In conditions of economic instability and inflationary pressure, controlling a personal budget becomes a critically important skill for every Ukrainian. However, as practice shows, many consumers face the problem of overspending not due to large expenses, but as a result of accumulating numerous small, often impulsive purchases. Financial experts note that it is precisely these "invisible" expenses that can significantly undermine the financial health of a household.
The "Trifles" Effect and the Checkout Trap
Taras Kozak, founder and president of the "UNIVER" investment group, highlighted one of the main causes of overspending in an interview with RBC-Ukraine — unplanned purchases. According to him, a classic example is the behavior of a shopper in a supermarket, especially while waiting in line at the checkout. It is at this moment that psychological defenses lower, and a person tends to add items to the basket that were not originally on the shopping list.
Kozak notes that the amount of such spontaneous purchases can range from 20 to 100 hryvnias. An individual expense seems insignificant and does not cause alarm. However, if all such micro-purchases are summed up over a month, the final figure can be substantial. The expert advises auditing receipts through retailer apps to identify and exclude these unnecessary expenses from the budget.
Emotional Purchases and the Credit Trap
In addition to trifles, large emotional purchases pose a serious threat to the budget. These include the acquisition of the latest smartphones, game consoles, or cars when a person's financial situation does not allow for this without detriment to other expense items. In such situations, emotions take precedence over rational calculation.
The consequences of such decisions are often dire: money runs out before the next income is received, forcing people to resort to loans and credits. This creates a vicious circle where debt servicing further narrows the possibilities for accumulation and savings.
The Illusion of Benefit: Promotions and Discounts
Marketing tools such as advertising, promotions, and discounts also play a significant role in forming unjustified expenses. Taras Kozak explains that a person often perceives a discounted purchase as savings, even if the item itself is not needed. For example, sneakers with a price reduced from 6,000 to 3,000 hryvnias seem like a good deal. However, if they were not needed initially, then the 3,000 hryvnias spent is not savings, but a direct loss of funds.
A similar mechanism works with promotions like "buy two, get the third free." A consumer who needs only one item buys a second one to get the third for free. In the end, they spend extra money on an unnecessary item, mistakenly believing they are acting rationally.
Hidden Habits and Long-term Consequences
The expert pays special attention to regular small expenses that may be related to habits. For example, daily purchases of cigarettes and coffee can cost hundreds of hryvnias a day. Over a month, such expenses can amount to about 10,000 hryvnias. At the same time, a person may deny themselves the purchase of something truly important for the same amount, not realizing that they have already spent this money on small pleasures.
Thus, to maintain financial stability, it is necessary not only to control large expenses but also to closely monitor everyday expenses, analyzing their expediency and impact on the overall budget.
