KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Impulse buying happens when you buy things without planning or real need.
  • Emotions, discounts, and urgency tricks are the main causes of impulse buying.
  • Impulse buying behaviour affects more when your income is low.
  • Small unnecessary purchases can ruin your monthly budget over time.
  • Simple habits like the 24-hour rule and budgeting can help control impulse buying.

Sometimes, you go to the mall for shopping with a budget of ₹2800 but when you arrive home you find you spend more than your budget, this is a good Impulse buying example, and also this is a universal problem every person face many of time even I face it everyday, before when I don't know what is this.

Today we will discuss about 10 impulse buying tips so that you can control your impulse buying and save more money.


Impulse Buying


What is Impulse Buying?

Whenever you purchase something that you didn't plan before it can be anything (a book, a table, a watch, etc.) is known as Impulse Buying. It always takes place when we think emotionally, not with logic, and their marketer manipulates you by impulse buying psychology.

Impulse buying affects you more when your income is low, you are facing a financial crisis but you can't control your impulse spending. On the other hand, you saw that your salary was fully spent. It hurts more, therefore, your small shopping can ruin your monthly budget. Also Impulse buying ruining your money that money you can save.

If you want to understand how impulse buying works and why we make quick purchasing decisions, this short video explains the psychology behind it clearly: 

The phsychology behind Impulse Buying


According to research, impulse buying is a common consumer behaviour where people make unplanned purchases without thinking deeply about their needs. Many people buy products because of emotions, attractive offers, and marketing strategies instead of making logical decisions.

Studies in consumer behaviour also show that emotions play an important role in buying decisions. When people feel excited, stressed, or mentally tired, they are more likely to make impulse purchases because they focus more on immediate satisfaction.

A research by the Journal of Consumer Research found that people make more impulse purchases when they are passing through strong emotions and mental fatigue. In these situations, the brain can't focus on thinking about right and wrong.

Consumer behaviour studies say that digital payment methods reduce the pain of spending money. Physical cash transactions feel more like something is gone from your hands.

Why Impulse Buying Behaviour happens

The Impulse buying behaviour is all about emotional decisions, that is why marketing educators say marketing is all about emotion.

These are the reason of impulse buying behaviour –

1. Emotional Decision

Emotional Decision is the biggest reason for impulse buying whenever we make emotional decisions, 90% chances are that you will buy impulse whether you have great knowledge of finance and business.

2. Pressure of Sales and Discount

“Bumper offer (70% + 30%) discount on T-shirts valid till 9pm” you have seen these types of messages when you go shopping that attract you and you are compelled to buy that.

That is why many shopkeepers use this type of discount and sales strategy so that you buy products under pressure.

The Psychology Behind Impulse Buying

Whenever you see a huge discount, limited-time offer, or an attractive product, your brain feels excited to buy it. This happens because our brain releases dopamine, which is related to happiness and rewards. Due to this, we focus more on instant satisfaction instead of thinking logically about whether we really need that product or not.

This is the reason why many people purchase things emotionally and regret them later. Marketers understand this impulse buying psychology and use different strategies to influence your buying decisions.

3. Social Media

One day I saw a perfume advertisement on Instagram by a famous creator. I found that perfume is best to use daily. As a result, I commented on his post so that he could share the link to buy.

Today, I kept it on my desk like a show piece.

Hence, these types of social media advertisements or sponsorships you see every time that make you want to buy, so keep distance from these types of ads.

Online Shopping Impulse Buying Example

Today, online shopping is also making you purchase instantly. Suppose that you are going to buy a ₹399 mobile charger from Amazon. Before finalizing the deal, you saw the recommendations of a screen protector and cable organizer under ₹230 in an offer.

Finally, you made ₹629 purchases instead of ₹399. This is a common example of how we make online impulse purchases and how these shopping apps divert our minds.

4. Only 2 Items Are Left type Urgency

After ignoring sales and discounts many times you see a strategy like two pieces are left, etc. that can bring the urge of impulse buying into you so keep ignoring this type of marketing.

5. When You See Cheap Products

Whenever you see a product at a cheap price you think of purchasing it by thinking that this is the perfect time to buy.

Fact- once a company “Naptol” was rapidly using this 2 piece strategy so that customers buy their product urgently but this strategy doesn't work anymore, many people complain against the company on fake information.

Don't make emotional decisions if you want to get rid from impulse buying behaviour.


Sign you have impulse buying habit

These sign commonly found in impulse buying habit–

  1. Your home is filled with many unusual items, once you buy but don't know how you can use them.

  3. Sometimes you regret it when you buy something.
  4. Your salary falls down fast, because of the urge of impulse buying.
  5. Whenever you go to buy something you think to find those products if they are on sale and discounts.
  6. Take instant decisions instead of thinking about worthiness.
  7. You purchased those things that you haven't planned before.

Let's Take an Example How Impulse Purchase Affects in Long Term

Suppose that you are spending ₹20 every day on unnecessary impulse purchases.

  • 1 Week - 20 × 7 = ₹140
  • In Month - 140 × 4 = ₹560 approx
  • And in a Year - 12 × 560 = ₹6,720

This is how your regular impulse purchases ruin money in the long term, and many people can't identify this. Here, you can see how you can save or invest those ₹6,720 if you don't waste them on impulse purchases.

```

10 Simple Habits to Control Impulse Behaviour

  1. Follow 24 Hour Rule

    The 24 hour rule describes how you can get rid from the urge of impulse buying behaviour. According to the rule, whenever you're feeling the urge of impulse buying you should wait for a day before purchasing it, 90% chances that the urge of that product or service will not come again.

  2. Prepare a Shopping List

    Before going on shopping you should fix a shopping list with a budget so that you are able to control your emotions.

    Remember that in starting to make a budget or shopping list you will find that you are not fully controlled. This is a habit that comes over time.

  3. Avoid Shopping When You Are Emotional

    You should avoid shopping when you are bored, sad, etc. because when you are emotional you can not take any decision with your open and working mind.

  4. Use Cash Instead of Online Payment

    When you use cash for any transaction because when we spend cash we feel pain and grief of decreasing.

  5. Avoid Sales and Discount

    Whenever you find products with discounts, firstly ask yourself, "Is it worth it? Can it be useful in future?" These questions help your mind to make better decisions.

  6. Prepare Record of Impulse Buying

    You can start recording your impulse buying decisions, so that you can follow and analyse the pattern of your behaviour.

  7. Don't Do the Shopping Yourself

    If you have high impulse buying then try to avoid shopping yourself, instead of going you can send your family member for shopping.

  8. Set Budget System

    Set a budget for each category like travelling, food, clothes, etc. so that you can get control of yourself.

  9. Don't Keep Too More Cash

    Whenever you go to shopping only keep cash that you think enough to afford your product or services if you have more cash you are inviting impulse buying from your front.

  10. Donate Useless Products

    If you brought something in impulse which is no more useful for you then try to give it someone who needs. You can also sell it but still donation is better.

Final Thoughts

Getting rid from impulse buying behaviour is not one day work it takes a long time to make it habit. If you understand the impulse buying phsychology it becomes easy to control your impulse buying.

Keep learning about personal finance in a practical way with moneyvault — your trusted finance buddy.