Impulse buying is when you make a purchase that is “spontaneous and without reflection” (Pradnan et Al).
It is something that should be avoided if you want to amass wealth and stay out of debt.
How can you regulate your spending and gain back control?
In this blog, I tackle the issue of impulse buying and provide 5 core strategies that help you develop into a more responsible spender.
What are the Root Causes of Impulse Buying?
Impulse spending goes against the notion of homo economicus – that economic principle which assumes that humans are rational decision makers. Instead, impulsive spenders are primarily led by an emotive need to spend.
I remember when I was going through a depressive spell, I would constantly be looking at watches and longing after them. It was therapeutic for me, and although I would not say that these were completely spontaneous purchases, they were not rational. I did not budget for them, and I did not take the time to think through whether I was making a good decision with my money.
These impulse purchases can also occur when someone is in a positive mood. For instance, I remember feeling quite euphoric and buying an expensive leather jacket. Even though it was affordable, it wasn’t a purchase that I took time to consider and was more emotive.
So what prompts this emotive need to spend?
Impulse buying has many root causes, but according to the psychological literature, there are several drivers of this behaviour but amongst the most interesting is personality.
Some people are hard-wired to have more issues controlling their spending.
What Personality Factors Influence Impulse Buying?
Impulse spenders are more likely to be higher in extroversion and lower in conscientiousness.
Extroverts are more likely to be sociable, talkative, outgoing and high-energy.
Their main defining characteristic is that they draw their energy from other people and external sources. It is possible for someone to be shy and extroverted despite these ideas seeming at odds as their energy can still be drawn externally. As extroverts struggle with impulse control and setting boundaries, it makes sense that they may also struggle with impulse spending.
Conscientiousness is the personality trait that defines a dilligent worker. They tend to follows laws, rules and boundaries, and also tend to be skilled at controlling their impulses. It makes perfect sense that those who are low in conscientiousness can also struggle with controlling their impulsive spending.
Is this Why Impulse Spending is so Difficult to Control?
Yes, impulse spending is challenging to control as it is emotional rather than a problem of logic.
You can easily tell someone or work out that you are spending too much money. Taking the steps to control those impulses, however, is another kettle of fish entirely.
The trouble is that people who talk in terms of finances often provide logical strategies to bring spending under control such as setting a budget, but these strategies might not work when impulse spending is rooted in emotions.
Retailers and other marketers are aware that spending is often driven by emotions, so they use tactics that take advantage of our irrational natures.
What Simple Strategies can you use to Fight the Urge to Impulse Buy?
There are 5 strategies that I use to stop myself buying on impulse that anyone can learn to use.
1. Practice Gratitude For What You Have
The first is to practise gratitude. If you write down and reflect upon the things you are thankful for daily, this can counter negative emotions that lead to spending.
Sometimes, I cannot help but marvel at the fact that even my humble Mazda can travel across the country in half a day when people used to take weeks travelling by horse.
Would a Ferrari get me to destinations faster and in more style? Potentially, but it’s just a status symbol and means little to me in the grand scheme of things. You can use a journal to write down the things in your life that you are grateful for and this can have a profound impact on your world-view.
Another focus of your journalling could be on non-material things such as family, friends and relationships. I have found this to be a great source of strength in the past year.
2. Pause Before Purchase
The second tactic is to implement an intentional pause between your desire and purchase. For instance, if I want to buy an expensive watch or piece of clothing, I try to take a few hours or days before making the purchase. In this time, I can research the product and decide how important the purchase is to me.
Since I have taken this approach to shopping, my purchases have probably got more expensive over time, but less frequent as I have become a more discerning shopper. If you take this time to pause between purchases, you also build your understanding of what you value.
3. Remove The Influence
When I was younger, I believed that distracting yourself from an addiction was nothing more than a temporary measure—it wouldn’t truly address the underlying issue. However, when I began experiencing addictive behaviors in my twenties, I realised just how crucial it is to redirect your focus away from harmful triggers.
In the film Walk the Line, for instance, Johnny Cash had to be kept away from the drugs that tormented him. In my own life, I struggle with sugar consumption, and the only method I’ve found to keep from overindulging is to avoid having sugary snacks around me in the first place.
The spending addict also needs to implement the same policy. Uninstall Amazon from your phone, get rid of Temu, avoid the mall. These measures will give you strength.
4. Change Your Focus
Changing your focus is also an important strategy to control your impulse spending.
In my life, dancing has become a way for me to change my focus.
For me, dancing isn’t just an outlet for pent-up energy—it’s a means of actively rewiring my habits and thought patterns. On a physical level, the rhythmic movement and coordination help me release stress and tension in a healthier way.
At the same time, dancing requires enough focus and concentration to shift my attention away from self-defeating thoughts or temptations, making it an effective replacement for behaviours I’m trying to break. It also offers a burst of creative expression, allowing me to funnel emotions into movement.
That sense of accomplishment—mastering a new technique or footwork, feeling the music flow through me—reinforces positive habits, ultimately making it easier to move away from harmful ones.
5. Creating Shopping or Wish Lists
A shopping list is like a roadmap, guiding you directly to what you need and helping you avoid costly detours.
Without one, it’s easy to get distracted by flashy deals or cravings.
By writing out your essentials beforehand, each purchase becomes more mindful. For bigger-ticket items, use a wish list: add the item, wait a week or two, and then reassess. If you still want it, it’s likely a meaningful purchase; if not, you’ve saved money by avoiding an impulse buy.
Conclusion
Impulse buying stems from complex emotional and psychological factors, including personality traits that make certain people more prone to overspending.
However, by recognising these drivers and taking deliberate steps—like practicing gratitude, pausing before making a purchase, removing temptations, redirecting your focus to healthier outlets, and using wish lists—you can regain control over your finances.
These strategies don’t just help you save money; they also foster a mindset of mindfulness and intentionality, ultimately enabling you to make purchases that truly align with your values and goals.
Beating your spending addiction will help you in all aspects of life.
References
- Pradhan D., Israel D., Jena A. (2018). Materialism and compulsive buying behaviour: the role of consumer credit card use and impulse buying. Asia Pacific J. Market. Logist. 30,1355–5855.
- Verplanken, B., & Sato, A. (2011). The psychology of impulse buying: An integrative self-regulation approach. Journal of Consumer Policy, 34(2), 197–210.
