Is Impulse Buying Ruining Your Finances? 6 Ways to Stop

Veronica is wandering the aisles at the store, pushing a cart full of items she didn’t intend to buy.

She went in to grab some milk and toilet paper but is now also picking up a scented candle, fuzzy slippers, and a new book. She’s been working hard lately, so she deserves these indulgences, right?

Except as her cart fills up, so does her unease about the total she’ll face at checkout…

Does this scenario feel familiar to you? Impulse buying—or purchasing something without planning to do so beforehand—is all too common with 73% of Americans saying the majority of their purchases are unplanned.

Impulse buying is often triggered by flashy store displays, tempting sales or other marketing tactics. It can also happen when you feel influenced by friends, family or social media that you “need” a certain item. But no matter what causes it, impulse buying adds up with the average consumer spending $281.75 per month on impulse buys in 2024.

Do you often find yourself falling victim to impulse buys? Do you feel like they’re impacting your budget and ability to achieve your financial goals? Below, we’re sharing six tips to help you limit impulse buying.

1. Always Shop With a List

Shopping with a list not only helps you remember to grab what you need from the store, but it can also help you be less impulsive. Whether you use the Notes app on your phone, a dedicated shopping app, or a handwritten list jotted down on paper, taking this step will help you avoid wandering the store aimlessly and be more intentional with your purchases.

2. Take a Cool Off Period Before Purchasing

When you’re shopping and you see something that you really want, your brain will probably tempt you to grab it and buy it right away.

That’s because shopping is known to trigger your automatic nervous system and switch your brain into a “competitive mode” that makes you worry about missing out on a purchase. And then if you do make the purchase, you’ll feel a sense of instant gratification thanks to a dopamine rush.

So yes, your brain wants you to make that impulse buy—but you can thwart that temptation by taking a cool off period. By waiting at least 24 hours before making the purchase, you’ll be able to avoid being impulsive and have time to carefully think about whether you truly need or want the item.

If you wake up the next day and don’t feel as excited about the purchase, then skip it. And if you go back and the item is gone, then it wasn’t meant to be.

3. Understand Emotion-Driven Shopping

Some people shop when they’re happy. Some people shop when they’re sad. Others shop when they’re bored. Think about impulse buys you’ve made recently and reflect on whether an emotion drove you to make the purchase. When you’re able to identify these emotions, you can avoid triggers that lead to excessive shopping.

4. Make Online Shopping Less Convenient

These days, a significant share of impulse buying happens online or on social media because phones and computers make it easy to buy anything in just a couple taps or clicks.

Eliminate some of the convenience by removing shopping apps from your phone and not keeping your payment information on file with retailers.  By having to stop and enter your payment information for every online purchase, you’ll force yourself to take more time to consider if you really need or want something.

In addition, set limits on when and where you can shop online. Many consumers (43%) admit that they’re most likely to make impulsive buys when shopping in bed. Consider only allowing yourself to shop online during daytime hours and in a space where you’re not easily tempted by impulse buys.

5. Take Advantage of Curbside Pickup or Delivery

When it comes to purchasing necessities like groceries and household essentials, many grocery stores and retailers offer curbside pickup and delivery. Many people find that by not physically going into the store, they stick with their list and avoid impulse buys altogether.

Related: 8 Ways You’re Overspending at the Grocery Store

6. Prioritize Other Activities, Too

Shopping as an activity—and not because you actually need something—isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it does naturally lead to impulse buys.

If shopping is your go-to pastime, try to find more things that you enjoy doing and that give you a similar dopamine hit. For example,

• Going to the library
• Walking at the park
• Finding and trying new recipes
• Reading
• Crafting
• Visiting museums
• Volunteering
• Decluttering and organizing your home
• Calling a friend

Want more? Check out our blog, Thrifty Self-Care Tips: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.

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