August 11, 2022

5 Most Common Emotional Spending Triggers

What now? You made another online purchase when your credit card limit is about to explode.

Have you ever wondered why EQ (Emotional intelligence) has gained so much attention from research scholars and why do they emphasize practicing it daily? The brain works in intricate ways that can be beneficial and troublesome, so save yourself from a big amygdala highjack and understand your emotional spending triggers and how to overcome these spending triggers.

Cognitive Behavioral psychologists suggest, that what we think affects how we feel but more importantly what we feel affects what we do. Your actions are affected by your feeling; therefore, your emotional spending triggers are closely attached to your feelings.

The big question is “What are you feeling when you take an action?” or more precisely what triggers you to act in a certain way?

If you keep continuing with emotional spending triggers, you will be at a great loss. The mid-life crisis will become a lifetime crisis. Interestingly, just by understanding these triggers, you can overcome them easily.

Here are the five most common emotional spending triggers:

1-Boredom

One of the most common emotional spending triggers is boredom. Man is a social animal and there is a constant need to interact with other beings but sometimes the interaction gets limited and you have nowhere to be. E-commerce market spots are lonely being like you and start flashing ads on your screen.

Your basic urge is to be significant in this race and as a consumer why not spend a few dollars and do something on this lethargic day? CONGRATULATIONS, YOU MADE A PURCHASE.

There is your emotional spending trigger but wait…How do you end up shopping when you had the same dress or book already? Boredom triggers your sense of security and self-esteem; you feel you are not good enough to be a part of an event. This emotional spending trigger can even damage your health to a greater deal i.e. when people with unhealthy eating disorders end up gaining weight because they suffer from boredom.

Overcome spending triggers by getting rid of boredom. Indulge yourself in healthy activities, join discussion groups or download fitness apps. Budget yourself by using finance software and try to maintain a balance living style.

2-Social Media

You want what you see. Desire has a direct relationship with vision.

Social media is a great emotional spending trigger and overcoming this emotional trigger is tough because it is there, right in front of your screen, all the time. The market is not to be blamed only. The people on social media platforms show their living styles and behaviors and even their emotions. Now here is a canvas much bigger than your personality. You might get Intimated, demotivated, challenged, depressed, or even motivated but not in a good light.

Watching an influencer is great but imitating one can cost you a lot. Here is the difference, the influencer earns the money from lifestyles magazines and companies while you are teaching at a school or selling coffee at Starbucks. Not to say that one cannot have a lifestyle but how long can you continue to change your curtains, shelves, and room outlook?

You have your style and your convivence. Emotional spending triggers are activating your “impulse” to buy more just because you are “imitating” someone else. You are now losing not just your money but a little part of your personality as well.

Overcome emotional spending triggers by developing a healthy appreciation for the content available on platforms and try to see where you fit in all this process.

3-Image building

You haven’t posted anything on your social media for long and it is killing you?

This is one of the most lethal emotional spending triggers and even after spending the money, you would never satiate the urge. You want to build a good image in front of colleagues and peers and for that purpose, you tend to wear good dresses and then you have to smell perfect too. You must have a good bag and you must eat at a fancy restaurant. You aim at perfection but is that humanly possible?

This emotional spending trigger refers back to your inability to view yourself as a good person. You tend to see your achievement in limited light, while you constantly strive to overcompensate your weaknesses. Be confident about yourself and envision yourself without these fancy products. Your work and your ideas are going to represent the best of you.

Overcome emotional spending triggers but look yourself in the mirror every day and embrace your true self. Save your money and hustle for a better future rather than a distorted present.

4-The Giving Yogi

Seva- or self-service is one of the best ways of living life as some might say but have you reached that level of self-exploration and self-attainment? While working on a full-time job and meeting a day’s end is a tough task for you, you cannot be giving too many things to too many people.

You want to become a yogi, you want to be a bigger person. This again comes from a wounded part of yourself that believed that giving too much might make you a better person. You become a people pleaser, and try to visit all the limits to provide for others even if they don’t require it.

Basically,you end up troughing surprise birthday parties to expensive jewelry etc. You are triggered by some lack in the past that has forced you to explode. Stay on track, and be nice to people. Give them your time and attention, that’s the perfect gift.

Save yourself from such emotional spending triggers and give yourself the time and space you deserve. People will love you when you will be complete in yourself.

5-The Shopaholic vibe

Now, this was a phobia of the early 2000s but it still holds great worth in the market. Opps I AM A SHOPAHOLIC, so chic right? The confession that you buy a lot of stuff is brilliant but are you ready to overcome this trigger?

The shopaholic vibe triggers the idea of people believing it’s never too much. You tend to appreciate only new things and the old ones just do not make any sense. You start by changing your wardrobe twice a year, then thrice a year and then it becomes a monthly thing. Control is the key and understanding this emotional spending trigger. Overcome it by looking into recycling tutorials and hacks to make your stuff new and useful.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle because your triggers made you regret your past and they can do the same to your present and future. You are the potion to your poison.