How to Avoid Emotional Spending
Is shopping taking over your life? Do you buy things to cheer yourself up when you’ve had a bad day? Have unnecessary purchases gotten you into debt? These characteristics all describe someone with an emotional spending problem. This article will offer a few tips for managing emotional spending and getting your life back on track.
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Instructions
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Tell someone about your problem. Many emotional spenders keep their purchasing habits under wraps, even from spouses. They may hide clothes that still have the tags attached in the back of the closet and have secret credit cards, for example. If you tell a trusted friend or significant other about your problem, she can help you deal with your emotions in healthier ways that won’t put your financial security in jeopardy.
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Take up a different hobby. For people who spend emotionally, shopping may take up a lot of time. The busier you can stay with other activities, the less time you’ll have to shop and the more distracted you may be from thinking about all the things you’d like to buy. One caveat: Don’t choose a hobby that involves purchasing lots of expensive equipment—you’ll just be feeding your addiction. Picking up a gym membership or attending an exercise class will help you manage with your emotions in healthily, productively and inexpensively. Replace the high you get from shopping with a natural high from exercise.
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Avoid spending situations. If you tend to overspend, don’t go to the mall or the websites of your favorite stores. Take someone with you when you have to run errands so you won’t stray from the stores you really need to visit or the items you really need to buy.
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Limit your exposure to advertising. The fewer ads you see, the fewer things you’ll be tempted to buy. It may be difficult to control the ads you see when you’re out driving around, but if you record your television shows, fast-forward through the ads. When you’re online, install an ad blocker as an add-on to your browser to reduce the number of ads you see. Also, consider cutting back on your magazine subscriptions—these publications are filled with marketing material. When you go on vacation, take a book with you so you aren’t tempted to read the in-flight shopping magazine.
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If you see something you want to buy, make yourself wait at least 48 hours to buy it. You’ll have time to make sure you really want and can afford the item. You’ll also make sure you’re not just buying the item because of the mood you were in.
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