There’s something oddly satisfying about watching someone unbox their latest purchases. The perfectly curated setup, the excitement in their voice, the crisp sound of tissue paper being peeled back — it’s like we’re right there with them, experiencing the rush of something new.

Social media hauls tap into the part of our brains that craves novelty and belonging. We see someone unbox a trendy skincare set, a capsule wardrobe refresh, or a stack of "life-changing" Amazon finds, and suddenly, we want in. It’s not just about the stuff. It’s about the feeling. The thrill. The belief that maybe this time, this thing will be the one that makes life easier, happier, or more put-together.

But here’s the problem: hauls aren’t just entertaining. They can be expensive, emotionally draining, and designed to keep us spending.

How Hauls Trigger FOMO and Encourage Impulsive Spending

You're not alone if you’ve ever watched a haul video and immediately felt the itch to add to your cart. These videos are designed to spark FOMO (fear of missing out). The combination of exclusivity (“This colour sells out so fast!”), urgency (“You need this before it’s gone”), and relatability (“I wasn’t sure at first, but I LOVE it now”) creates the perfect storm for impulse spending.

Even if we don’t buy something immediately, the seed is planted. Later, when we’re scrolling or out shopping, that item or something similar feels familiar. And familiar things feel like good things. The more we see it, the more it becomes a "need" instead of a "want."

Some signs that social media hauls might be influencing your spending:

• You feel the urge to shop right after watching haul videos.
• You’ve bought something that looked great on camera but didn’t fit your lifestyle.
• You feel guilty or regretful about purchases you made impulsively.
• Your wishlist is constantly growing, but your savings aren’t.
• You catch yourself justifying purchases with “I deserve this” or “It’s a small treat” (even when it adds up).

The Hidden Costs of Constant Consumption

The danger of shopping through social media is that it makes spending feel effortless. We don’t feel the exchange of cash leaving our hands. We just click, confirm, and move on. That is until the credit card bill arrives.

Beyond the financial cost, there’s also an emotional toll. The cycle of buying, unboxing, and moving on to the next thing can leave us feeling empty instead of fulfilled. And when we chase that excitement with another purchase, it creates a pattern that’s hard to break.

Long-term, this can make it harder to reach real financial goals. Money that could have gone toward things that genuinely bring security — like savings, debt repayment, or experiences that align with your values — gets funnelled into things you might not even remember buying six months from now.

How to Tell If a Haul Video Is Actually Useful

Not all hauls are bad. Some are informative, showcasing products that genuinely solve problems or add value. But there’s a difference between an honest review and a well-disguised advertisement.

Before trusting a haul, ask yourself:

• Does the creator regularly use and recommend similar products, or does their content shift based on brand partnerships?
• Are they transparent about sponsorships? (Look for #ad, #sponsored, or mentions in captions.)
• Do they discuss the downsides of any product, or is everything “amazing” and “life-changing”?
• Does the haul align with your actual needs and lifestyle?
• Would you want this item if you hadn’t seen it in the video?

A good rule of thumb: if it feels like a commercial, it probably is.

How to Establish Your Own “Money Rules” (So You Don’t Get Sucked In)

If you’re looking to resist impulsive shopping, set personal money rules. Think of them as financial guardrails — not restrictions, but boundaries that protect your future self from regret.

One of the most effective ways to curb impulse spending is to introduce friction back into the buying process. The easier it is to buy something, the harder it is to resist. Social media hauls, one-click checkouts, and saved payment methods make spending effortless.

So, what if we flipped that? What if, instead of making shopping seamless, we made it a little harder?

This year, I’ve been experimenting with this idea by setting personal “inconvenience” rules for certain purchases. The goal isn’t to never buy things but to add just enough friction that I only follow through when I really want something.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• I can’t buy clothes online. If I want new clothes, I have to go in-store, try things on, and decide in real-time. No quick scroll-through, no checkout-in-seconds dopamine hit. This stops me from mindlessly adding things to my cart because they look good on a model or influencer.
• Takeout has to be ordered in person. If I want takeout, I have to physically go to the restaurant to order and pick it up — no Uber Eats, no delivery. Most of the time, when I think about the hassle of getting in my car and waiting, I cook something at home instead.
• No stored payment methods. I removed my saved credit card details from online stores and food delivery apps. If I really want something, I have to get up, find my wallet, and manually enter my card details. That small moment of effort is often enough to make me reconsider.
• Unsubscribing from marketing emails. If I don’t see the sale, I won’t be tempted by the sale. Simple as that.
• No spontaneous purchases in the moment. If I see something I want, I have to leave the store, go home, and sit with it for at least a day before deciding. More often than not, I don’t go back.

By reintroducing a little inconvenience into shopping, I’m giving myself more time and space to ask: Do I actually want this, or do I just want the feeling of buying it?

So far, this has helped me cut unnecessary purchases without feeling deprived. The truth is when I do go through the effort, it means the purchase is something I genuinely want — not just something I was marketed into thinking I needed.

It turns out that making spending less convenient is one of the best ways to spend more intentionally.

Mindful consumption doesn’t mean never buying things you enjoy. It just means ensuring your spending aligns with your priorities, not someone else’s marketing plan.

At the end of the day, social media hauls aren’t going anywhere. However, we can engage with them differently: appreciating the value of entertainment without letting them dictate our financial decisions.

Because real financial security doesn’t come from the next “must-have” purchase; it comes from knowing that what you already have is enough.