5 warning signs the ‘cashless effect’ is draining your wallet; 5 ways to deal with it

Swiping a card or tapping a phone weakens the brain’s “pain of paying,” making it easier to spend without feeling the true loss. Handing over cash feels more real and causes greater emotional discomfort, helping control spending. With digital payments, that feeling is weaker, so people often buy things on impulse or upgrade their lifestyle without planning. Studies show this makes us spend more because digital payments feel abstract, not like real money leaving our hands.