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Personal Story2026-01-10

Impulse Buying Cost Me $12,400 in One Year



I tracked every impulse purchase for 12 months. The total shocked me.


The Breakdown


  • Camera gear I used once: $3,200
  • Watches I never wore: $4,800
  • Tech gadgets collecting dust: $2,400
  • Outdoor equipment for hobbies I quit: $2,000

    • The Pattern


    Every purchase followed the same script:

    1.See something online or in a store
    2.Immediate excitement and justification
    3.Buy within 30 minutes
    4.Use it 1-2 times
    5.Forget about it

    The Wake-Up Call


    When I calculated the total, I realized I could have:

  • Taken a month-long trip to Japan
  • Invested in index funds (now worth $13,500+)
  • Paid off a significant chunk of debt

    • The Solution


    I implemented a mandatory cooling-off period. If I still wanted something after 7 days, I could buy it.


    Spoiler: I rarely still wanted it.