We are all guilty of making decisions that aren’t in our best interest; it’s just human nature, I guess. So it figures that we also make decisions around money that impact negatively on our financial security.

The consumerism of the current financial climate drives us to acquire more and more ‘stuff’, whether we really need it or not. Over-spending has become a way of life, cheered on by financial institutions and credit card companies, who want us to spend up big so they can earn ever more interest, at our expense. Let’s look at something that can help turn this around. It’s called the concept of delayed gratification.

Scientists have discovered that hormones come into play when we are making certain buying decisions, and we all know that logic goes out the window when we are driven by hormones. These hormones affect our emotions and so we end up making a buying decision based on emotions. We know what a disaster that can be! Apparently, when we are faced with buying decisions, we experience similar hormone activity to the fight or flight mechanism in the body. That explains a lot!

So you see, it’s not our fault that we impulse buy and spend money on things we don’t really need.

I bet that makes you feel better!

Over-spending is one of the main causes of financial woes. We become very good at justifying why we have to buy something; we can come up with a hundred very good reasons why we ‘need’ that item. The hormones cut in, emotions take over and before we know it, we have bought something else to clutter our home or closet.

Now admit it – you’ve got something in the back of your closet that you bought on impulse and have never worn or used! I know I have and when I asked a few friends, they all admitted to the same thing.

Easy access to credit has helped to make this process so easy; we don’t even need to have the cash. So, we are driven by hormones and emotions when faced with that gorgeous pair of designer shoes on sale at 20% off; we have a credit card (or six) in our pocket; what hope do we have of leaving the store without them?

Delayed Gratification

Let’s talk about this delayed gratification idea. Simply put, it means that we learn to wait for some things but the reward is worth it in the end. 

You probably learnt about delayed gratification as a kid – you have to wait till Christmas morning to open the presents; you can’t eat the candy in the supermarket until after it has been paid for; you can’t watch TV until you have done your homework. Unfortunately, most of us lose this skill when we have to make our own decisions as adults. 

Learning to apply the concept of delayed gratification is vital to achieving financial security, to build wealth or establish a healthy nest-egg for the future. Very few people can really afford to buy everything they want, no matter what they tell you in the ads! We need to learn that some things are worth waiting for, especially if it means we can avoid going into debt.

So, how do you learn to put delayed gratification into effect? 

One of the biggies is to be able to tell the difference between a ‘want’ and a ‘need’. When you think about it, most impulse buys involve a want not a need. Try and control ‘wants’ spending and you’ll have more for saving.

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again – create your own budget so you always know how much money you have for spending on ‘wants’. You need to indulge yourself from time to time; you’ve worked hard for your money and you deserve to buy things that you enjoy. The trick is to avoid impulse buying; be sure you really do want those shoes!

There are always going to things you want – a new car, a new kitchen, an overseas trip etc. Rather than buy these things on credit, set out a savings plan that will see you wait a while but then be able to enjoy them, without the debt that goes with using credit or taking out a loan. When you have a goal like this, it is easier to stay on track with saving.

Make better buying decisions – do you really need a new car or would a second-hand one do? Do you really need a four bedroom house if you are a couple with no kids? Would a small refrigerator do you, as a single, instead of that huge one with the icemaker? Do you really need those expensive Italian sofas or would something cheaper be just as comfortable and stylish? Start out small and simple; you can always upgrade in a few years when you can more easily afford the fancier things.

Another advantage of using delayed gratification is that you can often get a better deal because you didn’t rush into a purchase. Doing some intensive research before buying is actually a form of delayed gratification that can save you money. Shopping around is part of the fun and you get to see different designs and models that you may not have considered. Also, make sure you don’t pay for extras that you don’t need.

Finally – and this is a hard one – be prepared to walk away. Before handing over your hard-earned cash, ask yourself if this is a good buying decision. If you aren’t absolutely sure, walk away and think about it. You can always go back if you decide to buy later on. I read somewhere that you should wait 30 days before making a decision to buy; if you still want it after that time, go buy it.

Like any habit, mastering the art of delayed gratification takes practice. You will get better at it over time and will really appreciate the positive effect your new habit will have on your financial security.

So, what kind of spender are you? Do you go for the instant feel good feeling, or do you wait to feel good later? If impulse spending has been an issue for you, what kind of things have you done to break that habit? Or, if you are good about waiting until later for an item, what is something you have done that has helped you be successful at this? I would love to hear your story.