IMPULSE SPENDING TRIGGERS — AND HOW I OUTSMART THEM
True North Deals
HOW TO STOP BUYING THINGS WE DON'T NEED
Reading time: 3 min 20 sec
Let’s be real: we’ve all bought something that we didn’t really need. Whether it was the result of late night scrolling on Amazon or a moment of weakness on TikTok, it's happened to the best of us!
Impulse spending is sneaky because it disguises itself as a treat, a good deal, or even a form of self-care. But over time, those impulse purchases can really add up! This means less money in the bank, more clutter in your space, and sometimes, even a bit of buyer’s remorse. Or a lot of it.
The good news? Once you start to recognize your spending triggers, you can actually stop them before it's too late. Here are a few that used to get me — and what I do now instead.
1. The “Just in Case” Trap
You know the one. You see something and think: What if I need this someday?
Spoiler: 9 times out of 10, you won’t need it!
What I do instead:
Ask myself: “If I needed this urgently, could I borrow it, rent it, or find it secondhand within 24 hours?” If yes, I don’t buy it.
2. Sales That Aren’t Actually Saving You Money
Think flash sales, BOGO, and “Today only!” sales. These types of sales create serious FOMO and urgency instead of true value. Buying something just because it’s on sale isn’t saving... it’s still spending.
What I do instead:
I keep a running list of things I genuinely want or need — and then wait until those things go on sale to buy them.
Usually by the time I go through the list again, I don't even want half the items on it anymore.
3. TikTok & Influencer Triggers
Social media makes it wayyy too easy to justify impulse buys. You watch a “favourite Amazon finds” video or a "haul" video and suddenly need a mini vacuum for your car that lights up and sings lullabies.
What I do instead:
Unfollow or mute accounts that constantly push products. Follow creators who focus on sustainability, minimalism, or DIY content instead.
And if I still see something I want? I add it to that list I mentioned above and revisit it in a few weeks. Usually the urge to buy it is completely gone by then!
4. Emotional Spending
Stress, boredom, celebration — emotions are powerful triggers. And the hit of dopamine you get when you buy something feels like a fix. But that feeling never lasts. Yes, your purchase is exciting in the moment, but the novelty usually wears off pretty quickly.
What I do instead:
I try to pause to think about it. Get up, make some tea, journal, or tidy something up.
If that doesn't work, I open my budgeting app and get a visual of how much better off I'll be without this unnecessary purchase. 99% of the time, the urge passes.
5. “Little Things” That Add Up
A $6 coffee here. A $14 beauty product there. It doesn’t seem like much — until you look at your statement and realize you made 27 random purchases last month.
What I do instead:
I use a budgeting app to track ALL of my transactions. I have a “fun money” budget line per month and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
That really helps me to be more mindful about what I'm willing to spend that money on.
I also find it helpful to think about my money in terms of "hours worked" or "bill amounts" instead. If I'm thinking about buying a new pair of nice jeans, I'll think to myself, yeah but that's “x” amount of work... or that’s two of my bills.
It often doesn't feel worth it anymore once I re-frame it like that.
6. Browsing to Fill Time
Let’s be honest — sometimes we’re just bored and want to look. But that mindless scroll can often lead to mindless spending.
What I do instead:
I deleted shopping apps off my phone and replaced them with apps for reading, hiking, fitness, etc.
The only shopping-related app I have now is Rakuten — because if I can't completely resist the urge to buy something, at least I'll get a little something back!
Plus, it’s a little more effort to shop that way, and I often lose interest before spending anything. Win-win!
Bonus Tip: The 30-Day Rule That Changed Everything
If I find something I want, I don’t buy it immediately. Instead, I write it down with the date.
If I still want it in 30 days — and it still fits my budget and space — I go for it.
Spoiler: I usually forget about it after a week, and after 30 days I can't even remember why I wanted it in the first place!
One Final Thought…
Shopping isn’t evil. It’s okay to want and enjoy new things — but we should aim to buy with intention instead of impulse.
Not only does this help us save money and reduce waste, but it also makes space for what really matters to us!
Related Posts:
👉 DEINFLUENCING: THE TREND THAT'S ACTUALLY WORTH FOLLOWING
👉 16 THINGS I STOPPED BUYING TO SAVE MONEY
