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."

Almost half (47 per cent) of people admit to having signed up to a service such as broadband or insurance without shopping around first. As homeowners feel the pinch from rising bills, it may be worth delaying the chance to buy now, rather than ruing it later.

24/01/2008 00:11:19