Financial expert Rachel Cruze addresses a common spending trap: buying things to impress others rather than for genuine personal value. This impulse is rooted in human nature—the desire for social validation—but it can quickly derail budgets and financial goals. Cruze outlines three practical steps to break this cycle and spend more intentionally.
1. Question Your Motivations
The first step involves self-awareness. Spending releases feel-good chemicals (endorphins, dopamine, serotonin) that can cloud judgment, making it hard to distinguish between genuine desire and the need for external approval. Before making a purchase, allow the initial excitement to fade and honestly assess why you want the item.
Cruze identifies two key indicators of impression-driven spending:
* Anticipating others’ reactions to the purchase.
* Experiencing an ego boost from the item itself.
If you’d still buy it even if no one knew, the purchase is likely genuine. Otherwise, reconsider.
2. Embrace Stillness
Modern life moves fast, making mindful spending difficult. Constant decision-making leaves little room for reflection. Cruze advocates for intentional stillness —a moment to calm the mind and allow the nervous system to settle. This reduces self-criticism and external judgment fears, clarifying true spending motivations.
Research supports this: quieting the mind allows inner threat detectors to turn off, making honest self-assessment easier. This clarity helps you confidently decide whether a purchase aligns with your actual needs.
3. Find a Deeper “Why”
Recognizing impression-driven spending doesn’t automatically mean avoiding the purchase. Cruze encourages mindful spending: if it fits the budget, the decision is yours. However, dig deeper for a more substantial reason.
If no meaningful motivation exists beyond social perception, skip it. But if the purchase serves a secondary benefit—like creating joy or opportunities (as in Cruze’s family’s pool example)—it might be worthwhile. This is especially crucial for significant expenses.
“Budgeting isn’t about self-denial; it’s about freedom.”
Cruze emphasizes that the core test is whether the purchase aligns with true personal value. Spending intentionally—saying yes to what truly matters and no to superficial impressions—is the key to financial well-being.
