'I'm a money expert - don't make decisions when hungry, angry or tired'

'I'm a money expert - don't make decisions when hungry, angry or tired' Wealth manager Philly Ponniah said people might regret it later Making decisions about money when you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired could leave you making choices you later regret, a financial coach has warned. Philly Ponniah, chartered wealth manager and financial coach at Philly Financial, said people's emotional state could have a surprisingly powerful influence on how they spend and manage money. She follows the HALT principle – hungry, angry, lonely and tired – and says people should avoid important financial decisions or conversations when experiencing any of the four emotions. Philly said many could fall back into deeply ingrained behaviours when they are stressed or emotionally vulnerable. Our relationship with money can be heavily influenced by experiences in childhood, meaning emotions can cause old spending or saving habits to resurface. She said: "When you're hungry, angry, lonely or tired, don't make money decisions and don't have important conversations about money. When you're in one of those states, you're much more likely to revert to old patterns. You might have worked really hard to change your relationship with money, but that doesn't mean those behaviours disappear forever." Anyone who has gone food shopping on an empty stomach will recognise the problem. Hunger can make it harder to think calmly about what you actually need, encouraging impulse purchases. Philly said: "Going into a supermarket hungry is the obvious example. Suddenly you're buying things you hadn't planned to buy because you're responding to how you feel at that moment. "The same principle can apply to other financial decisions. Make the decision when you’re feeling more stable." Anger can also encourage people to act quickly rather than considering the longer-term consequences. Philly said: "If you're angry, that's not the moment to make a big purchase, change an investment or start a difficult conversation with your partner about money. Give yourself some time. Go for a walk, calm down and come back to it when you're able to think more clearly." Loneliness can be particularly dangerous because spending can become a way of seeking comfort or validation. Philly said: "You can imagine someone sitting at home feeling lonely and suddenly they're scrolling Amazon and buying things. The purchase gives you something in that moment, but it isn't necessarily something you genuinely wanted or needed." She said some people also spent money on others because they were unconsciously looking for external validation, such as always offering to pay for dinner because receiving thanks makes them feel good. Finally, exhaustion can weaken the discipline people normally have around their finances. Philly said: "When you're tired, you're much more likely to choose what's easiest rather than what's best for you. That could mean ordering another takeaway, buying something without thinking or agreeing to a financial decision simply because you don't have the energy to properly consider it." Philly believes recognising these triggers is more effective than simply telling yourself to "be better" with money. She added: "Awareness is the first step. Money habits aren't something you fix once and never think about again. Your circumstances change and old behaviours can come back. If you're hungry, angry, lonely or tired, sometimes the best financial decision you can make is simply to wait."