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StitcherSpending can feel like a familiar friend, but impulse spending shows up in ways we don’t always notice. It’s not just “giving in” if there’s often a pattern you keep falling into without realizing it. Today we’re breaking down the 7 types of spenders and what actually helps stop the cycle.
Spending is what we do, not who we are.
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Check out some relevant episodes
The 7 Types of Impulse Spenders
This article from Bankrate lists different types of impulse spender to help you identify where you might fall and how you can start fixing it.
- Fanatical shoppers. You get a thrill from finding deals, and stocking up makes you feel prepared and smart. Paying full price feels like losing, because the real win is optimizing the deal.
- Passive spenders. You’re easygoing and open-minded, which also makes you highly influenceable. Ads, influencers, and persuasive salespeople tend to work on you more than you realize.
- Ulterior motive spenders. Your spending is often tied to emotions. You tend to shop when stressed, sad, bored, or overwhelmed because spending can feel like relief, control, or a quick reset.
- Esteem spenders. You compare your car, home, or vacations to what you see around you or on social media. Sometimes you upgrade things that were perfectly fine because everyone else has something better.
- Special interest spenders. When something interests you, you go all in. You often buy all the gear because it’s something you care about even before fully using it.
- Hot potato spenders. You delay spending decisions for too long. You overthink or avoid them until you suddenly buy something just to get it over with.
- YOLO Spender. Planning can feel restrictive, so you trust your future self will figure things out. You value freedom and have been surprised by your bank account more than once.
Don’t Make These Personalities An Excuse, Here’s What to Do Instead
From all these personalities, Jen and Jill encourage us to pause before spending and check your intention. Ask yourself what you’re actually feeling, and whether the purchase aligns with your values or what you truly love. Reduce outside influence by auditing ads and social media, and add friction like wishlists or a 24-hour rule. Focus on what matters and set limits for hobbies, build confidence outside of comparison, and prioritize using what you have instead of constantly acquiring more.
What type of impulse spender are you and what are you doing to improve?
Jen’s a hot potato as she is a researcher by nature while Jill is a floodgate spender because once the floodgates open, spending becomes a delugional spender!
Bill of The Week
Thanks Shemiko who paid off affirm with no more bnpl!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews of our book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke and we especially loved this one from:
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I found the Frugal Friends podcast when I was looking for practical ways to stay within my budget. This book was a refreshing change from the typical financial advice out there. It includes simple, actionable steps to live within your means without sacrificing what is important to you. As a bonus, the actions have a positive impact on the environment and mental health (goodbye clutter). The most powerful part for me was the mindset shift which has been the guiding force in my spending decisions. A great read with useful tips for everyone.
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