Is Retail Therapy a Thing?
With the ease of online shopping, free delivery, and free returns, it’s easier than ever to push a button and make a purchase. These purchases are often made in a moment of stress, which can lead to regrets and cause serious problems.
Emotional spending is buying things to alleviate stress or to provide an emotional boost. For some people, it’s a way to self-soothe. While there’s nothing wrong with an occasional treat, connecting our mental health to purchases can lead to a dangerous and expensive cycle that causes us to live outside our means and gives spending power over our pleasure and self-esteem.
8 Tips to Avoid the Pitfalls of Emotional Spending
1. Enforce a waiting period. When you see something you want, take a walk, read a book, call a friend. The desire to make a purchase will often lessen after a few minutes.
2. Make it as hard as possible to make a purchase. Unsubscribe from your favorite spending sites. Don’t save your credit card information on your computer.
3. Find other sources of comfort. Drink a cup of coffee or herbal tea or make a fresh fruit smoothie. Go for a walk or run. Play some music. Light a scented candle.
4. Calculate the Cost. Look at the price and ask yourself how long you’ll have to work to pay for that item. Is that $80 purse worth 4 hours of labor?
5. Keep a spending journal. Write down your thoughts and emotions leading up to purchases, and look for unhealthy patterns. Do you buy something every time you have a fight with your spouse or after a difficult day at work? Ask yourself if there is a healthier way to deal with your emotions.
6. Create a reasonable budget. If shopping makes you feel better, go for it. Just stop when you’ve reached your limit.
7. Shop thrift stores. Many times, it’s the thrill of buying something new that gives us a boost. Scroll through Facebook Marketplace or stop by your local Goodwill or Salvation Army and see what treasures you can find. You may run across that $100 purse for $10.
8. Window shop with a friend. Ask for free samples. Choose one small item and make the time more about the relationship than the money.
Keep in Mind
As much as we hate to admit it, money has a strong pull on our emotions. Striking a healthy balance between our emotions and our spending habits will help us lead the best lives possible. If you feel you have a serious spending problem, reach out for help and make an appointment with a therapist.
©2023 Amplified Life Network
