Woman Cuts Spending by Locking Phone After 5 p.m.

Experiment with "friction maxxing" helps curb impulse purchases

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:19pm

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A woman in her 30s with kids at home started an experiment in February 2026 to block social media and shopping apps on her phone from 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays. The extra effort required to unlock her phone during those hours helped her cut her personal spending by $300 that month, which she put toward family savings goals.

Why it matters

The story highlights a growing trend called "friction maxxing" where people intentionally add obstacles to their routines to curb impulse spending and increase mindfulness. As more consumers struggle with rising costs, finding ways to cut discretionary spending without feeling deprived is becoming an important personal finance strategy.

The details

The woman used a device called a "Brick" to lock her phone during the evening hours when she found herself most tempted to make online purchases. She was still able to access news and music, but the extra step of physically tapping her phone on the Brick to unlock it helped interrupt her "dopamine cycle" of excitement around making purchases. Over the course of the month, she realized her in-person shopping trips also lost their appeal, and she became more motivated to save toward specific goals like a family Disney trip.

  • The experiment began in February 2026.
  • The woman kept using the Brick to lock her phone after 5 p.m. on weekdays even after the initial month-long trial.

The players

Amanda Barroso

The woman who conducted the experiment of locking her phone after 5 p.m. to curb impulse spending.

Aja Evans

A financial therapist and licensed mental health counselor who provided expert commentary on the benefits of "friction maxxing".

Naima Bush

A certified financial planner who advised that people don't necessarily need "extreme hacks" to control spending, but rather more "guardrails".

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What they’re saying

“Creating the friction is going to help just interrupt a cycle of action that you may not even recognize that you're doing.”

— Aja Evans, financial therapist and licensed mental health counselor (averyjournal.com)

“Knowing what that money is going for is motivating. It does give you that dopamine of anticipation, that excitement of like, 'Oh, we're seeing progress.'”

— Aja Evans, financial therapist and licensed mental health counselor (averyjournal.com)

“You don't necessarily need extreme hacks to control your spending, but instead, you need more guardrails.”

— Naima Bush, certified financial planner (averyjournal.com)

What’s next

The woman plans to continue using the Brick to lock her phone after 5 p.m. on weekdays, as the extra friction has helped curb her impulse spending. Her husband has also started using the Brick, and the combined savings are helping the family offset rising prices.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how simple "friction maxxing" techniques like locking your phone during certain hours can help rewire spending habits without feeling overly restrictive. By creating intentional obstacles, people can break out of mindless spending cycles and redirect their time and money toward more meaningful goals.