Impulsive and regret

A lot of times, I think 'oo I want/need that'. I then pause and think, 'hmm, what else is going on with me atm?' ...usually, I'm feeling stressed, of lonely, or a similar state of mind, and then  able to rethink I'd I actually need it.

Also, if I see an advert for something and think 'i need that', 99% of the time I don't. 

Life rule: if it is advertised, you don't need it.

There is a magpie-eye thing that happens to a lot of people autistic or not, but there is a method that helps everyone, at least with the impulse side: If you want something book mark it and try forget about it for a week, if after a week you are %100 you want/need it then get it but if there is any doubt at all it leave it another week and you will have either turned out to really have wanted it after all or the fleeting impulse has gone.

I can definitely relate to the feeling of being impulsive with money and the regret that comes along with it. It sounds like you're aware of the impact that your spending habits have on your finances and on your relationships. It's great that you're looking for ways to improve and change your behavior. It's normal to feel regret over missed opportunities, but it's important to remember that you can still make positive changes and create new opportunities for yourself. This means setting goals and working towards them, instead of feeling stuck in the past. Try to make amends for your mistake and learn from it.

That is so very kind of you.  Sometimes just messaging others who have similar issues really helps me so it is very much appreciated.  I'm in a pretty dark place at the moment.

Anytime. You can always message me on here if you need someone to talk stuff through with 

Thank you so much.

By the time I was 24 my credit rating was so bad I couldnt even get an i phone contract. I wasted loads of money on online catalogues and then couldnt pay the bills.  I told the bank I had a job I didnt have and they gave me a credit card with a £2,500 limit that I rinsed in 3 months by paying for endless drinks and clubs for the people who I thought were my friends but wernt. 
I was unemployed all the way through this. My mum and dad had to bail me out with the credit card bills. 
I have gone 5 years now without a credit card or a catalogue account and two years ago finally paid off all my debts.
You are not alone but there is hope

Firstly, autistic people tend to be impulsive

Second, its a material world, we are bombarded with adverts to buy buy buy.

Third, there is social and peer pressure to have things

My parents have never had much money so I grew up used to not having much, so I learned to let go of urges to have things and still do now.

I have urges to buy things, but I have to stop myself because then I would get the urge for something else.    I have built up a debt because in the past which I am having to repay though most of that was out of necessity, rather than impulse buys.   I have a budget that I stick to. 

My parents wouldn't be able to bail me out, and wouldn't as a rule anyway, so I have got through to 49 having to manage by myself - and I'm OK with that.

Impulses can be difficult to manage for autistic people, and the comfort/reward of buying something can also play a part in buying things.  Just question the things you get the impulse to buy - do you really need it? etc.  If you resist for a while, you can always treat yourself to an impulse buy that you really want and can afford.

thats retail therapy, the effect of raised mood from spending on things that think will bring you happiness but after you spend you realise the material thing you brought is garbage and you didnt need it and the money was better than it. we have a materialist sales culture that uses this mentality to rob us of our excess wealth for the sake of keeping the economy going.