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People Are Sharing Impulse Buys Under $30 That Were Worth Every Single Penny In This Viral Twitter Thread (40 Answers)
We've all had it. A surprise madcap moment that takes you on a journey of spotting an object to adding it to your bag, to bringing it to the checkout, to paying an unforeseen amount of money, with or without a guilty pleasure in what feels like an eternity that lasted seconds. No commitment, no time to reflect, zero anticipation about the future.
Later on, it really depends on the purchase whether we regret it or not. On some occasions, the impulse buy turns out to be the best thing that happened to you that day, or even that week. Just take a look at this thread from Twitter user Rachel Syme. “Ok, it's May, everyone is burnt out, everyone needs one thing in their life they can spend less than $30 and feel a fleeting but heart-quickening thrill,” she wrote and added that: “It is time for a surprise madcap on a budget thread. Tell me the best thing you bought to enhance your life for under thirty.”
And oh boy, this has hit all too close to home. From Sicilian lemon marmalade and a disco ball planter to a remote-controlled helium-filled flying shark and a snail-shaped boy dispenser, you are about to realize your impulse lava lamp is not that weird, if weird at all.
Image credits: rachsyme
Image credits: rachsyme
This post may include affiliate links.
To find out more about the complex psychology behind impulse buying, we spoke with Hans Schumann, the international Executive Career & Life Coach, with a background in law and financial services going back 20 years. Schumann confirmed that some people are more prone to impulse buying than others, depending on their personality type, people prioritize either doing, feeling or thinking. “The ‘DOers’ are most likely to act impulsively. The ‘Feelers’ are most likely to base buying decisions on feelings. Thinkers are more likely to take time, consider Pros and Cons and alternative options,” he explained.
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#3
IlovemydogShilo 3 years ago (edited)
You Look AMAZING!!! There is a poem called Warning by Jenny Joseph that I think could refer to you. When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick flowers in other people’s gardens And learn to spit. You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes. But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. But maybe I ought to practise a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Sometimes impulse shopping can become a problem. Schumann said that it happens when we catch ourselves frequently regretting our buying decisions. “Maybe you end up with a lot of purchases you don’t really need or that disappoint you. You could waste a lot of money. The impulse could also turn into a compulsion that you struggle to stop and that gets you into significant debt.”
#5
Part of an urge to buy impulsively had to do with the fact that it makes us feel better. "Any purchase can make us feel better. That’s why people invented the term 'retail therapy.' In fact, I would say that most people shop to make them feel better, to compensate for emotional issues in their life. Yet, the positive feeling is often short-lived and needs to be constantly refreshed with new purchases," Schumann said and added that it can turn into an addiction.
#9
Consumerism is designed to make us buy things we never planned, Schumann argues. “We see adverts or goods displayed we did not even know existed. Marketing experts are skilled at making us believe that we need the product and that we will feel better buying it. If we only bought essentials, capitalist economies would suffer,” the life coach concluded.
#11
#12
Braineating Spleen 3 years ago
Where in Kenilworth? I feel a Saturday road trip on the horizon.
In fact, Slickdeals, the platform for shopping, commissioned a year-over-year survey on impulse spending and found that respondents spend an average of $276 every month, a 51% increase from the average $183 per month reported in April 2020. That adds up to $3,312 annually, or a whopping $198,720 over the course of their lifetime. Moreover, one year of pandemic later, Americans are still impulsively buying the all-time favorite main essentials: food/groceries (48%), household items (42%), clothing (40%) and coffee (33%).
#13
Brandon Marlowe 3 years ago
I read "I got the cat one" as you bought one for your cat. It's early.
Another 2016 study by researchers at Princeton University named "Dark Patterns At Scale" found that people are much more likely to spend money when they are stressed out. It’s because stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that helps us respond quickly and effectively to threats in our environment. In the modern and developed world, the stressors we face often are not physical but psychological. Businesses seem to have nailed the ways of capitalizing on that.
“Behavioral responses to stress in our modern environment — replete with conveniences such as big box stores and restaurants — do not necessarily affect one’s ability to stay alive versus face death,” the 2016 study noted. “However, performing strategic behaviors in response to stress may help an individual function in day-to-day life.”
#16
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
My parents would use unused christmas wrapping paper in our drawers, it was always so festive.
Meanwhile, a great body of research on consumer behavior also shows that a deeper problem is at work when impulse buying, and that’s instant gratification. When we are feeling stressed, tired, or anxious, it is more difficult to make thoughtful decisions using the rational part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex. Often, emotions take over via the limbic system.
As if that wasn’t enough, the act of shopping offers a hit of dopamine — thus making us feel immediately gratified — when we are stressed out. With online shopping, however, the researchers noticed an interesting thing. They suggest it offers not just one point of gratification, as we usually see in in-store shopping, but two points of it: one when you press “buy” and another delayed point of gratification when the item is delivered to you.
#23
Madeleine Flowers 3 years ago (edited)
I can still see the word b***h through the blurry panel.
#27
Alan Green 3 years ago (edited)
There's a joke there somewhere about leaving a snail trail on the bed but I wont go there. . . whoops.
#30
chad johnson 3 years ago
We had one like that (had a hard time finding a harness for chucky Chihuahua) called her our "Tactical Chihuahua" if you have been around the breed then you understand :)
#38
HarperTheCentaur (they/them) 3 years ago
Haha, the exact ramen I eat! I have this for lunch at least once a week. Maybe I should get these...
#39
Brandon Marlowe 3 years ago
Awesome! I've needed this my whole life. I hate the soapy mess the bar leaves on the side of the sink.
#43
IlovemydogShilo 3 years ago
THANK YOU . I did not know that such a humidifier existed but I checked it out on Amazon and there it was. This is the PERFECT birthday gift for my wonderful cactus loving niece. She will love it. I bought it and staying true to the post here I only paid €31.00 for it. I am so happy right now 😊😊😊👍👍👍
#44
#52
UpupaEpops 3 years ago
Depending on where you live, you can try and grow some herbs. Fresh herbs are FAR superior to most dry ones.
#53
Eagle Girl 3 years ago
Aww, those are the real finds. A new friend. Mine is Chee Chee. A simple drawn outline of goose with outstretched "arms" that look like he's dancing. Always ck out thrift store art. Found him Love at 1st Sight. Named after the artist Benjamin Chee Chee. Paid maybe 10 bucks & he's Priceless to me xoxo
#54
Kirsten St John Brown 3 years ago
I always wanted one of these. I am such a huge fan of Jeff Koons. And I actually did my work experience at Bernardaud porcaline factory in France while they were collaborating with Jeff Koons and got to watch them make the balloon dogs. Had to sign a waver, promising not to tell anyone because they hadn't been released at that time. This was years àgo now. My mentor was so excited the second week into my time there to tell me he was leaving to go to New York to meet the man himself.
#57
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
"Friend not included". Which is a real shame, because he looks like a fun guy. :p
#59
Eagle Girl 3 years ago
Oh I saw that at Ulta. I think it's 'Revolution'. This great affordable Cruelty Free make-up Co. They had tons of themed palates like 'Friends'
#66
Eagle Girl 3 years ago (edited)
In case you don't get the reference on the bag it's a nod to The Preakness Horse Race ran in Maryland., in May. They serve 'Black Eyed Susan" drinks as shown by the flowers. The bird sitting on the horse is their State Bird, ' The Baltimore Oriole' (same as the baseball team). Actually quite a thoughtful ohmage
#70
Uber Mensch 3 years ago
Gourmet cupcakes deserve a full 5-point restraint system. Just sayin'...
#74
Pheebs 3 years ago
Oh, did this at work once. Got put in a room with a couple of coworkers that were miserable af. Another coworker and I joked we’d need to “cleanse the evil from the room” to get any work done. So, we popped out at lunch and bought a whole bunch of stones and crystals, then burned sage and juniper berries in the office. (Yes, we were careful and made sure we didn’t cause a fire hazard - it was a joke.) can’t say the energies of the room over by the other two improved much, but the bowl of stones and crystals never failed to make us laugh.
#78
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
It would be a cruel joke if someone were to dip some mountain oysters in chocolate, instead of strawberries... Because the shape of these things are so insanely similar. It'd be the last thing I'd want to bite down on.
#87
#90
Lola Atkinson 3 years ago
I have a Philips Bluetooth bulb. Drives me crazy. Can't connect to Alexa without a hub that costs extra money and the Bluetooth connection from the app barely works.
#91
#93
Eagle Girl 3 years ago
Saw these at Costco but didn't need to try something new in commercial quantity. Maybe I reconsider?
#95
Barbara Kayton 3 years ago
At first I read "silicon lemon marmalade", and thought, "please don't tell me you ate that!" hahahah!
#96
#97
T. D. Bostick 3 years ago
I have one that's even more frivolous - a solar-powered LED lantern in the shape of a dinosaur.
#100
Kirsten St John Brown 3 years ago
Love the animal crossing gyroid on the shelf too! Where did you get it?
#102
#103
#104
#106
Jo Johannsen 3 years ago
These dedicated erasers are wonderful. Erasers on pencils are usually c**p, will smudge rather than erase, and get worse with age. 👍👍
#107
#108
#110
Potty pagan panda 3 years ago
Back in the days of blockbuster I would ask for the posters and the cut outs, they kindly obliged. Had Alien loved it
#112
Poultry Geist 3 years ago
When I was a kid I had a nice pair of cowboy boots and when I put grew them we started using one of them as a pen pencil holder ! I don’t know what happened to the other one!
#114
#117
Eagle Girl 3 years ago
Oh Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! HARIO Everything!!!! Have the Cold Brew & the JPL 60 glass tea pot with black lid for Years! So Good
#119
Rebecca O’Donnell 3 years ago
I had to go to “jeans585” to get the full picture. This set is gorgeous!
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Lis Daglish 3 years ago
All of these are great in that they all bring a happy moment to their owners but nothing, NOTHING beats a helium filled remote controlled shark. End of.
Jess-a-men 3 years ago
I do have this very adorable owl-shaped pillow with a production fault. I already had a normal owl pillow, but how was I supposed to resist THIS: Pillow-628...26e025.jpg 
Joe Reaves 3 years ago
Went on Redbubble a few minutes ago and bought 4 pro-vaccine masks (I particularly liked 'Finally microchipped. Ask me about my 5G signal') total with postage came to just more than £30 but individually they're all under the limit lol. Did it because there was an anti vax customer at work as I was handing over to the next volunteer. I was fine arguing with her until she called me a liar (I said I had long covid and it had ruined my life and she said oh I doubt that). At that point I went outside to wait for the car home because otherwise I'd have said things I probably wouldn't have regretted but the shop owner might have. Buying the masks felt like giving her the middle finger and I needed some new ones anyway - they're working wonders keeping my hayfever manageable too.
Eagle Girl 3 years ago (edited)
Love This Post! The things that have become such a Happy Part of my life I forgot there was a time before I found them at a Garage sale, Thrift store or Amazon recommendation. Fave Garage sale ~ 'Settlement' cookbook that years later found out my grandmother owned the same one. Fave thrift store~ My Benjamin Chee Chee Dancing Goose. Fave Amazon~ Grey Stone Garden elephant with upturned trunk. He lives on my perfume tray & smiles at me every morning when I pet his trunk. All under 20 bucks
FlamingoPanda 3 years ago
A giant llama plushie, she was worth every cent and cheers me up when I come home and see her on my bed.
Izzy Curer 3 years ago
My grandma always had these two figurines on her piano of an old man and woman holding chickens. When she died, they were one of the only things I asked for from the house, and I love them. Well, last Christmas, I was shopping at a thrift store when I found the figurines of another old man and woman made by the same company, only these were holding geese! I snatched those puppies up at $7 each. To explain, I'm not really a figurine person. My house is otherwise minimalistic, and these frilly little porcelain things really stand out. But I just love seeing them every time I walk by.
lapis lazuli 3 years ago
i own this little phone holder things that pink and looks like a mini tv it's adorable it doubles as a tissue box
Aisling Raye 3 years ago
Beautiful glass rainbow hummingbird feeder ($25). It's in my front yard bc I feel like it is the safest alternative to a pride flag that I can put up in my ridiculously Trumplican neighborhood to avoid getting hate-crimed (I live in a very blue state - where did these people come from???)
Shine Chisholm 3 years ago
Ceramic unicorn lamp. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Designs-9-01-in-White-Porcelain-Unicorn-Shaped-Table-Lamp-LT3339-WHT/313215186
memyselfandI 3 years ago (edited)
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiUsP-vq-_3AhU8DK0GHbgsBjoYABALGgJwdg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_135HpoxMLOu_y2X2gZz303lW9dmg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjX5vSvq-_3AhViI0QIHWJ6BV8Qwg8oAHoECAEQDg&adurl= Microscopic Bible keychain with actual words and pictures inside. Got it a few days ago and I’ve been riding this high ever since. Also a squeaky rubber chicken, I realized last year that that was something I needed and now I have one and it’s amazing.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I had one of those bibles when I was a teenager, but it wasn't on a keychain. I think I must still have it somewhere.
Load More Replies...
bigfoot🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 3 years ago
My standard poodle Jolene! We got her for free and she's an absolute sweetheart!
Tom Hardeveld 3 years ago
found a gizmo plush at a thrift store in a 3-for-a-euro bin. Turned out to be a special collectors item worth $240
Lost Panda 3 years ago
I bought cockroach killer, it was reduced from $15 to 60cents. I've never seen a cockroach in my life, have no purpose for cockroach killer, Will never use it.
The Holy Penguin 3 years ago
Im so dumb I thought "ooh a minute!" Intitially
Load More Replies... 
Lis Daglish 3 years ago
All of these are great in that they all bring a happy moment to their owners but nothing, NOTHING beats a helium filled remote controlled shark. End of.
Jess-a-men 3 years ago
I do have this very adorable owl-shaped pillow with a production fault. I already had a normal owl pillow, but how was I supposed to resist THIS: Pillow-628...26e025.jpg
Joe Reaves 3 years ago
Went on Redbubble a few minutes ago and bought 4 pro-vaccine masks (I particularly liked 'Finally microchipped. Ask me about my 5G signal') total with postage came to just more than £30 but individually they're all under the limit lol. Did it because there was an anti vax customer at work as I was handing over to the next volunteer. I was fine arguing with her until she called me a liar (I said I had long covid and it had ruined my life and she said oh I doubt that). At that point I went outside to wait for the car home because otherwise I'd have said things I probably wouldn't have regretted but the shop owner might have. Buying the masks felt like giving her the middle finger and I needed some new ones anyway - they're working wonders keeping my hayfever manageable too.
Eagle Girl 3 years ago (edited)
Love This Post! The things that have become such a Happy Part of my life I forgot there was a time before I found them at a Garage sale, Thrift store or Amazon recommendation. Fave Garage sale ~ 'Settlement' cookbook that years later found out my grandmother owned the same one. Fave thrift store~ My Benjamin Chee Chee Dancing Goose. Fave Amazon~ Grey Stone Garden elephant with upturned trunk. He lives on my perfume tray & smiles at me every morning when I pet his trunk. All under 20 bucks
FlamingoPanda 3 years ago
A giant llama plushie, she was worth every cent and cheers me up when I come home and see her on my bed.
Izzy Curer 3 years ago
My grandma always had these two figurines on her piano of an old man and woman holding chickens. When she died, they were one of the only things I asked for from the house, and I love them. Well, last Christmas, I was shopping at a thrift store when I found the figurines of another old man and woman made by the same company, only these were holding geese! I snatched those puppies up at $7 each. To explain, I'm not really a figurine person. My house is otherwise minimalistic, and these frilly little porcelain things really stand out. But I just love seeing them every time I walk by.
lapis lazuli 3 years ago
i own this little phone holder things that pink and looks like a mini tv it's adorable it doubles as a tissue box
Aisling Raye 3 years ago
Beautiful glass rainbow hummingbird feeder ($25). It's in my front yard bc I feel like it is the safest alternative to a pride flag that I can put up in my ridiculously Trumplican neighborhood to avoid getting hate-crimed (I live in a very blue state - where did these people come from???)
Shine Chisholm 3 years ago
Ceramic unicorn lamp. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Designs-9-01-in-White-Porcelain-Unicorn-Shaped-Table-Lamp-LT3339-WHT/313215186
memyselfandI 3 years ago (edited)
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiUsP-vq-_3AhU8DK0GHbgsBjoYABALGgJwdg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_135HpoxMLOu_y2X2gZz303lW9dmg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjX5vSvq-_3AhViI0QIHWJ6BV8Qwg8oAHoECAEQDg&adurl= Microscopic Bible keychain with actual words and pictures inside. Got it a few days ago and I’ve been riding this high ever since. Also a squeaky rubber chicken, I realized last year that that was something I needed and now I have one and it’s amazing.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I had one of those bibles when I was a teenager, but it wasn't on a keychain. I think I must still have it somewhere.
Load More Replies... bigfoot🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 3 years ago
My standard poodle Jolene! We got her for free and she's an absolute sweetheart!
Tom Hardeveld 3 years ago
found a gizmo plush at a thrift store in a 3-for-a-euro bin. Turned out to be a special collectors item worth $240
Lost Panda 3 years ago
I bought cockroach killer, it was reduced from $15 to 60cents. I've never seen a cockroach in my life, have no purpose for cockroach killer, Will never use it.
The Holy Penguin 3 years ago
Im so dumb I thought "ooh a minute!" Intitially
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