I had coffee with a friend last week who spent twenty minutes complaining about being broke.

Then he ordered a $7 latte and casually mentioned his weekend plans to hit up some outlet stores because “everything’s on sale.”

Here’s a guy making decent money – probably more than most – yet somehow always strapped for cash. Sound familiar?

The thing is, he’s not alone. A survey by Lending Club found that over 60% of Americans say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. But here’s what I’ve noticed after years of observing spending patterns: it’s rarely about how much you make.

It’s about the subtle shopping behaviors that keep you trapped in a cycle of spending without building real wealth.

If you’re serious about financial freedom, there are some lower middle-class shopping habits you need to recognize and ditch. They might feel normal, even responsible, but they’re quietly sabotaging your financial future.

Let’s dig into what’s really keeping you stuck.

1. Shopping for deals instead of needs

Ever catch yourself buying something just because it was marked down 50%?

This is the trap my coffee shop friend falls into constantly. He’ll buy three shirts he doesn’t need because they’re “such a good deal” instead of buying one quality shirt he actually wants.

Here’s the thing about deal hunting: it tricks your brain into thinking you’re being financially responsible when you’re actually just spending money you wouldn’t have spent otherwise.

I used to do this with photography gear. I’d see a lens on sale and convince myself I was saving money by buying it now instead of later. Except I didn’t need the lens at all.

Wealthy people flip this script entirely. They buy what they need, when they need it, and focus on value rather than price. That $20 “deal” adds up to thousands over time.

2. Buying new when used works just as well

This might be the biggest wealth killer I see among people stuck in the financial middle. There’s this weird status thing attached to buying new – like somehow a used car or pre-owned furniture reflects poorly on us.

But here’s what’s interesting: “64% of the millionaires described the homes they own as ‘modest.’… 55% buy used cars” according to Thomas C. Corley.

Let that sink in for a minute. People who have actually achieved wealth are buying used cars while people struggling financially are signing up for new car payments.

The wealthy understand that your net worth cares more about the money you keep than the impression you make.

3. Impulse buying to feel better

How many times have you walked into Target for toothpaste and walked out $60 poorer?

Retail therapy is real, and it’s quietly destroying financial progress. We shop when we’re stressed, bored, celebrating, or just because we had a rough day. The problem? Those little mood-boosting purchases add up to massive money drains.

I used to do this with vinyl records. Bad day at work? Time to browse the record store. Finished a big project? Better reward myself with some new music. Before I knew it, I was spending hundreds monthly on albums that mostly collected dust.

The psychology here is brutal – shopping gives us a temporary dopamine hit, but then we need more to get that same feeling. It’s like being on a financial hamster wheel.

Wealthy people have learned to separate emotions from spending decisions. They find other ways to deal with stress and celebrate wins that don’t involve opening their wallets.

Breaking this habit might be uncomfortable at first, but your bank account will thank you.

4. Prioritizing convenience over cost

That $15 DoorDash fee for a $12 meal? Those weekly grocery runs instead of planning ahead? The premium you pay for shopping at the closest store instead of comparing prices?

Convenience is expensive, and it’s bleeding your budget dry.

I get it – we’re all busy, and sometimes paying extra feels worth it to save time. But when convenience becomes your default shopping mode, you’re essentially paying a tax on poor planning.

As bestselling author Greg McKeown once said, “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” I’d say this definitely goes for our finances, too.

Think about it: that daily coffee shop visit instead of making coffee at home, the last-minute Amazon orders with rush shipping, the gas station snacks because you didn’t pack anything.

Each decision feels small in the moment, but you’re looking at potentially thousands of dollars annually in convenience fees.

Wealthy people understand that a little planning upfront saves massive money on the backend. They batch errands, meal prep, and think two steps ahead to avoid those expensive convenience traps.

5. Saying yes to every social spending opportunity

How often do you say yes to expensive dinners, concerts, or trips just because you don’t want to miss out or seem cheap?

Social spending pressure is real, and it’s one of the sneakiest budget killers out there. We convince ourselves we’re investing in relationships, but really we’re just scared of being left out or judged for our financial choices.

Warren Buffett nailed this when he said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything”.

That doesn’t mean becoming a hermit, but it does mean being intentional about which social activities align with your financial goals.

I’ve watched friends rack up credit card debt trying to keep up with group trips to expensive restaurants and weekend getaways. The irony? Most of the time, everyone would have been just as happy with cheaper alternatives.

The wealthy have mastered the art of suggesting alternatives – hosting potluck dinners instead of expensive restaurants, organizing hiking trips instead of costly entertainment.

Your real friends will respect your financial boundaries. The ones who don’t? Well, that tells you something important too.

The bottom line

Here’s the thing about financial freedom – it’s not about making more money (though that helps). It’s about recognizing the small behaviors that keep you spinning your wheels.

My friend from the coffee shop? He’s still buying deals he doesn’t need and complaining about being broke. But a few people I know have started questioning these patterns, and their bank accounts are already showing the difference.

These shopping behaviors feel normal because everyone around us is doing them. But normal and wealthy rarely go together.

The shift isn’t about deprivation – it’s about being intentional. Every dollar you don’t spend on convenience fees, impulse purchases, and keeping up appearances is a dollar working toward your actual goals.

Start with one behavior. Pick the one that made you cringe the most while reading this. Work on breaking that pattern for a month and see what happens.

Your future financially free self will thank you for it.