Why Do We Overspend? 🛍️ 


Have you ever added extra items to your online cart just to qualify for free shipping? Or Have you ever walked into a store for one thing and walked out with a full shopping bag? 

Then you’re not alone! Overspending is a common habit for everyone.


Let’s break down the reasons behind overspending and how marketing strategies trick us.


🔹The Emotional Side or Psychology Behind Spending Habits 🧠 


Many of our purchases are driven by emotions. We go shopping when we’re happy, when we’re sad, or even when we’re bored. This is what we call “emotional spending”, and marketers take full advantage of it.  


- Retail Therapy or Shopping Therapy: This basically means the act when we go shopping to deal with stress or improve mood. According to some studies, when we go shopping, the brain releases dopamine which is related to the pleasure and reward that make us crave more.  

- Fear of Missing Out: Seeing others buy something or limited-time deals create a sense of urgency to our mind too. 

- Social Status & Identity: Trendy products and luxury brands also make us feel successful.


🔹Marketing Tricks That Make Us Spend More 🛒 

Businesses use psychological pricing and some tactics to encourage us to buy.


- Charm Pricing: Ever noticed why prices end in .99? $9.99 feels cheaper than $10, even though the difference is just a cent.  

- Buy One, Get One: When we see this sign, it makes us feel like we’re saving, even if we weren’t planning to buy in the first place. In reality it makes us buy an extra item.

-Buying in small units: On the other hand, buying in small units can cost more per unit than buying in bulk because suppliers can offer discounts on larger orders. So we should make the right decision before we buy.

- Urgency: "Only - left in stock!" or "Flash Sale: Ends in - hours!" tricks us into making impulsive and urgent decisions.  

- Subscription Models: Most of us must have been into this situation once in our life. Free trials hook us in, and we forget to cancel which leads to additional charges.  


🔹Credit Cards 💳

Do you notice that credit cards make spending feel painless compared to using cash. Since we don’t physically hand over money, we don’t feel the loss as much and this leads to higher spending. "Buy Now, Pay Later" services are a good example for this because we don’t feel the immediate financial impact.  


🔹How to Avoid Overspending 

Here are some tricks that can help you take control of your spending habits.


✅ Use the 24-Hour Rule: Wait a day before making non-essential purchases.  

✅ Shop with a List: Stick to it to avoid extra buys.  

✅ Track Your Spending: Apps like Mint or YNAB can help you see where your money goes.  

✅ Pay in Cash: You’ll feel the cost more, making you think twice before spending.  

✅ Unsubscribe from Marketing Emails: Less temptation, less spending!  


💡Beware of overspending and impulse buying just to improve your emotion, you will feel worse when the bill comes! #ManeyMoney #มานี่มันนี่ #YourWealthWeCare #Overspending #Shopping