Ever walked into a shop determined to buy nothing more than bread and milk, only to stroll out with a trolley full of ‘must-haves’? Ever logged online for a quick browse and ended up at checkout before you even realised what happened? We’ve all been there. That’s impulse spending—the silent, charming assassin of your bank balance. And the whispering accomplice? Your emotions, craftily disguised as your best mate, nudging you gently: “Go on, you deserve it!”

Let’s pause for a second and talk about the Money Types. Think of them as your internal cast of characters who show up every time you open your wallet. We all have them, and they’re busily steering our financial decisions—often without us noticing!  There are eight and they all think and behave differently around money.

First up, meet the Fool. This lovable rogue lives for today, spending money like there’s no tomorrow. If you’ve ever found yourself impulsively buying a round at the pub or chucking treats into your trolley just because they’re on offer, that’s your inner Fool at play. The Fool encourages us to think, “Why not? You only live once!” But there’s a catch—the Fool rarely sticks around to help when the bills roll in.

The Fool isn’t stupid; they’re impulsive, spontaneous, and carefree about money, spending as if there’s always tomorrow to worry about it. Ever said, “Ah, it’s payday—time to splash out!” or found yourself waving your card around after a stressful day saying, “Sod it, life’s too short!” That’s your Fool in action.

Then there’s the Victim. If your inner dialogue goes something like, “What’s the point? I’m rubbish with money anyway,” say hello to your inner Victim. The Victim feels powerless, always at the mercy of circumstance, convinced they’ll never get ahead financially. It’s this character who whispers, “You’ll never have enough anyway, so why not spend it while you can?” This mindset keeps us trapped in cycles of emotional spending and regret.

The Victim thinks they’re rubbish with money and always will be. They sigh and say, “I can’t help it, money just slips through my fingers,” or, “I’m hopeless at budgeting, always have been, always will be.” They’re often stuck in a cycle of overspending and regret, followed by feelings of guilt and powerlessness. If you’ve ever had a moan about being skint a week after payday, welcome to the Victim club.

Now, these characters aren’t villains; they’re part of us, influenced by emotions and habits we’ve picked up over years. Recognising yourself as the Fool or the Victim isn’t about beating yourself up—it’s about waking up. Once you’re awake, you can make changes.

How do we tackle these impulsive, emotional spending habits? Here are some real, no-nonsense strategies that even your inner Fool and Victim can handle.

First, introduce the “24-Hour Rule.” The next time you hear that voice whisper, “Treat yourself,” pause for just one day. If you still crave it tomorrow, fair enough—but you’ll find often the urge passes as quickly as it came.

Second, make spending inconvenient. Remove saved card details from your favourite shopping websites. When you have to physically get up, find your wallet, and manually enter card details, suddenly that impulsive purchase feels like effort—sometimes enough to put you off completely.

Third, get curious about your triggers. Feeling low, stressed, or bored? Recognising these emotional triggers is powerful because once you spot them, you can find healthier alternatives to soothe your mood—like a walk, a chat with a mate, or a cuppa in peace, without online shopping open.

And here’s a fun one—use the “Cost Per Use” mindset. Eyeing up a new gadget or designer bag? Divide its cost by how often you’ll realistically use it. Suddenly, that £200 pair of shoes looks less tempting if you’re only wearing them once a year (hello, weddings).

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, give yourself some compassion. You didn’t create these habits overnight, so don’t expect to break them instantly. Celebrate your small victories—each time you resist an unnecessary spend, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re doing great!

So, next time that little voice chimes in, remind yourself: short-term thrills often lead to long-term bills. You’re not depriving yourself; you’re empowering yourself. Choosing to spend consciously and wisely is true self-care.

Remember, money itself isn’t emotional—it’s just numbers. But how we handle it is deeply personal and emotional. Take control of your impulses by listening carefully to your inner Fool and Victim, acknowledging their existence, then kindly but firmly letting them know who’s really in charge—You.

If you want to dive deeper into understanding the Money Types, visit fannysnaith.com/resources. There you’ll learn that moving away from your Fool and Victim activates your Warrior and Magician—two powerful allies who will guide you towards lasting financial success.

Let’s get real, let’s get clear, and let’s stop letting impulses rule our wallets. You’ve got this.