Overspending is strongly associated with Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) (or compulsive shopping), characterized by an uncontrollable, chronic urge to shop that causes distress. It is also a common symptom of the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder, where impulsivity and high energy lead to reckless spending. Other associated conditions include borderline personality disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders.
During a manic episode, many people with bipolar disorder tend to make poor financial decisions – overspending, impulsive buying, or excessive generosity. Not only do these decisions lead to harsh financial consequences, but they can also leave you feeling guilty and remorseful, and put a strain on your loved ones.
Abstract. Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is characterized by excessive shopping cognitions and buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment.
Some professionals classify compulsive buying as an obsessive compulsive disorder, while others liken it to an impulse control disorder [12]. Therefore, there is no one specific treatment for compulsive buying.
Overspending can happen for different reasons, such as: You might spend to make yourself feel better. Some people describe this as feeling like a temporary high. If you experience symptoms like mania or hypomania, you might spend more money or make impulsive financial decisions.
Some PTSD sufferers may stay busy to avoid pain and conflict. People with complex PTSD may self-soothe through overspending. People with PTSD may help others to keep the focus off themselves. Journaling can help clarify why you spend to self-soothe, overachieve and stay constantly busy.
The "27.39 rule" (often rounded to $27.40) is a simple financial strategy to save $10,000 in one year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, making it an achievable micro-saving habit to build wealth or an emergency fund. It turns the daunting goal of saving $10,000 into a manageable daily action, emphasizing consistency over large lump sums.
Compulsive buying disorder is tightly associated with excessive or poorly managed urges related to the purchase of the items and spending of currency in any form; digital, mobile, credit or cash. Four phases have been identified in compulsive buying: anticipation, preparation, shopping, and spending.
There are also psychoanalytic theories to explain the causes of compulsive buying behavior. These theories also showed that early life events, the absence of a stable self-image, and infertility anxiety are among the factors contributing to compulsive buying behavior2, 20.
Impulse spending is a common habit for individuals with ADHD, often stemming from difficulty with delayed gratification and impulse control. According to a recent survey, 65% of diagnosed respondents said ADHD makes managing finances more difficult due to impulse purchases.
Impulsive behaviors: You may act without thinking about the consequences, like driving well over the speed limit, overspending or overconsuming addictive substances. Suicidal ideation: You may openly talk about or threaten suicidal behavior to others or perform self-harm behaviors.
Impulsive spending (suddenly buying things you don't want or need) and excessive generosity (buying expensive gifts or giving money away) are common symptoms of hypomania and mania. In a survey of 500 people living with bipolar, 82% reported impulsively spending when they were hypomanic.
The "48-hour rule" for bipolar disorder is a coping strategy recommending you wait at least two full days (48 hours) and two nights of sleep before acting on major decisions or impulsive urges, especially during hypomania or mania, to create distance from the heightened mood and ensure decisions aren't driven by impulsivity. It's designed to combat poor judgment linked to sleep deprivation common in bipolar episodes, allowing for clearer thinking and risk assessment, often paired with seeking feedback from trusted individuals.
At its core, bed rotting involves staying in bed on purpose, where individuals lay around engaging in passive activities like watching TV, phone scrolling, or napping. Fans claim it lets them “reset their brain” after burnout. Critics argue it's glorified avoidance that can breed more depression and lethargy.
While some models use four stages, mania in bipolar disorder is often described in three escalating phases: Hypomania (milder, increased energy, less impairment), Acute Mania (severe, significant disruption, poor judgment, possibly psychosis), and Delirious Mania (most severe, confusion, disorientation, dangerous behavior, requiring immediate care), with a potential early "prodromal" stage before symptoms start and a maintenance stage for management after.
The DSM-5 lists compulsive buying disorder (CBD) as an example of the impulsivity criteria of borderline personality disorder (BPD) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
The 3-6-9 rule in finance is a guideline for building an emergency fund, suggesting you save 3 months of essential expenses for stable jobs, 6 months for most people (especially those with families/mortgages), and 9 months for those with irregular income (freelancers, sole earners) or high financial risk. It's a flexible strategy to provide financial security, helping you avoid debt or panic withdrawals during unexpected job loss or emergencies, with the exact target depending on your income stability and dependents.
The $1,000 a month rule is a retirement guideline stating you need $240,000 saved for every $1,000 per month you want from your investments, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate, offering a simple way to estimate savings goals, but it doesn't account for inflation or market changes and is a starting point, not a complete plan, say SmartAsset, Kiplinger, and Money US News.com. For example, $2,000/month would require $480,000 saved (2 x $240k).
I tell young people all the time, by the time you hit 33 years old you should have at least $100,000 saved somewhere. Make that your goal. That's the age when it's really time to start getting FOCUSED on saving.