Curbing your impulses

Ninety one per cent of people admitted to making an impulse buy last year, a survey has found, and three out of five people have made three or more 'snap' decisions to spend in the past 12 months.

A quarter of those people said that they had been unable to return goods to the store after they had regretted their purchase.

Tina Shortle of swiftcover.com says: "Whether its a pair of killer heels, or the latest 'must-have' gadget, it seems that we're addicted to spending now, paying later.

"But that means that we've also dropped our guard when it comes to sensible habits like shopping around."

January 24^th 2008

• Slowing down in mortgage market
• Homeowners urged to check utility bills
• Credit crunch worries begin to bite
• Save toward your home insurance, cut up your store cards
• Festive hangover lasts until next Christmas
• Borrowing regarded as a normal part of lifestyle
• The bank of Mum