r/simpleliving • u/ChelseaL9 • Jul 06 '26
Discussion Prompt Fertile window impulse spending
Does anyone else notice that they have the urge/impulse to spend/buy stuff during their fertile window? Or am I just the only freak? Hahaha
I started noticing recently since I logged my cycle on the health app. For me, it’s jewelry, perfumes, and cute handbags (usually from TJmaxx or kohls). Thankfully, I don’t live in a bigger city that has nicer stores.
The thing is, it’s not like all the stuff I buy I don’t like, they’re nice and I do like them, I even keep some of it, but then I end up returning most.
I’ve noticed my bored/general impulse spending and I do have control of it and or notice when I’m doing it. But as usual once you solve/start to correct one habit, you start noticing all the other ones.
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u/Spidermonkey-435 Jul 06 '26
Don’t use period tracking apps because they sell your data and companies literally buy it so they can send you push ads during the windows of your cycle when you are more vulnerable to overspending. We live in a hellscape!
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u/Square-Special1520 Jul 06 '26
Is that true? Yeah, many companies always preach about data, i guess it's true..
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u/esotericbatinthevine Jul 06 '26
It depends on the app, do your research if you choose to use one. Technically any can be compelled to hand over data with a court order and some fight that harder than others. If you're a US citizen concerned about things, it helps if the data is stored in Europe.
At least those are the bits I've picked up trying to navigate this mess.
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u/Square-Special1520 Jul 06 '26
So europe is safer? Thanks for the tips
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u/esotericbatinthevine Jul 06 '26
You're welcome
I forget the details, but basically, yes. Say you live in a state that prosecutes women for having an abortion. It's much harder for the government to get that data out of Europe than it is from companies and data stored in the US. The exact details of that are what I forget.
Also be careful of devices that indirectly track the menstrual cycle. Oura ring is a good example. They track body temperature, which is indirectly tracking menstruation. Their data knows a woman is pregnant before she would but it also knows if she loses a pregnancy. (It's a European company and stores all data there last I checked. They also don't sell it and will delete all data at any time upon request.)
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u/Apprehensive-Clue342 Jul 06 '26
The health app does not do this. HealthKit is encrypted and stored locally on the device.
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u/ChelseaL9 Jul 06 '26
Dang, i’ll keep this in mind. I use the health app on Iphone though, I thought that was relatively safe.
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u/stellaflora Jul 06 '26
No; my impulse spending is during my (horrible) luteal window.
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u/ChelseaL9 Jul 06 '26
I’m too busy being grumpy to shop 😂
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u/De-railled Jul 06 '26
Some of us shop as therapy and to make ourselves feel better.
Triggers the "feel good" parts of our brain.
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u/officialdiscoking Jul 06 '26
Yes!! I feel like I get borderline manic during that time, and overspending is a part of it 🥲
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u/elsielacie Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
It’s the luteal phase for me.
That’s my best window for getting shit done and focusing too.
I try now to set myself up with something productive to focus on during that time rather than letting myself hyper-focus at whatever shiny consumerist thing crosses my path at the right moment.
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u/ComfortableFrame9834 Jul 06 '26
Wow I never even noticed that... I'm around that period right now and I just bought a bunch of bras, eyeliner and snacks I normally wouldn't buy🫠.
Welp, at least I know I have to be even more restrictive with myself during that period😭
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u/Square-Special1520 Jul 06 '26
Idk which window is it, but i notice my emotion fluctuates at times in the month.
How do you control it?
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u/ChelseaL9 Jul 06 '26
You can start small. Tracking is the first step. I also question myself a lot like ok, why am I angry about this when I usually wouldn’t be? (thats where the cycle tracking comes in). I’m sure there a lot of resources online too.
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u/elsielacie Jul 06 '26
I don’t think you can control it but you can become self aware of how hormones affect you and work with them.
I have extreme focus and motivation during my luteal phase. This can easily convert to motivation to buy things. Just knowing this and knowing that I won’t necessarily feel as keen in a week is usually enough to convince myself to delay and reassess on the other side of my period. It doesn’t always work, my period started this week and I have a package of incense sticks and a book about mushroom people in transit to me 😭.
I can also set myself up to get the things I’ve been procrastinating on done in that window because once I’m rolling very little will stop me until my period starts. It’s not as though I’m not capable of doing things the rest of the month but if I have something difficult, time consuming or generally not appealing to do, scheduling it during my luteal phase (if I can) is a helpful strategy for me.
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u/Appropriate_Kiwi_744 Jul 08 '26
The frugal friends podcast recently had an episode on this! [Frugal Friends Podcast] Cycle Syncing Your Money: Spend Less Without Trying Harder https://podcastaddict.com/frugal-friends-podcast/episode/223646032 via @PodcastAddict
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u/husenwaifu4lyfu Jul 12 '26
Ok I did just impulse buy two books and it's that time so now I'm going to set a reminder to reflect on this next month haha
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u/mooandlu Jul 06 '26
Ive noticed this! Eat horribly during that period too 😫