When it comes to breaking the cycle of debt, it is crucial to understand what prompts you to overspend. Recognizing your temptation triggers — often rooted in environments, emotions, situations, and social influences — is a key step to regaining control over your finances. Otherwise, the debt cycle will probably continue and may eventually lead to debt resolution programs. Here’s what you should know about recognizing your temptation triggers.
What is Meant by Spending Temptation Triggers?
These are stimuli, circumstances, or feelings that prompt you to buy things. Such purchases are often impulsive, not really needed, or both. The triggers can be emotional — feeling happy, stressed, bored, or celebratory, for example. They can also be environmental, caused by browsing online marketplaces, seeing ads, or shopping with friends who tend to overspend, for instance.
How Do Spending Temptation Triggers Work?
A spending trigger alerts your body and brain to a familiar experience that’s commonly associated with reward or pleasure. Such an alert heightens the probability that you will succumb to the temptation to buy something.
Why is Recognizing Your Triggers Key?
Recognizing your triggers is a key step in managing your finances, since doing so enables you to expect and avoid situations in which you might want to spend more than you should. This can mean setting spending limits, avoiding certain environments, or unsubscribing from promotional emails.
How to Recognize Your Triggers
There are strategies for finding your triggers, including:
Tracking your spending patterns. Pay attention to why, and when, you make impulsive buys. Consider your emotional state and location at the time.
Spotting specific situations. Pay attention to whether you are more apt to overspend following a stressful day, browsing social media, or shopping with certain friends?
Acknowledging rationalizations. Pay attention to thoughts that can justify unnecessary spending. You tell yourself you will have the money later or that the tempting deal will not come again.
Common Temptation Triggers
Emotional States
Many people spend due to anxiety, stress, or even boredom. For them, making a purchase is soothing or distracting. While such purchases can boost your emotions temporarily, they can result in regret and a vicious cycle.
Social Pressure
Hanging around friends who enjoy spending or feeling the need to “keep up with the Joneses,” can result in unnecessary purchases. If you know you cannot go with a friend to a record store without buying new albums, for example, consider passing on that excursion and suggesting a future, less risky outing.
Environmental Cues
Exposure to promotional emails, advertisements, or influencers can ignite the urge to buy, particularly when the offers or deals are limited time. When the urge arises, ask yourself whether the purchase will make your life better. This can help you figure out whether what you are thinking of buying is worth it.
The Convenience of Credit
Credit card issuers sure make it easy to delay full payment, which can lead to bigger or more frequent purchases than you would ordinarily make. Using cash can help you remain aware of the money you’re spending. Mainly using “plastic” can cause you to overspend, as it can make you feel less connected to the purchase.
Marketing and Advertising
Viewing promotional emails, advertisements, or social media influencers can trigger the temptation to buy, especially when the deals or offers are short-lived. Take a deep breath, calm the adrenaline, and consider whether your temptation is a want or a need. Stay within your budget.
Starting Over with National Debt Relief
Knowing your triggers allows you to develop ways to avoid or manage your triggers, lowering your risk of becoming deeper in debt. If you already have unmanageable unsecured debt and seek a fresh start, consider contacting Freedom Debt Relief.
Related: 7 Financial Tips for Reducing Your Monthly Payments
