The Real Cost Of Impulse Spending

Last week, I stood in a store holding a great dress - it was 60% off. A brand I love. Gorgeous color. Slightly too small.

And in my head? I started justifying: "it’s such a great price… maybe I'll fit into it later… I'll regret missing out." That's my toxic trait: buying things because they're on sale or clearance - even if they're not my size! Even if I don't need them.

But what experience has taught me, is being on sale is not a reason to buy.

Now, before I tap my card, I pause and ask:

First - do I genuinely love this?

How much do I see myself actually using this?

If it wasn’t on sale, would I actually buy it?

Most of the time, the honest answer saves me - not just money, but future regret.

👉 Why Impulse Spending Is So Dangerous (Especially when your trying to build or grow a business)

In my 20 years as a banker and mortgage broker, I reviewed thousands of financial situations. I've seen $50,000 earners with incredible savings and assets, and $300,000 earners drowning in debt.

The difference? Awareness.

Impulse spending is sneaky.

Frictionless payments make spending invisible. Tap-and-go, auto-renewals, buy-now-pay-later, they remove the "ouch" moment of handing over cash. Your brain doesn't register the loss.

Dopamine wins over discipline. Our brains are wired for immediate rewards, not distant ones. That shopping cart filled with promise feels better than an abstract retirement account.

Social pressure and FOMO whisper that "smart shopping" is self-care. Saving money by spending money becomes a twisted logic we actually believe. And the comparison trap on social media makes everyone else's purchases look effortless and necessary.

Decision fatigue after a long day lowers your defences. When you're mentally depleted, that "treat yourself" voice gets louder.

💸 The Math

Years ago, I helped a client tidy their finances for a home loan. We added up the "small stuff":

Coffee run: $5 × 260 = $1,300
Lunch out: $15 × 260 = $3,900
Unused gym membership: $75 × 12 = $900
Impulse Amazon: $50 × 24 = $1,200
Subscription box: $35 × 12 = $420

Extra streaming: $45 × 12 = $540

Total: $8,260/year

Over $8,000! Just sitting there, slipping through the cracks.

Imagine what that could do for your business: fund extra marketing, a product launch, a course you’ve been eyeing, or game-changing coaching. The kind of investment that moves the needle.

Or picture wiping out a huge chunk of debt. All from simply paying attention to where your money is going.

The Real Cost Isn’t Just Money

• Opportunity cost: Every $50 splurge is $50 not compounding toward your business, property, or freedom fund.

• Debt spiral: Revolving credit and minimum payments normalize overspending.

• Relationship strain: Money conflicts can erode trust.

• Shame loop: Regret → guilt → “what’s the point” spending → deeper regret.

Impulse spending doesn’t nibble at your future - it quietly rewrites it.

🧠 The ADHD Connection (And Why It Hits Harder)

For those with ADHD (diagnosed or traits), the struggle can feel magnified:

• Dopamine dysregulation makes that checkout button extra irresistible.

• Time blindness makes consequences feel abstract. The credit card bill due in three weeks might as well be three years away. Future you feels like a different person entirely.

• Emotional regulation challenges turn spending into stress relief or a quick mood boost.

Research backs this up: adults with ADHD are 2–3× more likely to impulse spend, and over 60% report significant financial strain.

This isn’t weakness - it’s wiring. Shame won’t fix it. Systems will.

The Impulse Spending Cycle

It usually goes like this:

1. Trigger moment (stress, boredom, excitement, seeing a sale)

2. Dopamine surge from imagining the purchase

3. Executive function goes offline (goodbye, budget awareness)

4. Instant gratification wins (tap, buy, temporary high)

5. Reality hits (regret, shame, financial stress)

6. Emotional discomfort leads to... more impulse spending

If this sounds familiar, you are not broken - your brain just needs different strategies.

⚡ Five Shifts to Reclaim Your Money Power

1 - Add friction back: Delete saved cards, turn off one-click purchasing, and set a 24–48 hour wait rule for all non-essential purchases.

2 - Make the Invisible visible: Track everything for two weeks. Even jotting expenses in your notes app will shock you, but you can also use budgeting apps and spreadsheets.

3 - Automate your future first: Set up automatic payments on payday and use the pay yourself first principle. Transfer funds to a “Freedom Fund” or “Dream Business” account first so its not just sitting in your everyday account easy to use.

4 - Make it tangible: Rename your savings goal to something exciting so it feels like a reward, create a visual tracker, celebrate wins.

5 - Interrupt the impulse: Create a "purchase pause" script: "Do I love this, or is it just on sale?" Use accountability partners who can talk you down. Set spending limits on cards.

✨ Your Next Step

This week, challenge yourself: Find one invisible drain - a forgotten subscription, an autopay you don’t use, or a “too-good” sale you’d normally jump on. Redirect that money toward something that actually builds your future.

When you do, reply and tell me what you uncovered.

Remember: Impulse spending isn’t about discipline - it’s about design. Redesign the path your money takes, and you redesign your future.

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