty sure that all require you to sign up, so there’s some level of accountability.
I’m sure many are familiar with the site and it’s purpose, but basically it’s designed to be clearing house for unwanted but still valuable items that you are willing to give away. IOW, if it’s something that you would otherwise throw out or giveaway but can’t seem to unload, freecycle is the place to turn.
It’s not just junk either. You may be quite surprised at some of the stuff people are happy to part with just to have some one come for it and take it away. I’ve given away such things as a working vinyl recliner (afraid of cat getting caught) that wasn’t worth selling to ‘husband pillow’ I think they’re called (short back with arms.
Also, once you’re a member, you can even post want ads for things you want or need but haven’t been listed or you’ve missed getting. Sometimes listing things, especially popular items can be a hassle, so a person who has what you want might not list it but might be happy to respond to your ad.
Just remember, the part about all listings having to be absolutely and completely free is strictly enforced.
For me, it’s Kickstarter.
Ooh, a new video game! Symphony! Speciality playing cards! Sourcebook for RPGs! And if I don’t get it now it’ll be more expensive during retail…
I guess that I’m lucky that the nearest Ikea is over 30 miles away. The Container Store is quite bad enough. Yes, they have containers, but they have a lot of “oooooh, SHINY!” too, especially before Xmas. A lot of this shiny stuff is actually useful, as well.
I can’t resist office supply stores. I’ve never seen a pen or marker or crayon collection that I didn’t lust after. Same thing with hobby and craft stores. I’m trying to stay out of them, because I have ENOUGH craft supplies to last me for the rest of my life.
Yeah, bookstores. I KNEW that Borders was in trouble when I could go into one of their stores, wander around for over an hour, and not find anything that I wanted. And this happened not once, but several times.
I really enjoy poking around thrift stores. It’s pretty much ALL impulse purchases at a thrift store, because there’s no telling what will be in stock. The best you can do is have a general idea of things you’d like to have, eventually. I’d say that I walk out without buying, or only buying a couple of books or something, about 75% of the time…but the one time in four visits that I score, I score big.
So, naturally, one of my favorite places to shop is a used book chain that also sells jigsaw puzzles and video games.