I’m going to let you in on something.

I’ve worked in marketing for over ten years. And when I was in grad school, that’s when it really clicked how much you can influence someone’s decision to buy something just by tweaking language. Not the product. Not the price. The words. If you really want to go all out, you can even manipulate the product packaging with tricky wording, specific colors and even more specific graphics that simply convey an intended (even if inaccurate) message.

A headline here. A button color there. A slightly different phrase that taps into insecurity, hope, or even health. Same product. Totally different response.

So when I say this stuff works, I’m not guessing. I’ve seen it from the inside.

This isn’t a guilt trip or a “marketing is evil” rant. It’s just a reality check. Brands are very good at what they do, and what they do is get you to spend more than you planned, or just buy a miracle quick fix product.

Let’s talk about how.

Your Brain Is Helpful, Not Rational

Your brain loves shortcuts. It has to. There’s too much information flying at you all day.

Marketers know this and build entire campaigns around those shortcuts.

That’s why things are labeled:

• Best seller
• Customer favorite
• Almost sold out
• Limited time
• Doctor recommended

Your brain reads that and thinks, “Cool, decision made.”

You didn’t analyze whether you truly needed it. You just trusted the shortcut.

Language Does Most of the Heavy Lifting

This is the part that really stood out to me in grad school. You can change buying behavior just by changing how something is framed.

“Invest in yourself” hits different than “buy this.”
“Only $5 a day” feels smaller than “$150 a month.”
“You deserve this” conveniently skips the question of whether you actually need it. And come on, how many treats do you really need? A lipgloss here, a dress there, maybe a pair of shoes too… it adds up. And no judgement, but sometimes we are really just treating ourselves to more junk, less money and for what? Instead, treat yourself to a new skill, a hobby, or an adventure.

What’s truly wild is you’re never really buying the thing. You’re buying the story attached to it. And good marketing is basically very good storytelling.

Good Deals Are Still Spending Money

This one gets a lot of people, including myself on rare occasion. Just because something is on sale does not mean you need it. You don’t need to shop every sale because it’s a good deal. You especially don’t need backups for things you don’t even use regularly. You definitely don’t need five versions of the same item because one was half off.

A deal is only a deal if you were already going to buy it.

Otherwise, it’s just clutter you paid less for. My Dyson? Worth it. It was something I would use often, and even then, I waited for the price to be more than half off. My clothes? I have so many variations of clothes, that I could go another day without a new article of clothing and still never wear it all. That’s when I realized I, the oh-so-great marketer played myself.

Urgency Is Almost Always Fake

Countdown timers. Flash sales. Limited drops. They’re all designed to make you feel like you’ll miss out if you don’t act right now. And when you feel rushed, you don’t think clearly.

Here’s the truth most of the time: If it sells out, something similar will be live next week. If the sale ends, another one will come. If you miss it, you will most definitely survive.

Nothing terrible happens when you don’t buy something.

Convenience Is a Trap Disguised as a Feature

Saved cards. One click checkout. Buy now, pay later.

The easier it is to buy, the less time you have to think.

That pause where you ask, “Do I actually want this?” quietly disappears.

If you want to spend less, make buying slightly inconvenient. Remove saved payment info. Unsubscribe from promo emails. Delete apps you open when you’re bored.

A little inconvenience goes a long way.

Shop With Intention, Not Emotion

This is the part brands do not want you to do.

Before you buy something, ask:

• What problem am I trying to solve?
• Will this actually improve my day to day life?
• Am I buying this for my real life or my fantasy life?

Most impulse purchases are emotional, not practical. Stress shopping. Bored shopping. Comparison shopping.

Naming the emotion takes away a lot of its power.

You Probably Have Enough Stuff

This might be the most freeing realization.

You likely already own more than enough clothes, skincare, gadgets, decor, and random extras. More doesn’t equal better. It usually just means more decisions, more clutter, and more money spent maintaining things you don’t even love.

Instead of constantly adding, try refining.

Refine your closet so everything fits and gets worn.
Refine your space so it feels calm instead of crowded.
Refine what you buy so it actually earns its place.

That feels a lot better than chasing the next “must have.”

The Goal Isn’t to Never Buy Anything

Marketing isn’t going anywhere. And honestly, it shouldn’t. Good products deserve good communication.

The goal is to stop buying on autopilot. Spend your money on experiences, not things.

You don’t need to outsmart every brand.
You just need to slow down enough to choose on purpose.

Shop with intention, and buy what you actually need. Let the rest pass you by.

Once you see how the game works, it’s a lot easier to step out of it.