Impulse buying: understanding why you slip and how to limit it
AmanaFi team · Updated · 1 min read
An impulse purchase is rarely a willpower problem: it responds to a trigger, such as tiredness, an emotion, a promotion or simply having a shopping site in front of you. Spotting triggers lets you put effective safeguards in place.
Spot your triggers
For a month, note the purchases you regret and what happened just before.
- Tiredness, stress or boredom.
- "Limited-time" promotions.
- Social media and targeted ads.
- Hunger, or group buying under pressure.
Concrete safeguards
Make buying a little less easy.
- Delete saved cards on shopping sites.
- Unsubscribe from promotional newsletters.
- Write a list before going out and stick to it.
- Wait 24 hours before any unplanned purchase.
Allow a small margin
A fixed pleasure envelope, spent without guilt, reduces slips: you are allowed to treat yourself within a frame. When it is empty, you wait for the next month.
Frequently asked
Why do promotions push people to buy?
The idea of missing an opportunity triggers urgency. Remember that a promotion on something you did not need is still spending.
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