Shopping with friends is bad for your bank balance – because it encourages people to spend far more than they would if making purchases by themselves. In a survey of 1,000 people from across the country, conducted by personal budgeting software company YouNeedaBudget.com, 64 per cent of adults confessed that they end up spending more money when they shop with friends. The main reasons for this were said to be 'showing off in front of friends' and 'succumbing to peer pressure and buying things we wouldn't ordinary buy'. Peer pressure: 64 per cent of adults think they spend more money when they go shopping with friends, many blaming the urge to 'show off' Nearly half of the participants (45 per cent) blamed the fact that they get carried away by excitement when they shop with friends. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans admit they would actually prefer to shop by themselves than with pals. But the site that conducted the study says there's no need to hit the mall alone to avoid buyer's remorse. 'It's all about priorities,' said Lindsey Burgess, a spokesperson for You Need a Budget. 'You need to decide what is most important to you and set your budget accordingly. 'When you know you will get to spend money on the things that matter most, it is easier to say no to impulse purchases and feel good about what you do buy, because it fits your long-term goals.' Food: 58 per cent . Clothing: 54 per cent . Household items: 28 per cent . Shoes: 21 per cent . Entertainment: 20 per cent . But while 85 per cent of participants in the study said they do give themselves a budget when they shop, 95 per cent admitted that they usually spend more than originally planned. Top items on which people overspend on include food (58 per cent), clothing (54 per cent), household items (28 per cent), shoes (21 per cent), and entertainment (20 per cent). Meanwhile, 53 per cent justify their overspending because an item happened to be on sale, while 34 per cent call their pricey purchases a 'special treat'. An impulsive 22 per cent said they just had to do it because it was 'absolutely necessary' at the time. A further 19 per cent of respondents also said their spouse or partner gives them a hard time for overspending, though five per cent  don't even tell their significant others about their big purchases.
A new YouNeedaBudget.com study found that 64 per cent of adults spend more money with friends due to peer pressure or the desire to show off.
The top items Americans overspend on are food and clothing.
Five per cent of those polled said they hide big purchases from their spouses or significant others.