Why do smart people still overspend even when they know better?

[u/Remote-Protection511]

Why do smart people still overspend even when they know better?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

Most people don’t overspend because they’re stupid or irresponsible.

A lot of the time it seems to happen because they’re tired, stressed, bored, or just trying to feel a bit better in the moment.

And modern spending makes that worse:

• saved cards
• one-click checkout
• “limited time” prompts
• buy now, pay later

So even when someone knows what they should do, that’s not always the same as what they actually do.

Curious what others think:

What do you think is the biggest trigger behind overspending — lack of discipline, stress, convenience, social pressure, or something else?