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Big purchases often feel impulsive, but advisors said the timing behind them isn’t random at all.
Your mood, your schedule, and even where you are in the week — or the month — can quietly nudge you toward a yes you might regret later.
According to experts, there are certain times when it’s especially smart to pause before making a major money move.
“In my experience as a financial advisor, the worst time to make a large purchase is the day you get paid, or even the few days immediately following it,” said Kaylee McClellan, certified financial planner (CFP) and financial advisor at Innovative Planning.
While it may feel like the most logical moment, she said it’s actually when people are most vulnerable to overspending. When a paycheck hits, there’s a psychological sense of abundance that can override rational decision-making.
She also explained that unless someone has an exceptionally structured system, where income is automatically allocated to savings, bills and investments before they ever see it, it’s easy to mentally treat that money as “available,” even though much of it already has a job.
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According to Elizabeth Rivelli, personal finance expert at BestMoney, you have to be careful when you shop because prices can go up unexpectedly depending on the season or the specific deals that a certain store runs.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Monthly Retail Trade Report, retail spending in December 2024 was the highest ever recorded — over $600 billion.
“However, I would say that December is one of the worst months to make big purchases,” Rivelli said. She noted that unfortunately, the demand is very high during this month for multiple reasons.
“Of course, there are the holidays, and many people want to gift what they buy and sellers know they have the upper hand,” Rivelli added.
The expert said the same goes for groceries, especially the seasonal ones. A lot of food items tend to be a lot more expensive in this period.
Not only do the businesses know that they have the upper hand, but you also have to think of your own wallet, said Rivelli.
“December is such an expensive month for most people and the personal budgets are already stretched to the limit,” she explained. Rivelli advised planning your finances according to your financial comfort, because a lot can be on your head in December.