Are you an impulse shopper? I would say *
most of the time* that I'm not. I either plan out a purchase I want to make or I’m shopping for something specific. In general I also tend to be pretty picky on what I actually want and I mostly shop online. I feel like you’re less likely to impulse buy there? For some reason it just seems easier when you can see something in person, pick it up and walk right out of the store with it.
That may or may not be because I add everything to my cart + run once I see the subtotal. Lol, anyone else?? Despite my normal planning and self-control, I found myself in a TOTALLY different situation a few weekends ago.
I'm totally blaming my sister for this one too. To give you some back story, Target came out with a Stoney Clover collaboration of travel accessories for the Spring. You probably heard of it because everyone on social media went crazy (including my sister). I, on the other hand, had zero knowledge about this until MY SISTER ordered a ton of things from the collection and picked them up from our Target. Obviously after seeing how cute and colorful everything was, I wanted to go in and "just look at everything." This is where things went down hill. Once we got there it was an absolute frenzy— Target was trying to stock the section, people were everywhere, swarming and grabbing things Black Friday style. I caved right into said frenzy and ended up buying a ton of things that I definitely didn't need or *really* want.
It was a textbook example of both a supply and demand issue and a sense of urgency. We're naturally wired to want the things we can't have AND the things we think other people want (that are in limited supply). Don't forget about FOMO, too. Everything was also very cute, colorful + fun! Long story short, later on I ultimately decided I needed none of it + back to the store it goes. The entire experience had me thinking all about impulse buying and the top reasons of why I think we fall into the trap. I'm sure there's an entire science behind it all but these are just my thoughts.
WHY WE IMPULSE BUY
+ TEMPORARY FEEL GOOD - There's a reason they call it "retail therapy." Shopping is known to release dopamine in the brain and as a result, buying things creates a feel good response in the brain. We've all probably experienced this at some point or another. If you're having a bad day or feeling stressed, it can help boost your mood (even if temporarily).
+ WE'RE BORED - I don't know about you but when I'm bored at home, nine times out of ten I end up at Target. It's not too far from home and going gives me something fun to do. Buying is also fun and helps take away some of that boredom which I think ties into the whole feel good/dopamine effect.
+ SENSE OF URGENCY - Like in my case, the fear of "limited supply" or FOMO tells us we need to buy. I'll acknowledge first hand that while shopping in the chaos, I had a hard time really deciding what I wanted. I kept going back and forth on whether I should even buy anything, however I knew that if I didn't buy and I ended up wanting something later, it would be too late. This also comes into play with sales + promotions. A lot of times you'll receive "last call" emails on sales from stores. This is to create a sense of urgency to get you to make a purchase. PSA-- most of the time, there will be another sale that is just as good!
+ INFLUENCED - If I asked you whether you've ever purchased something because someone else recommended it to you or you saw someone else had it and you liked it, you would probably say yes. That happens everyday in our world of social media + influencers. I will be the first to admit that I find a lot of recommendations on Instagram + from the people I follow. I also personally love sharing what I like with you all on here + my Instagram (you can find me
@TheKristenDiary). I love it + think there's nothing wrong with "being influenced" if it's something you truly like + want. I do think it's something to be mindful of, though. It's very common for a lot of people to buy things on a whim in these situations that may or may not be something you really like.
Sometimes that's a-okay too, though. Going out with friends or by yourself to randomly shop can be a lot of fun. It's okay to purchase things you weren't necessarily looking for if you love them or know you'll get good use out of them. In my case, buying a bunch of travel bags when I very rarely travel didn't make sense. I also felt unsure about all of it both before and after buying. When I couldn't make a decision, I went back to basics with a rule of thumb that I try to apply in all areas of my life-- love it or leave it.
Try asking yourself if you love whatever it is you're deciding on. If you can't make a definitive decision or feel wishy washy on something, there's a pretty good chance that you don't really want it. If you don't HAVE to keep it, you won't miss it once it's gone. Similar to the popular phrase "If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no," it's a mindset that works and can help you make the best decision.
HOW TO AVOID IMPULSE BUYS
Hindsight is 20-20 so despite all of this, it's all too easy to find yourself in a situation to impulse buy. Here are some tips to avoid falling into an impulse trap that you'll regret later.
+ GIVE IT 24 HOURS - This rule is usually advised for larger, more costly purchases. If you find and are wanting to purchase something, the rule is to wait 24 hours before buying. If you're still wanting to purchase the item then, proceed. It normally applies to more expensive items (I think the rule of thumb is anything more than 1% of your income) but can also work for smaller things you're feeling so-so on.
+ KNOW WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT - Figuring out what it is you actually want can keep you from buying what you don't. As someone who loves to shop, there's almost always something on my wish list. Nine times out of ten I can find a new pair of shoes, beauty item or book that I both want and love. Most of the time I don't actually NEED any of it. To narrow it down to the things that I really want, I like to keep a running list in my notes app. This might sound silly but one week I might want something and the next week I'm over it. The list helps me really decide what it is I do want and comes in handy if you have to budget or save up for something. Keeping track of what's important to you can help you stay motivated and avoid impulse buying.
+ LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT - If all else fails, asking yourself the "love it or leave it" test really does help make things a lot easier. If you're wishy-washy or feel unsure about a purchase, let it go. There will always be something new to buy and if you don't love it, you probably won't enjoy or get the same use out of it as something you truly love. Save your money for something better!
What impulse purchase have you regretted?
