It’s a Sunday afternoon and, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I’ve clicked on an advert for a swimsuit. Before I know it, I’ve added it to my basket, checked out and I’m down £35 on my credit card.

When summer eventually comes around, I hope I’ll wear the swimsuit. But, did I really need to buy it now, while there’s still frost on the ground and I don’t even have a holiday booked? The answer is ‘probably not’. But, it’s all too easy to be sucked in: one study found that almost six in 10 of us look up products after seeing them advertised via social media, with 29% of people making at least one purchase a year via these adverts.

While I never say no to treating myself, it did force me to think about whether I was being impulsive with my spending, rather than taking the time to consider whether I actually needed this item. “Let’s be real, we’ve all been there,” admits educator, author and Nationwide money expert Bola Sol. “Scrolling through social media, spotting a ‘must-have’ item and, before you know it, your bank account is lighter than it should be. Impulse spending and trend-driven purchases are the financial equivalent of fast food – satisfying in the moment but leaving you with a lingering sense of regret.”

It’s clear that we’re starting to notice these impulse habits, especially on social media, and are making an effort to tackle them. Around 91% of online shoppers report seeing “too many” adverts on social media while the #underconsumption hashtag on TikTok has amassed almost 32,000 posts on the platform. So, what can we do to challenge ourselves and resist impulse spending the next time we’re scrolling through our feeds? Sol shares the following three tips.

Yes, it may seem obvious, but too often we click through on an advert without even thinking. “Before hitting ‘buy now’, take a breath and ask yourself: do I really need this?” says Sol. “Will I still want it in a week, month or year? Name three places you’ll use it. More often than not, the urge to buy will pass. I wait 48 hours and see if I still remember what’s in my basket.”

Whether it’s Damson Madder’s viral gilet or M&S’s palazzo jeans, it can be all too tempting to fall into the mindset of ‘but it might sell out’. While this can be the case, Sol suggests unfollowing accounts that encourage purchasing trending items. “If your social media feeds are filled with influencers pushing the latest trends, it might be time to hit unfollow,” she says. “It can seem harsh, but it’s financially effective. Curate your online space to align with your financial goals, not your impulses.”

Setting yourself targets for what you want to do with your money, whether that’s saving for a holiday or working towards a deposit for your first home, will help channel your mind to consider what’s important when it comes to spending and saving. “In a world that constantly tells us to spend, saving and investing in ourselves is a radical act of self-care,” explains Sol. “So, the next time you’re tempted by a trend, remember: your future self will thank you for choosing financial growth over fleeting gratification.”

Images: Getty