Have you ever made a purchase you weren’t intending to make? Maybe you saw a beautiful handbag and thought to yourself , “I need that!”. Well, you aren’t alone. This type of purchase is called an impulse purchase.
There was a time I walked into a department store to buy a new fragrance I had already budgeted for. Instead, I walked out with everything I thought I needed, except the perfume. In my defense, the items were heavily discounted, so the purchases felt practical. I convinced myself I deserved them.
Upon reflecting on my spending, I realized the cost wasn’t just the money I spent, but the adjustments I had to make to my budget afterward. That experience showed me that impulse purchases rarely end at the checkout counter. They affect every other financial plan you’ve already made.
Obviously, shelling out hundreds of dollars in unplanned expenses a month isn’t a good idea for your budget. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips so you can learn how to stop impulse buying.
What is an impulse purchase?
First of all, what exactly is an impulse purchase? In short, it’s anything you bought that you weren’t intending to. While we used the example of a fancy handbag above, it doesn’t always have to be something so interesting.
For example, according to Web Tribunal, the top purchase in 2024 was clothing, with approximately 55% of Americans admitting they had bought a dress or an accessory on a whim. Close behind are food and groceries at 50%, and household items, including cleaning supplies, at 42%.
There are many reasons you might make an impulse purchase. Some people have a shopping addiction that they use to cope with negative feelings.
Others may fear missing out on a big sale or promotion. But either way, when you shop without planning to, you’re putting your financial health at risk.
Why is impulse spending so bad?
When you make an impulse purchase, you can harm your savings and financial outlook. First, if you use a credit card to pay the bill, that may make your statement harder to pay off at the end of the month.
Sure, you can choose to pay only the minimum balance, but then you’ll be hit with interest charges. If you’re not careful, you could snowball yourself into debt.
Even worse, if you end up missing that credit card payment, you’ll be hit with fees and possibly even a penalty interest rate. And that’s just short-term damage. In the long-term, you’ll damage your credit score, which can limit your future loan and financing opportunities.
That’s why we’re here to help you avoid impulse spending at all costs.
How to stop impulse buying
Here are some key tips to help you stop impulse buying when you feel the urge creep up!
1. Avoid temptation
The best way to stop an impulse purchase? Avoid places that sell things you want to buy! Especially those with “buy now, pay later” options! This might mean avoiding the mall or blocking your favorite shopping websites.
When you’re constantly surrounded by shiny new objects, you’re bound to be attracted to them. Don’t risk the temptation, and that way, you know you’ll only be buying things you really need.
2. Stop and consider
Before making any purchase, ask yourself — do you really need this item?
According to a recent finder.com survey, up to 53.8% of women make an impulse purchase because they have a fear of missing out on a sale or good deal. Perhaps even worse, 36.4% of women said they made an impulse purchase because they had no reason not to. We beg to differ on that one!
Our take? Stop and wait a day to see if you still want it then. If you still absolutely can’t live without it, see if you can move your budget around a bit to make the purchase work.
3. Create and stick to a budget
Budgeting should be one of your top goals. There are a number of budgeting methods to try. Regardless of which plan you pick, you’ll likely separate your money into an emergency fund, debt fund, essential needs fund, and life goals fund.
Then, if you have enough leftover, you can create a category for personal spending. That way, you can limit your impulsive buying to however much you allot to this category.
4. Think about your motivations to make an impulse purchase
For some people, impulse spending is about looking good in the eyes of others. You may be concerned about how others perceive you. Sometimes, having new things can elevate your image.
For others, an impulse purchase can stem from being overly emotional. You might have a hard time controlling your feelings or have anxiety about certain issues. An impulse purchase can be a way to try to make yourself feel better.
If any of these are the case for you, you might want to work on the root of your problem instead of patching it up with a new purchase. Take a deep breath and think about your motivations before taking out your credit card.
5. Limit your cash and credit
If you’re going out, only take cash with you so you can’t impulsively rack up credit card debt. Credit card users spend up to 83% more than cash users on a given purchase.
Or if online shopping is your problem, you may want to freeze your credit cards. You can do this by contacting your credit card issuer directly.
6. Stay off social media
These days, social media is more about product placement and influencing than it is connecting with friends. Even if you’re just using it to see how your loved ones are faring, you’ll be exposed to tons of ads along the way.
And those ads are effective. Research shows that personalized ads help people find 65% of products and services they care about. To avoid becoming part of that statistic, your best bet is to avoid social media altogether (or use an ad blocker).
7. Remind yourself of your goals
Chances are, you have a lot of financial goals. Maybe that’s retiring early or saving up for a big vacation. You won’t be able to reach these goals if you’re not spending according to plan.
Sure, spending a little extra here or there might not seem like a big deal. But every impulse purchase you make takes away from all of your hard work. It will take you that much longer to get out of debt or build up your emergency fund. Are you willing to sacrifice these goals for a few moments of shopping bliss?
8. Unsubscribe from deal alerts and promotional emails
Many impulse purchases don’t start in a store—they start in your inbox. Flash sales, “last chance” emails, and discount alerts are designed to create urgency, even when you don’t need the item.
If you constantly receive promotional emails or text messages from brands, consider unsubscribing or muting them. Fewer reminders to spend money means fewer moments of temptation. Out of sight often means out of mind.
Expert Tip: Track your spending for a month to see patterns
Identify what triggers impulse purchases, whether it is sales, discounts, stress, or even boredom. Then create small rules for yourself, like waiting for 24 hours before buying a product on impulse, or keeping a wishlist. Awareness of the dangers of impulse spending is helpful, but what truly keeps you in control of your money is taking action.
Frequently asked questions on impulse purchases
Here are some commonly asked questions when to comes to how to stop an impulse purchase:
How long should I wait before buying something on impulse?
A good baseline rule is to wait at least 24 hours before making any unplanned purchase. That pause gives your emotional response time to settle so you can evaluate the decision more logically. In many cases, the excitement fades and you realize the item was a “want in the moment,” not a true need.
For larger purchases, extending the waiting period to 48 or even 72 hours can be even more effective. The goal is not to deny yourself forever, but to make sure the purchase still feels worthwhile once the urgency is gone.
Can budgeting alone stop an impulse purchase?
Budgeting helps, but on its own it is rarely enough to stop impulse spending. A budget tells you what you should do with your money, but it does not automatically change behavior.
Impulse purchases are often emotional or habitual, not logical. Budgeting works best when paired with awareness of your spending triggers, clear rules for unplanned purchases, and realistic “fun money” categories that reduce feelings of deprivation. When your budget accounts for enjoyment, you are less likely to rebel against it.
Do I have to delete shopping apps from my phone?
You do not have to delete shopping apps, but if they are a consistent trigger, removing them can be a powerful reset. Shopping apps are designed to encourage quick decisions through limited-time deals, push notifications, and personalized recommendations.
If deleting them feels extreme, try logging out, removing saved payment information, or muting notifications. Adding even small friction between you and checkout can be enough to slow down impulsive behavior.
How do I know I just made an impulse purchase?
A purchase was likely impulsive if it was not planned, not budgeted for, or made primarily based on emotion rather than intention.
Other signs include justifying the purchase afterward, feeling a rush followed by guilt, or telling yourself it was a “rare treat” when similar purchases happen often.
Impulse spending usually feels urgent in the moment and unnecessary in hindsight.
Is impulse buying a sign of a shopping addiction?
Not necessarily. Impulse buying is common and can be influenced by emotions, stress, boredom, social pressure, or discount culture. It becomes more concerning when it happens frequently, creates financial strain, or feels out of your control.
If impulse spending is tied to deeper emotional patterns or is consistently undermining your goals, setting firmer boundaries and seeking support can be a healthy next step.
Content related to impulse purchases and spending money
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Put a permanent end to impulse spending
Treating yourself every once in a while is fun, but only when it fits in your budget. Regular impulse spending is not a good financial habit.
Hopefully, you’re now armed with the tips you need to know how to stop impulse buying and avoid your next impulse purchase. We also have more tips to help you learn how to stop spending money and get on the path to financial freedom.
