How Companies Trick You Into Spending More – And How to Fight Back
How Companies Trick You Into Spending More – And How to Fight Back
Every day, we make hundreds of financial decisions—some small, like buying a coffee, others bigger, like choosing a subscription or an investment. But what if I told you that many of these choices aren’t really yours to make? Companies, banks, and online platforms use psychological tricks known as dark patterns to influence your spending without you even realizing it.
If you’ve ever wondered why you keep spending more than planned, or why canceling a subscription feels like a maze of hidden options, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the most common financial dark patterns and how you can fight back.
🔍 1. Subscription Traps – The Free Trial That Never Ends
Companies love free trials—because they know most people forget to cancel before they start charging. And when you try to unsubscribe? They hide the cancel button under multiple steps, forcing you to go through “Are you sure?” pop-ups and deceptive wording like:
❌ "Pause Subscription" instead of "Cancel"
❌ "We'll miss you!" (trying to make you feel guilty)
❌ "Are you sure? You’ll lose all your benefits!"
📌 How to Fight Back
✅ Set a reminder on your phone the moment you sign up for a free trial
✅ Use virtual credit cards (like Revolut, Privacy.com) that expire after the trial
✅ When canceling, ignore emotional pressure tactics
💸 2. Drip Pricing – The Hidden Fees That Add Up
Ever found a cheap flight online, only to end up paying double at checkout? That’s because companies use drip pricing—they lure you in with a low price, then slowly add extra costs like:
💰 Booking fees
💰 Service charges
💰 Convenience fees (as if paying them is a privilege)
📌 How to Fight Back
✅ Always check the final price before committing to a purchase
✅ Use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner, which show full costs upfront
✅ Consider using "incognito mode" to avoid dynamic price increases
🛒 3. The Decoy Effect – The "Best Deal" That’s Not Really Best
Have you ever seen three pricing options and felt like the middle one was the best deal? That’s called the decoy effect—a trick designed to push you toward the option the company wants you to choose.
🎭 Example:
- Small Coffee – $2.99 (seems too small)
- Medium Coffee – $5.49 (feels like the best value)
- Large Coffee – $5.99 (makes the medium look cheap)
The medium size isn’t really a great deal—but it feels like it when compared to the overpriced large option.
📌 How to Fight Back
✅ Compare prices logically, not emotionally
✅ Ignore pricing placement tricks—always check cost per unit
✅ Ask yourself: Would I still buy this if the other options weren’t there?
⏳ 4. Fake Scarcity & FOMO – “Only 2 Left in Stock!”
E-commerce websites create fake urgency to pressure you into buying quickly. Ever seen these?
⚠️ “Only 2 rooms left at this price!”
⚠️ “Hurry! Sale ends in 10 minutes!”
⚠️ “100 people are looking at this item right now!”
These tactics are rarely true—they’re just psychological pressure to make you feel like you’re about to miss out.
📌 How to Fight Back
✅ Take a deep breath and don’t rush purchases
✅ Check multiple websites—the "only 2 left" might not be real
✅ Use browser extensions like “Keepa” to track price history and see if urgency is fake
💡 Final Thoughts – How to Take Back Control
Companies want you to spend impulsively—but now you know their tricks. Here’s how to stay ahead:
✔ Pause before buying. Ask: Do I really need this?
✔ Compare prices on different websites. Don’t trust fake urgency.
✔ Cancel unwanted subscriptions ASAP. Don’t let them drain your bank account.
Want to dive deeper into how companies manipulate your financial decisions? Check out my detailed guide on dark patterns and how to fight them:
📖 Get the full breakdown here!
💬 Have you ever fallen for one of these tricks? Share your experience below!