Tiny Requests, Big Spends: The Sneaky Psychology of Saying Yes

Welcome back to another edition of "Rolling in Dough" Newsletter, where we serve up the simplest ways to save more, spend less, and build wealth with weekly insights, consumer psychology hacks, and tiny tips to do today. I hope to make your financial journey a little fun, simple, and totally doable, where ever you are on your wealth journey.

In This Issue

• We've All Been There ...

• Brain Power - The Psychology of Why it Works

• Free Trials

• How Many Subscriptions?

• AN EXTRA $3,200

• Consider This

• TINY TIPS AND TO DOS FOR TODAY

🧠 BRAIN POWER - THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WHY IT WORKS

That’s the foot-in-the-door technique in action — a consumer psychology strategy where agreeing to a small request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a larger one.

Retailers and marketers use this trick all the time. They start with a tiny request, then hit you with the bigger one once you’re hooked.

What’s the brain science to why this works? Because saying yes to small things makes our brains want to stay consistent, builds trust, and makes it easier to agree to bigger things step by step.

📺️ THINK ABOUT FREE TRIALS …

Ever signed up for a free trial of a streaming service, thinking you’ll just binge-watch that one show and cancel?

Next thing you know, months have passed, aaaaand you're still subscribed.

That initial free trial was just a small ask to get your foot in the door.

🤷‍♀️ HOW MANY MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTIONS DO YOU HAVE?

(Be honest, this is a safe space 😁)

The average person spends about $273 a month on subscription services, often forgetting to cancel the ones they no longer use. The growing number of subscriptions has led to people losing track of their spending — it seems like everyone has an app or a monthly charge for something.

According to research, a whopping 89% of consumers underestimate how much they spend on subscriptions.

On top of that, the average consumer in the U.S. has 12 paid subscriptions, and over half of people underestimate their spending on subscriptions by at least $100 or more. Yep. Most people think they know how much they’re spending, and they don’t.

How much do you spend per month on subscriptions? How many do you have? Hit reply and let me know! (I’m at 16! — so no judgement here 😊)

Free trials are especially sneaky — 62% of people roll over from the first month to the next month — meaning most people don't actually cancel after the free trial.

💰️ WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH AN EXTRA $3,200?

You’ve been through a ton! And you deserve to have a little fun.

And by being aware of your actual spending on subscriptions, you can make more intentional decisions and avoid wasting money on services you don't use. More funds to the fun you really want to have — hello! 😎 

This knowledge empowers you to take control of your finances, recognize where your money is going, and helps grow your wealth more effectively.

Those extra subscriptions might only feel like $5 here and $22 there, but over just 1 year, that can add up to a whopping $3,200!

Maybe that’s a vacation, new clothes, investing 👀, or something you can treat yourself to – just for being aware of subscriptions you weren’t really using anyway.

🔍️ OTHER WAYS THIS CAN SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE

• Apps with In-App Purchases: You download a free app with optional in-app purchases, and before you know it, you’re spending money on additional features or content.

• Subscription Boxes: You start with a trial box, and suddenly you’re getting monthly deliveries.

• Gym Memberships: You take advantage of a free day pass, and before you know it, you’ve signed up for a year.

TINY TIPS AND TO DOS FOR TODAY

1. Pause Before You Agree: When someone asks you for a small favor or purchase, take a moment to think about what this might lead to.

2. Add Up Your Monthly Subscriptions: Head to your banking app and do a quick add-up to see how much you’ve spent on subscriptions over the last month or two. You might be surprised!

3. Try Before You Buy: Use free trials to your advantage, but set reminders to cancel 1-2 days before if you’re not interested in continuing.

4. Keep it Consistent: Keep your long-term goals in mind. If a small yes doesn’t align with them, don’t be afraid to say no.

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More on the psychology of spending and saving, and so much more.

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