If “be better with money” is on your 2026 goals list, then these are the tips you need. Here’s how to reset your finances in a world designed to make you spend.
Scroll on TikTok for five seconds and you’ll see it: the thing you suddenly want, need, and could buy in two taps.
From your feed to your cart, spending is designed to be fast – and tempting.
“It’s never been easier to turn a want into a purchase,” says Karen Hoffensetz, Financial Wellbeing & Gambling Project Officer at the South Australian Financial Counsellors Association. “And when you see something often enough, it can start to feel essential – even when it’s not.”
That’s not a personal failing. It just means you’re human.
Why spending feels so good (in the moment)
When you buy something new – those Adidas kicks, AirPods or that viral collagen face mask – your brain gets a dopamine hit. It’s the same feel-good chemical linked to reward and pleasure. That’s why hitting buy now can feel exciting or comforting in the moment.
“You get the hit when you buy it,” Karen says. “But once it turns up a few days later, the feeling has disappeared.”
Add in stress, boredom or a shocker of a week, and spending can start to feel like self-care. Especially online, where everything’s immediate, easy and designed to make you say yes.
That’s when the line between a want and a need can blur fast.
Wants vs needs – and why it matters
Before we go any further, let’s get clear on the terms.
Needs are the non-negotiables – the stuff that keeps your life running. Think housing, food, utilities, transport, insurance, healthcare and any regular repayments.
Wants are everything else. That doesn’t mean they’re bad – they’re just the things you choose to spend money on. The latest fashion trend, streaming, takeaway, hobbies, upgrades, impulse purchases, last-minute gig tickets – it’s the stuff that makes life more fun or convenient, not more secure.
Where wants sit in your budget
In budgeting language, wants usually fall into the “discretionary spending” category. That’s the portion of your money you can spend however you like, after you’ve covered your bills and put aside money as savings.
A healthy budget includes room for both. The issue isn’t having wants – it’s spending more than you’ve allowed for them.
“The question isn’t always ‘is this essential?’” Karen says. “A better one is: ‘Is this going to improve your wellbeing or ability to function?’ If the answer’s ‘no’, it probably fits in your ‘wants’ category.”
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our beginner’s guide to building a budget. It includes how to work out your needs, set realistic goals, and carve out a safe space for spending without guilt.
Spending isn’t the problem. Overspending is.
Buying something you love – or even just something that makes your day easier – isn’t a bad thing.
“When people feel bad about spending, it’s usually not because they bought something,” says Karen. “It’s because they bought it without really choosing to – and then felt out of control.”
That feeling is the problem. Not the purchase.
The goal here isn’t to judge what you want, or guilt you into saying no to everything. It’s to make sure your yes fits within the money you’ve set aside – so you stay in control and avoid that sinking feeling later.
Why some wants start to feel like needs
Once your basic costs are covered – rent, groceries, bills – the hardest part of money management isn’t maths. It’s decision-making.
And when every algorithm is pushing you to upgrade, replace or keep up, it’s no wonder our spending gets thrown off. Social media shows us what everyone else is buying. Influencers normalise constant consumption. Every ad makes it feel like you’re missing out if you don’t join in.
It’s FOMO with a credit card attached.
“With social media, you’re only seeing a snapshot of someone else’s life,” Karen says. “You don’t see their bills, their debt, or what they’re stressed about. You are only seeing what they are wanting you to see.”
And that pressure can make a want feel like a need – fast.
“Just because everyone else has something doesn’t mean you need it, or that it will make you happier. Sometimes you need to step away from the screen and get a bit of perspective.”
In other words: your life doesn’t need to look like someone else’s shopping cart.
Some things sit in the grey zone
Not every decision fits neatly into a ‘want’ or ‘need’ box – and that’s completely normal.
“Needs can look very different for different people,” Karen says. “What helps one person get through the week might not be necessary for someone else – and that doesn’t make it wrong.”
Take exercise. For one person, a Pilates studio might feel like a luxury. For another, it’s essential for managing pain, staying functional, or coping with stress. Someone else might get the same benefit from walking around the block with a podcast.
“The question isn’t ‘is this cheap?’ It’s ‘does this actually help me cope and function?’”
That same grey area applies to phones, routines, hobbies, and wellbeing supports. What matters is making the decision on purpose – not letting something drift into your spending because it feels normal or urgent in the moment.
Top tips to stay in control of your spending
“Beating yourself up won’t change what’s already happened,” Karen says. “Noticing it and starting now – that’s what matters.”
Here are some ways to do that – practical tips that Karen uses with clients, and ones you can start using today.
1. Check your spending against your wants budget
If you’ve already set aside money for discretionary spending this month, start there.
The key question isn’t “should I want this?” – it’s “does this fit within the amount I’ve budgeted for wants?”. That one shift can turn a spiral into a simple yes/no – and help you feel back in control.
2. Turn big wants into short-term goals
If you’ve got your eye on something that’s outside your budget right now, try saving for it across a few pay cycles.
Karen gives an example: “If someone wants something that costs $200 but they’ve only got $50 left in their discretionary spending that month, they can put the $50 aside for it. In four months, they can buy it – without stress or regret.”
Sometimes you’ll still want it. Sometimes you won’t. Either way, it’s a choice – not a reaction.
3. Pause before you click
When you feel the urge to spend – especially after a rough day – give it 24 hours.
“Take some time before you hit that “buy” button, give it a night,” Karen says. “You might be surprised to wake up and realise you don’t actually want it anymore.”
That simple pause can be enough to break the cycle.
4. Rethink the ‘I deserve it’ reflex
A reward after a hard day is totally valid. But buying something isn’t the only way to get that feeling.
“A treat now and then isn’t the problem,” Karen says. “The problem is when spending becomes the main way you cope with feeling stressed or anxious.”
Instead, think about what you’re really chasing. Connection? Comfort? Relief?
Maybe what you really want is to lie on the couch in silence with your best friend, walk it off at the beach, or rewatch your favourite show in your comfiest trackies.
5. Reduce temptation at the source
If Instagram is where you’re getting pulled into the scroll-and-spend spiral, give yourself some guardrails.
“Mute influencers who make you want to spend. Turn off shopping notifications. Give yourself some space to reset.”
Even small changes – like setting app timers or unfollowing certain brands – can make a big difference.
6. Don’t try to do it all on your own
Budgeting doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Telling someone what you’re working on – a partner, a mate, a financial counsellor – can help you stick with it.
“It’s not about judgement – it’s about support. Sometimes just saying ‘I’m trying to spend less this month’ out loud makes it more real.”
If you’re in debt and struggling to get your finances back on track, help is available. The South Australian Government offers free financial counselling that you can find through the Affordable SA website.
Alternatively, contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or visit ndh.org.au for free and confidential financial counselling, or the Mob Strong Debt Helpline for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (1800 808 488).
See other cost-of-living options available to South Australians here.
