Men are the masters of impulse buying, spending more money than women. How to get rid of the shopping habit?
Sale, discount, sale
Although it's hard to admit it, most of us today don't shop according to shopping lists or what we actually need. Discounts are the driving force, but also simply the desire for the thing we have just seen. However, while some might stereotype that impulse shopping is the domain of women, the opposite is true. In fact, men are the masters of impulse shopping. Moreover, they can literally blow much higher amounts of money than women during a sudden shopping spree. This is exactly what the recent "Invest In You" survey conducted by Acorns, CNBC in cooperation with SurveyMonkey has shown.
Spendthrift men?
As indicated by the aforementioned survey, which involved nearly 3,000 Americans aged 18-65, impulse shopping is sometimes indulged in by both sexes, but it is one thing to buy a T-shirt for a few hundred on sale for fun, and another to spend thousands. And men are the biggest specialists in impulsive spending of thousands; in 23% of cases, they admitted to spending several thousand when they are in a shopping spree (only 16% of women said the same). Although the survey showed that women remain in the lead when it comes to shopping for small items, men easily outperformed them when it comes to the financial demands of shopping. Unlike women, who typically invest in clothes, accessories or cosmetics, men are most likely to indulge in expensive alcohol, luxury goods and tools.
"The stereotype of women as impulsive in their purchasing decisions is highly inaccurate," then summarizes psychology professor Ross Steinman. "Impulse buying is a result of consumer personality characteristics as well as the strategic placement of tempting stimuli in the shopping environment," he added. In addition to this, it cannot be ignored that consumer advertising is much more likely to appeal to male desires than female ones (perhaps needless to say, the female body "sells" virtually anything these days), which can also influence the situation. But once we move beyond the classic stereotypes, men are certainly no more immune to sudden spending than women.
Break the habit...
Of course, one can occasionally indulge in a little pleasure. However, the moment impulse shopping turns into mindless spending or when impulse purchases significantly dent the budget, trouble is brewing. And that is why we should think about what our problem really is. Experts agree that impulse buying is usually linked to emotions - one person shops to cheer themselves up after a hard day, another because they are celebrating a promotion, for example. But regardless of the specific reason (and the gender of the person who is currently spreading their funds), it is possible to curb this "spending" habit.
A notebook, for example, where you write down your spending and keep track of very precisely what you use your money for can help. In addition, psychologist Christine Luken recommends keeping a record of why you bought the item and how you felt about the purchase. Another way to curb impulse buying is to be aware of whether you're getting a particular item because you need it or simply because you want it. Then make a rule to limit your purchases to things in the "I WANT" category. It can also help to take time out before buying. Allow yourself a day to think before you buy a new item. This will minimize making purchases of things you don't really want, you just suddenly crave them.
And now up to the mall, the sale season is here...
