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Why it's so hard to stop

Impulse buying isn't a willpower problem. It's a brain chemistry problem — and online shopping is engineered to exploit it.

$3,381 The average American spends this much per year on impulse purchases alone

80-90% Of impulse purchases people skip when they simply add a waiting period before buying

43% Of consumers actively want a tool that makes them rate how much they need an item before buying

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The Dopamine Trap

When you see something you want, your brain's limbic system floods you with dopamine before you've even considered whether you need it. The emotional brain acts faster than the rational brain — so by the time your prefrontal cortex weighs in, you've already clicked "add to cart." One-click buying and constant ads make this happen dozens of times a day.

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The Missing Pause

Research shows that even a short delay between the impulse to buy and the act of buying is enough to let the dopamine spike fade — and let your rational brain re-engage. But online shopping has deliberately removed every natural pause. Saved payment info, one-click checkout, and "buy now" buttons leave no room to think.

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The Disappearing Goal

Neuroeconomists at UCSD found that reminding yourself of what else you could do with your money — your "consideration set" — is one of the most effective ways to make better spending decisions. But it's nearly impossible to connect a $60 purchase today with a $10,000 savings goal or months of extra debt. The goal feels too far away to matter.

How it works

Set your goal

Tell Gated what you're saving for — a down payment, emergency fund, vacation, or paying off debt. Set your balance and target once, and it tracks your progress automatically.

Shop normally

Browse and add items to your cart on Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Apple, eBay, Etsy, Wayfair, IKEA, and thousands of Shopify stores. Gated runs quietly in the background.

Gated appears at checkout

Before you complete your purchase, Gated creates the pause your brain needs. It shows you exactly how this purchase affects your savings goal, calculates the real cost if you're carrying debt, and asks you two quick questions: how much do you actually need this, and what matters more to you right now?

Make a mindful choice

Continue if it's a genuine need, or save the money and get closer to your goal. Either way, it's your informed decision — Gated never blocks a purchase, it just makes sure you're actually choosing.

⏱️ Only shows once every 30 min

🔒 All data stays on your computer

💪 You always stay in control

See your progress every week

Gated automatically tracks every intervention and shows you exactly how much you're saving. Check your weekly summary anytime to see your skip rate, estimated savings, and progress toward your goals.

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Weekly summary

See how many times Gated appeared and how often you chose to save

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Estimated savings

Track the total amount you've saved by skipping purchases

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Skip rate

Watch your decision-making improve over time as the habit builds

Carrying debt? Every purchase costs more than you think.

If you're paying off a credit card, student loan, or any other debt, every impulse purchase doesn't just cost the sticker price — it adds interest on top of interest. Gated shows you the real cost in real time.

💡 Here's what a $79.99 impulse buy actually costs at 22% APR:

$112.47 Total you'll actually pay

$32.48 Wasted on interest

3 mo Extra months in debt

Gated calculates this automatically for any purchase, on any supported site. Set your debt balance and APR once — it does the rest.

Without Gated

Buy now, think later

$112.47 total cost

With Gated

Skip it, pay down debt

$32.48 saved

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