Wow. Spending money feels good. If you’re having a bad day, or haven’t spent money in a while, you tend to feel like splurging.

The mere transaction of trading paper money for tangible (or intangible) goods has been proven to release endorphins in the brain. Music even has been proven to increase the chances of spending.

Jerry Seinfeld on buying clothes:

Buying clothes is always tricky. But when there’s loud music playing, it really throws your judgment. You look at stuff like, “Hey, if there was a cool party and I was a cool guy, this might be a cool shirt.”

You get home, there’s no music, there’s no party, and you’re not a cool guy.

You’re the same chump, 75 bucks lighter.

This is called buyer’s remorse. So there are ups and downs to spending. Here are my top three psychological ups and top three psychological downs from spending. Since I like ending on a good note, let’s talk about the downs first.

3) Buyers remorse. I hate impulsively buying something and regretting it the next day. Have you ever looked for the receipt, like, “Dammit, where the hell is that receipt. I knew I should have saved it. What the hell am I gonna do with a wallet that says Bad Mother Fucker on it?” (I can’t help that I’m a big fan of Pulp Fiction). It lays prominently upright on my shelf in my room, collecting dust. But trust me, when I feel like being a bad ass, I take it to the bar.

2) Not anticipating expenditures. Take for example an oil change. That’s money you have to dish out when your oil change light comes on out of nowhere. When I see that light go off, it’s like getting a parking ticket. “Pay me now” is all that light says to me. DAMMIT. I need an oil change. Then you push off getting and oil change and tap into mileage, but that’s neither here nor there. The worst part is that you don’t anticipate your expenditures when they occur. Parking tickets, oil changes, and unexpected trips to the bar after you get out of class (though this is within my control the most, I seem to lack discipline).

1) Going to check your bank account balance and being broken hearted by the amount that’s in there. “I swear I had more than this… when do I get paid again? Shit…” OR waking up after going out for night and having a $1 bill on you… “Why the hell did I buy 8 people I just met a buttery nipple? I don’t even like buttery nipples?”

To avoid this mess, learn how to budget with our resourceful articles. Click here.

Ok. Now that the worst is out of the way, here are my top three psychological uppers.

3) Pulling out your winter coat when the weather gets warm and finding a $20 bill in one of the pockets. It’s bad enough that it gets cold and you’re energy levels fall, but finding money in my jean or winter coat pocket always makes my day.

2) Not spending as much as you thought you spent. Sometimes, it’s easy to miscount your money. If you go out for the night with a set amount of cash, and wake up and realize that you have more than expected, again, it always has a positive affect on your brain. Endorphins get released, like, yes! You probably know the feeling.

1) Receiving money as a gift. Ah, decisions decisions decisions. Think about when you receive money as a gift. You’re immediately gratified by the mere thought of “What should I do with this money?” It’s kinda like Jack Handey on SNL said… something about sitting around all day and talking about what you’d do if you had a million dollars is fun. You simply receive pleasure from the decision making process.

If I had a million dollars, I’d do… nevermind. If you’re an Office Space fan, you probably knew where that one was going.

Next time you get paid, write down every thought that crosses your mind, and what you want to do with your money. You’ll be surprised at how many of your decisions are based on spending money…

Going out this weekend, or not? Traveling on vacation, or not? Work more hours or not? Going on a road trip with friends, or not? Dine in or dine out? Grocery shopping, looking for deals in the Sunday paper, looking for loans, applying for scholarships…).

Simply put, spending is all psychological. Psychology is often times subconscious. Being fully aware of your spending decisions will make you a better spender and help you save a lot more money.

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