Impulse Buying: What Triggers it & How to Keep a Check on It to stop 

Let’s face it, impulsive buying is fun—at least at the time. You enter Target looking for diapers, and then suddenly, boom. Amazing throw pillows are filling your shopping cart. When you purchase something impulsively without any planning before, it is known as impulse buying.

It happens after customers feel the need to buy and are frequently unplanned and unhesitating. 

Consider the power of temptation as a source of impulse buying. when you simply can’t help yourself and end up doing something you shouldn’t. 

Let’s find out more about impulse buying.  

Impulse buying refers to the act of making an unplanned purchase, often on a whim or in response to a sudden desire or impulse. This can happen when someone sees a product that catches their eye or triggers an emotional response or is in a particular mood or situation that makes them more likely to spend money. 

Impulse buying can be driven by a variety of factors, such as advertising, in-store displays, social pressure, and personal emotions or mood. It is often associated with purchasing items that are not essential or that the buyer did not intend to buy before entering the store or browsing online. 

Impulse buying can have both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, it can provide a sense of excitement or pleasure at the moment and may even lead to the discovery of new products or experiences. On the other hand, it can also lead to overspending, buyer’s remorse, or a cluttered living space filled with unnecessary items. 

There is a significant amount of research into the science behind impulse buying behavior. Here are some key factors that can contribute to impulse buying: 

Studies have shown that people are more likely to make impulsive purchases when they are in a positive emotional state. Positive emotions make people more willing to take risks or seek out new experiences. 

Social influence can play a role in impulse buying behavior. For example, seeing other people make purchases can make you feel like you should be buying something too. In addition, retailers use social influence techniques, such as displaying “popular” or “trending” items, to encourage customers to make impulse purchases. 

Advertising and marketing can create a sense of urgency or desire that can lead to impulse buying. Retailers use various techniques, such as limited-time offers, flash sales, and personalized recommendations, to create a sense of urgency and encourage impulse purchases. 

The availability and accessibility of a product can also influence impulse buying behavior. For example, if a product is prominently displayed or easily accessible, it may be more tempting to make an impulsive purchase. 

Finally, cognitive factors can also play a role in impulse buying behavior. For example, people who are more impulsive by nature may be more likely to make impulsive purchases. In addition, people who are easily distracted or have poor self-control may also be more likely to make impulsive purchases. 

Overall, impulse buying is a complex phenomenon that can be influenced by a variety of factors. By understanding these factors, individuals can better control their impulse buying behavior and make more responsible purchasing decisions. 

Wilhelm Hofmann, a social psychologist whose work is frequently quoted, hypothesized that impulses are produced when the associative cluster in long-term memory is activated in close association with input from perceptual stimuli. 

Let us examine a brief illustration: 

1. You spot a cake at the bakery because you adore cake. 

2. A number of wants and impulses to eat food are activated by your brain. 

3. External triggers like the cake’s design and the bakery’s aroma can trigger these urges. 

4. You purchase the cake without giving it any thought. 

According to Hofmann, your brain creates a cluster of associations between  

1. the idea of cake, 

2. the pleasant effect the cake produced, and 

3. the repeated patterns of behavior that produced the favorable effect. 

And with that, you’ve haplessly purchased a delectable cake, and you’re not upset about it. 

Ever wonder where impulsive purchasing leads you? There are four basic causes for why people make impulsive purchases. As follows: 

While making purchases, emotions are a major factor. Your financial situation is strictly personal. Hence, it makes perfect sense that when something is going on in your personal life, it would also manifest in your financial behavior. 

Does some retail therapy seem like the answer when you’re having a bad day? It might not be something drastic. Picking up a new pair of sunglasses or a soft blanket could be enough. You just give yourself justifications by saying that buying such stuff will help you feel better. 

Purely emotional decisions are a proven way to allow impulsive shopping to take over. Sneaky marketers are aware of this. To get you to buy, they’ll exploit emotional appeals in their advertisements. 

If you struggle with impulse shopping and overspending, it’s possible that you were never given sound financial advice. 

You can better understand the basis for your financial thinking by reflecting on how money was managed in the home where you were raised. This can also assist you in resolving potential conflicts over money if you’re married. They most likely had a very different experience than you, thus you two are approaching this from two distinct angles. 

When you think you’re getting a discount, you may occasionally buy on impulse. 

Yet this is purely a marketing ploy. A poll found that 64% of consumers make impulsive purchases because of a deal. You’re much more likely to make a purchase when you believe you’re receiving a deal or “free delivery,” and that’s exactly what the advertisers want you to do. 

No doubt, shopping enhances your mood instantly. Dopamine, the brain’s happy drug, is released by the body when you shop. 

This love of shopping isn’t necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. What’s risky is when your passion for shopping develops into a shopping addiction due to all of your impulsive purchases. Your body begins to depend on that dopamine rush, so you keep feeding it by increasing your expenditure. But the point is that it’s simple to like making impulsive purchases since science says so. 

Here are some ways to keep your impulse buying at bay: 

You must create a budget. If you don’t have one already, stop right now and begin using different budgeting applications. 

The worst part is that you have to follow through with it! The budget wand will not magically make all your money behave. You must decide where your money will go every month and then carry out your plan. Spending money should not be made if it has not been budgeted for. Indeed, it is both that easy and difficult. 

Smartphones are used for two-thirds of your bedtime impulse purchases. Seeing what you want and clicking to buy it is so simple. 

Giving yourself a day or so to calm down after making an impulse purchase can be helpful in this situation. Once you’ve collected your thoughts and gained some perspective, consider whether you can afford the item now and whether you’ll truly utilize it. That’s a straightforward approach to the purchase that will spare you from a ton of future financial stress. 

Moreover, be wary of offers that are valid for a certain day only. Don’t let a deadline pressure you into making a purchase! If you can’t afford it now, keep in mind the offer, put some money away, and be prepared for it the next time. Because a sale will eventually materialize. 

Don’t let your feelings dictate how much money you spend. Maybe you are having a bad day and trying to convince yourself that you deserve something amazing or that buying this stuff will make you happy. 

Perhaps all of you have been there before. It is fairly simple to do. How then can it be fixed? Do not make any purchases when you are guided by your emotions, whether you’re happy or trying to cheer your mood. 

You will never be satisfied if you constantly evaluate what you have or lack as compared to others. You are playing a game that you will never win when you start comparing yourself to other people. 

Take a step back and evaluate your life rather than focusing on what someone else has and thinking, that you need that too. Become appreciative of the things you do have. You will soon find that you have a lot to show gratitude to just by changing your perspective. 

Using social media is the worst idea when you are facing problems with comparisons. If you know that scrolling past everyone’s highlight reel makes it difficult for you to be content, address the root cause of the problem. It’s not that you have to give up social media permanently but give Instagram and Facebook a break for a week and see if anything changes. 

Even if you are not falling for the comparison trap, social media is one giant advertisement for impulsive purchases. Someone out there is convincing you to spend money everywhere you click or scroll. But if you’re not using the app, you won’t see all the companies offering spectacular deals and fresh merchandise that you may use your hard-earned money to purchase. 

Giving into an impulse purchase won’t help you reach your financial objectives, whether those be paying off debt, your mortgage, or making investments for the future. Any money saved you were saving to put toward those fantastic goals will be devoured by impulsive purchases and overspending.  

When circumstances are dire, action must be taken, and there are occasions when a no-spend challenge is the best course of action. If you’ve never heard of it, it basically works exactly how it sounds—you don’t pay any money (for nonessential items). 

You continue to make payments for expenses like rent or a mortgage, routine bills, electricity, food, etc. Yet, you don’t spend money on things like dining out, going to the hairdresser, buying new shoes, or buying a new kitchen gadget. Basically, just enter stores to buy groceries before you enter them. 

In conclusion, impulse buying is a complex psychological phenomenon that is influenced by a range of factors, including emotions, marketing tactics, and environmental cues. Understanding the science behind impulse buying is the first step towards developing effective strategies to overcome it. 

It’s important to remember that overcoming impulse buying is a process, and it may take time and effort to develop new habits and behaviors. By staying mindful and developing a plan, however, it is possible to take control of your spending and make more intentional and conscious purchasing decisions. 

The signs of impulse buying are: 

• Unplanned purchases: Impulse buying often leads to making unplanned purchases, which are not part of the original shopping list or budget. 
• Emotional triggers: Impulsive buying is often driven by emotions such as excitement, boredom, stress, or even happiness. Emotional triggers can lead to a sudden urge to buy something, without giving it much thought. 
• Urgency: Impulsive buying often involves a sense of urgency or a need to buy something immediately. This urgency can be created by limited-time offers, sales, or other marketing tactics. 
• Regret: After making an impulse purchase, many people experience feelings of regret, guilt, or buyer’s remorse. This is often a result of not thinking through the purchase or considering its long-term implications. 

While anyone can make impulsive purchases, certain groups of people may be more prone to impulsive buying than others. Some of the most impulsive buyers may include: 

• Young adults and teenagers: Younger people tend to be more impulsive, and may be more likely to make impulsive purchases due to peer pressure or a desire to fit in. 
• People with low self-esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem may use impulsive buying as a way to feel better about themselves or to boost their self-confidence. 
• People with addictive personalities: People who struggle with addiction or have addictive personalities may be more prone to impulse buying, as they may have a harder time controlling their impulses. 
• People who are stressed or anxious: Stress and anxiety can lead to impulsive buying as a way to alleviate these negative emotions. 

• People who are easily influenced by marketing: Individuals who are easily influenced by advertising and marketing messages may be more susceptible to making impulsive purchases based on persuasive advertising. 

It’s important to note that these are just general tendencies and not everyone in these groups will necessarily be impulsive buyers.