You grab your phone for a quick scroll to unwind, spot something cute or useful, and tap “buy” before thinking twice. Then you just move on with your day. That’s impulse spending.
Studies show 89% of shoppers have made impulse buys at some point, with 54% spending $100 or more on them. It feels totally normal and no big deal right then.
It’s not like you’re terrible with money or anything. It tends to show up when you’re tired, bored, stressed, or needing a break. That buy button gives a fast dopamine rush, like instant retail therapy with one-swipe checkout.
What is Impulse Buying
Impulse buying is spending money on something you didn’t plan for, driven mostly by your mood in that moment—classic emotional spending.
You had no intention of buying the item until it appeared on your screen. The desire shows up, and before you really think about it, you’re already checking out, acting on impulse.
These are called spur-of-the-moment purchases for good reason; there’s barely any gap between the “ooh” and the done deal, pure unplanned purchase territory.
Why Impulse Buying Happens So Often
It sneaks up because everything’s built for speed these days—phone in your pocket, card details auto-filled, checkout in seconds flat. No built-in brakes to make you pause and ponder.
Your emotions get in on the action too. Feeling blah, anxious, lonely, or just blah? Grabbing or purchasing something small can trick your brain into a dopamine hit via retail therapy, even if the item ends up forgotten. That’s the unplanned purchases psychology at play—it’s all about that split-second emotional spending boost.
What Triggers Impulse Spending
When you dig into what triggers impulsive spending habits, everyday stuff tops the list.
- Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or mentally checked out after work
- Scrolling social media and comparing your life to curated highlights
- Seeing limited-time offers, countdown timers, or low-stock messages
- Stressful days where buying feels easier than thinking
- Boredom disguised as curiosity
- Convenience that removes friction, like saved cards and one-click checkout
These causes of impulse spending blend right into normal routines, so they fly under the radar easily.
Types of Impulse Buying
Impulse purchases tend to fall into a few patterns that show up again and again.
- Small daily buys like drinks, snacks, or delivery fees that seem no big deal
- Emotional buys linked to your mood, stress, or a quick reward
- Trendy picks sparked by creators, ads, or seeing what others have
- Convenience stuff to save time that ends up costing more
- Nostalgia or “me” items that chase a feeling over real use
Examples of impulse purchases? Think unplanned snacks at checkout, late-night outfit adds, or cart fillers from mindless browsing.
How to Stop Impulse Buying
People often search for how to stop impulse spending, expecting strict systems, but real change usually starts with friction, not restriction. The goal isn’t control; it’s interruption.
Wait Before You Buy
Toss the item in your cart, close the app, and walk away for a bit—like 48 hours or even just until tomorrow. Set a reminder on your phone if it helps, or jot it down in your notes app. Check back later; if the want for that impulse purchase is still strong, think it over then. Most times, the urge fades fast on its own.
Make Buying Less Easy
Ditch saved cards, sign out of sites, or delete shopping apps. Tiny hurdles break the autopilot flow of impulse shopping behavior.
For example, I don’t save my cards online. I have to type in all the card details every time I want to buy something, and most of the time, I feel too lazy to do it—so the purchase never happens.
Step Away From Triggers
Social media and ads that never stop are made to get your attention and make you want to buy. Spending less time on them helps slow down those quick-buy urges. Log out of shopping apps, quiet accounts that make you spend, or limit how much you scroll so your mind can rest. Simple changes like turning off alerts or skipping pages full of new items let the want to buy go away.
You don’t have to stop using the internet altogether. You just make space so you buy things on purpose, not by accident.
Replace the Habit
Impulse spending often comes from a need for a quick boost—boredom, stress, or just wanting something new. Instead of buying, try doing something else that gives a similar feeling. It could be a short walk, stretching, playing a quick game, or even just scrolling through a fun app without buying anything.
Turn the Urge Into Saving
When you feel the urge to buy something, try putting that money aside instead. For example, if you’re tempted to spend $20 on a random app or snack, transfer $20 to a separate savings account or even a jar at home. You don’t have to make it perfect—just move the money somewhere safe before you spend it.
This isn’t about crushing the urge; it’s about redirecting it to something free. Over time, your brain rewires to link that feel-good moment with no-cost options, making it easier to skip the impulse buys without feeling deprived.
Notice the Feeling First
Controlling emotional purchases kicks off by clocking your mood—are you bored, beat, or tense? Calling it out buys you breathing room before dopamine drives another impulse purchase.
Set a Simple Budget
You don’t need a fancy spreadsheet or app for this. Just pick one day a week, like Sunday evenings after dinner, to check your bank app and set aside a real number for fun stuff—maybe $30 or $50 for coffee runs, small snacks, or whatever little treats fit your week. When that random buy urge hits, pull up your phone, see what’s left in that “fun” pot, and decide from there. If it’s empty, that’s your cue to skip. It feels like permission for the good things without impulse spending taking over everything else.
For more practical ways to stick to a budget and manage your spending, see how to stick to a budget effectively.
Impulsive Buying vs Planned Buying
Impulsive buying and planned buying differ in one simple way: the pause. With planned buys, you think it over first. Impulse spending skips that pause. You buy first and think later.
Over time, the impact of impulse spending on your budget adds up in ways you might not notice at first. Cash slips away little by little from all those quick impulse purchases, making it tougher to save for bigger goals like trips or emergencies.
Meanwhile, the dopamine rush—that exciting thrill from hitting “buy”—sticks in your memory much longer than the item itself.
A Little Awareness Goes a Long Way
Buying on a whim happens to everyone. Just slowing down, spotting triggers, and finding small swaps can make spending feel less automatic.
A helpful way to see this in action is checking out this guide on things not to buy, which highlights common purchases people often regret and how to think twice before buying.