5 Spending Triggers and How To Avoid Them

Hello, my budgeting friend! Have you ever found yourself glancing at your bank account or your credit card bill and wondering how in the world you spent all that money? You’re not alone. Many of us experience what experts call “spending triggers”—those little nudges that prompt us to part with our cash, often without us even realizing we’re doing it.

Spending money as a result of your emotional state can have a negative impact on your household budget. But recognizing what your emotional spending triggers are is the first step to keeping your emotions from getting ahead of your bank account.

In this post, we’ll explore five common spending triggers and provide practical strategies and proactive steps to avoid them. From sad shopping to late-night online binges, we’ll dig into some of the emotions and habits that can lead to overspending. So, grab a cozy spot and a cup of tea (and your cat if you have one) and let’s get started!

Sad Shopping: Emotional Spending to Cure the Blues

Have you ever turned to shopping when you’re feeling blue? It’s a common phenomenon known as “retail therapy,” and it can give you a temporary high. The keyword here is ‘temporary,’ because these emotional purchases can quickly lead to buyer’s remorse and financial strain. According to a survey by Credit Karma, over 52% of Americans admit to engaging in emotional spending.

The latest pair of designer shoes might make you happy for a while, but if you’re making unplanned purchases and accumulating credit card debt every time you’re feeling unhappy, it could be setting you up for the perfect storm. You spend because you’re sad, and then your credit card bill is high, so you’re sad. And then you spend because you’re sad…It’s a vicious circle of spending and sadness! 

How to Avoid Sad Shopping

• Pause and Reflect: Before making a purchase, ask yourself, “Am I buying this because I need it or because I’m feeling down?” A simple pause can break the cycle of buying “stuff” to meet your emotional needs. 
• Find Alternatives: Consider other ways to lift your spirits and work through your negative emotions, such as calling a friend, going for a walk, or indulging in a favorite hobby to help you change your spending patterns. I’ve often turned to journaling to deal with emotions.

Shopping When Hungry: The Influence of Appetite

You might think hunger only affects your grocery list, but it can influence all types of purchases. A 2015 study found that people who shop when hungry tend to spend more, not just on food, but on non-food items as well. You can read about the study here.

How to Avoid Shopping When Hungry

• Planning Counts: Always make a shopping list before heading to the grocery store and stick to it. Try to plan your outings between mealtimes. When I was young, I remember my mom always going to the grocery store as soon as we’d cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast. We were home well before lunch time.
• Snack Smart: Next time you head to the store, have a healthy snack before you shop to curb hunger and keep your head clear. Bring a snack with you if you are worried you will become hungry while you are shopping. It’s pretty easy to pack a granola bar, some nuts, or some fruit and a bottle of water to take with you. Doing so will save you from buying a meal or snack, as well as keep you from being hungry while you finish shopping.

Late-Night Online Shopping: The Midnight Temptation

The internet never sleeps, and with 24/7 access, late-night shopping can become a costly habit. Here is an interesting article about people staying up past their bedtime and going shopping on the internet. The people surveyed spent an average of $165.00 on their late-night internet shopping sprees. Ouch! If late-night shopping happens often, it could wreak havoc on your budget!

How to Avoid Late-Night Online Shopping

• Set a Curfew: Establish a cutoff time for online activities, similar to a bedtime, for your devices. Don’t get into the habit of lying in bed and scrolling on your phone. Put the phone away and do something non-internet related. Not only will you help yourself avoid online shopping, you will probably get better sleep by putting down your electronics earlier. If there is something you want to shop for, jot it down or put a reminder in your phone and do it the next day. It’s too easy to start off by shopping for something you actually need and then end up somewhere on the internet at midnight buying stuff you hadn’t planned for.
• Use Wishlist Features: If you find something interesting, add it to a wishlist. Return to it after a few days to see if you still want it. Some people use a “48-hour rule,” where they wait 48 hours before making a purchase, and many find the item has lost its initial appeal. I often use the wishlist feature on Amazon, and occasionally go through and remove all the items I put on it and no longer want to buy. It’s amazing what a little bit of time can do.

Removing Debit Cards from Websites: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Saved payment information on websites makes it much too easy to make impulse purchases with a single click. This convenience can lead to unplanned expenses. Those websites know exactly what they’re doing by having all your information ready. You can see something, not even think twice, and buy it in the blink of an eye! Make it harder for yourself by not having the information easily accessible. It may give you the moment of pause you need to keep you from spending unnecessarily.

How to Avoid This Spending Trigger

• Clear Stored Payment Methods: Take a few minutes to remove saved debit and credit cards from frequently used sites. Yes, if you do actually need to buy something, you will need to enter your information. You may need to get out of your chair, go find your purse, pull out your debit card, and type in all your information. Hopefully having to do this will give you time to think before you buy, and occasionally it might be a big enough pain in the butt that you just decide not to buy something you don’t really need.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra step to the checkout process, giving you more time to reconsider. Again, this requires an extra action from you to make a purchase, and gives you extra time to click ‘Cancel” instead of “Place Order,” and it will save you money!

Social Media Influence: The Power of Peer Pressure

Social media platforms are filled with ads and influencers showing off the latest must-have items. Then there are the social media accounts of friends and acquaintances showcasing their new car/home/boat/whatever. Why do we feel that we need to have what everyone else does? I guess it’s our human nature to want to “fit in.” It goes along with the whole “Keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. The pressure to buy can be strong, but you can be stronger.

How to Avoid Social Media Spending Triggers

• Curate Your Social Media Feed: Unfollow accounts that trigger unnecessary spending and follow those that align with your financial goals. There are many wonderful YouTube channels and blogs that share tips on living a fulfilling life on less. Find some you like and be inspired. It’s surprising what you can do with a little bit of money and a lot of creativity. Here is a post I wrote about finding contentment in your home.
• Set a Budget: Allocate a specific amount for social media-inspired purchases and stick to it. Not allowing yourself a small splurge now and then can lead to binge-buying. If you truly need to buy something you saw on social media, budget for it. This way you can have some of the “latest must-have” items, but you are not overspending.
• Change Your Mindset: Decide not to be influenced. Instead of following the latest fashion or home decor trend, focus on your own personal style. Trends are constantly changing. But if you find a style that is truly “you,” you can become immune to the trends, and save your money.

By understanding these common spending triggers, you can make more intentional choices, protect your budget, and improve your financial situation. Remember, it’s not about depriving yourself but about spending wisely and with planning and purpose. Don’t be disappointed with yourself if you have a setback while you’re trying to change your spending habits. Habits take time to change. If you’ve started trying to change, you’re already partway there, so keep going!

Until next time, happy budgeting!

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