Impulse buying can be a challenging habit to break, but recognizing and resisting impulse buying triggers is essential for maintaining financial stability. One common trigger is emotional arousal, where individuals make impulsive purchases to regulate their emotions. For example, someone might buy a new outfit to feel better after a stressful day at work.

Another trigger is the scarcity effect, where the fear of missing out drives impulsive purchases. Limited-time offers and "while supplies last" promotions often exploit this trigger, leading individuals to buy things they don't need.

Social influences, such as peer pressure and social media trends, can also trigger impulse buying. Seeing friends making purchases or influencers promoting products can create a sense of social pressure to buy, even if it's not in line with an individual's financial goals.

To resist these triggers, individuals can employ strategies such as creating a budget, practicing mindfulness to recognize emotional triggers, and unsubscribing from promotional emails and unfollowing social media accounts that promote excessive consumption.

References:

1. "The Role of Emotional Arousal in Impulse Buying Behavior" - Journal of Consumer Research
2. "Scarcity and Consumer Decision Making" - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
3. "Social Influences on Impulse Buying Behavior" - Journal of Marketing Research