Just learned the average American spends over $1,200 a year on impulse buys

I was reading a report from a finance blog called The Simple Dollar yesterday. It said the average person spends about $1,200 a year on unplanned purchases. That number really got me because I never kept track of my small buys. I checked my own card statement from last month and I had over $80 in coffee and snack runs I forgot about. It adds up so fast when you don't pay attention. Has anyone else done a check like this and been surprised by a specific category?

3 comments

3 Comments

sethr101mo ago

That number seems low to me honestly. With how easy it is to tap a card or phone for every little thing, I'd guess most people spend more. The real trick is noticing the pattern before the statement comes.

uma_patel1912d ago

My bank app has this spending tracker that showed me $150 last month just on lunch near my office (which is crazy). What helped me was taking out a set amount of cash for those little buys each week, because handing over real money makes you pause. I totally get what @the_shane said about the few taps thing, that was my exact problem with food delivery apps. Now if I want takeout, I make myself walk to the place and pay cash, which cuts those orders in half. It feels a bit old-fashioned but seeing the cash leave my wallet is way different than a card swipe I forget.

the_shane1mo ago

Yeah the tap to pay thing is exactly how it gets you. I started checking my own spending after seeing that post and my Uber Eats habit is out of control. It's just a few taps and suddenly I've spent $40 on a burger and fries I was too lazy to cook. My other big one is those little Amazon add-ons, like a phone charger or a book I'll never read. It feels like nothing at the time but looking back at a whole month is brutal.