How Earnie Works

Earnie helps you save more of your hard-earned money by helping cut out unnecessary online shopping.

As a browser extension, Earnie seamlessly integrates into how we shop online and uses real-time “nudges” rooted in behavioral science to redirect people’s impulse to shop online toward their savings goals.

Seemless Integration

Earnie helps users by focusing its attention at the most critical decision point in the online shopping experience - the checkout - instead of living in another window or device and instead of relying on a “rear-view” approach . 

“Nudge” Effect

We know that our unconscious brain is responsible for a majority of our impulse decisions. Earnie leverages the same tactics that effective marketers use but flips the script to help users avoid needless spending.

Positive Reinforcement

The reward system of our brain is activated when we buy things, much like other impulse decisions. This gives people a temporary sense of satisfaction that can be addictive at times. Earnie leverages the positive psychology to create similar reward responses from avoiding needless spending. We believe the opportunity for positive reinforcement to shape positive decision-making is limitless.

The Steps

Step 1. Oops! I started shopping online.

We’ve all been there before. You are eating lunch and browsing online on your laptop.

You see an ad for something that you weren’t planning to purchase but you think you might need. You click on the ad to learn more.

Step 2. Your brain on impulse mode

Now that you see that thing, your brain goes into impulse mode.

That is when your rationale brain turns off and your subconscious brain (the part of the brain that is responsible for our impulsive decisions) goes into overdrive.

You tell yourself you need to buy it. You add it to your cart and go to check out.

Step 3. Reconsidering the purchase

But then Earnie pops up and prompts you to reconsider if you actually need what you are about to purchase.

Step 4. Choosing goals over instant gratification

You realize that you were on autopilot and not thinking through the decision. Thanks to that simple nudge, you realize that not only will you probably not really use this product but that buying it might actually make it harder to achieve your goal of saving $500 this month towards a new car.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” 

- President Theodore Roosevelt (and others)