9 Tips to Help you Avoid Impulsive Spending During Black Friday

It’s the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and brands everywhere are announcing their sales via emails, app notifications and social posts to get their customers excited to land a deal -  but this can be less than helpful to people with ADHD.

Overspending and difficulty adhering to a budget is a common problem for people with ADHD, with a whopping 48% saying they feel they struggle with impulsive overspending, it's suspected that ADHD’ers can spend an extra £1,600 a year. 

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So it stands to reason that big sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be a triggering time for people who are actively trying to combat impulsive spending behaviours, with brands encouraging the behaviour and rarely pausing to remind people to spend intentionally. 

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That’s why we have put together 9 of our favourite tips on how you can try to avoid buyer's remorse this sale season. 

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1. Skip brick-and-mortar stores

Shopping in person can fuel impulsive spending as it evokes a sense of urgency - you know that if you don’t buy this last jumper someone else might! Shopping online gives you more time to press pause, step away from your smartphone or computer and really think about whether the item is a want or need in the tranquillity of your home. 

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2. Avoid Pay-Later options

We’ve discussed the potential benefits of online shopping, but it’s not without its concerns. Most major retailers offer popular ‘pay-later’ options, which can be really tempting to use, but they may not be the best choice for you if you are struggling with debt, which studies show 31% of people with ADHD are likely to be. Before you check out, ask yourself if you can afford to repay the agreed amounts on time to avoid any late fees, and whether or not it will impact your savings goals - you might find it's best to skip these options this weekend. 

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3. Set yourself a spending limit

If you know you are going to partake in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events, try to give yourself a spending limit. When going to brick-and-mortar stores, only take a certain amount of cash with you so you’ll have a physical barrier stopping you from spending more. If you’re shopping online, why not do it with a trusted friend who can remind you of your spending limit if you’re struggling to implement it on your own?

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4. Make a wish list 

Some brands will be listing most if not all of their items at a discounted price, which can lead to mindless browsing and novelty purchases of items you’ve never thought about wanting. Before looking at what’s on sale, make a wish list of items you’ve had your eye on for a long time, items at home that need replacing or things you know you will get a lot of use out of. Remember to beware of buying items that are similar to things you already own!

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5. Avoid stores that are new to you

Now that you’re armed with your wish list, try to avoid stores that you know won’t be carrying any items of interest to you and stick to stores that you know and love.  For example, it might be best to skip the winter sporting goods shop if you’ve never gone skiing before, now is not the time to buy your first pair of skis just because they are 50% off! Instead, think about putting that money towards something you know you’ll really get good use out of. 

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6. Ignore the price tag 

The price tags of sale items will usually show the buyer how much the item has been reduced by, which can sometimes make them feel that they have saved money, when really they haven’t. This mentality can feed into impulsive overspending as it is easier to justify impulsive purchases because you tell yourself you’ve made money. To avoid this, focus on looking at the item itself to decide whether you need or want it and if it’s of good quality rather, than how heavily it has been discounted. 

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7. Unsubscribe and log off 

You have probably already been inundated with sales alert emails from every brand you’ve ever interacted with this week. Remember you can unsubscribe from marketing emails and newsletters if you’re finding yourself getting tempted to make a purchase you don’t want to make. Similarly, your social media feeds might be clogged up with money-off codes and sales alerts, there’s no shame in logging off for the weekend it’s becoming overwhelming. 

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8. Keep your receipts

If you find yourself making a purchase you’re unsure of, keep the receipt in a safe place, or take a photo of it so that if you wind up with buyer’s remorse, you can return any unused items or hopefully receive in-store credit. Some stores won’t allow the return of items bought on sale, so read the terms and conditions carefully or ask as a team member at physical locations before finalising your purchases.   

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9. Be kind to yourself and remember you are not alone

Remember to be kind to yourself if you are finding Black Friday and Cyber Monday to be a triggering time, and don't beat yourself if you do make a purchase you didn’t intend to make. Remember that you are not alone, around 60% of people with ADHD find managing their finances difficult. Lean on your support system, speak to trusted friends, and your ADHD coach and consider speaking to a financial advisor for financial help. 

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