If there’s one thing we can be sure of, it’s that COVID-19 hasn’t given us much to do but shop. Shopping can be a great distraction from what’s going on in the world, and what’s more, it can give us a momentary ‘high’ that makes us feel better about everything going on. Receiving a parcel through the door is like a present to yourself, and sometimes, that can feel great.
Have you been buying too many gifts for yourself lately? Of course you deserve the best, but if online shopping is taking over your life and you find yourself spending the majority of your money on it, you should probably tone it down. The pointers here will help you to stop compulsively online shopping so you can spend time doing other things – and save money while you’re at it.
Realise That Anything You Buy Brings Momentary Happiness
Opening a parcel, trying on that new dress and cavorting around the house with your new bag might feel great at first, but how long does that happiness really last? Perhaps you get bored of the bag after a week or two, or eventually feel indifferent towards the dress. This is because any purchase you make only brings momentary happiness.
When you compulsively online shop, you are effectively looking for happiness outside of yourself. It could help you to remind yourself why you’re so desperately looking for something to buy next time you’re browsing online.
Wait At Least A Few Weeks Before Making Any Purchases
Impulse spending is the devil when you want to improve your financial situation. The issue with impulse spending is that it can feel like you really want something in that moment, and like your money is burning a hole in your pocket. However, you buy the item and quickly realize it wasn’t as great as you thought. Maybe you don’t make use of it like you convinced yourself you would in that moment.
When you feel like you want to spend money impulsively, write the item down and leave it alone. See if you can leave it alone for at least a couple of weeks, and then reassess how you feel about it. If you still want the item, then buy it if you can afford it. If you don’t, then you’ve saved money and reduced waste!
Allow Yourself An ‘Allowance’ For Treats Each Week/Month
It’s not that you should never treat yourself, just that you should be mindful about it. Allow yourself a sensible amount of money each week/month to buy something you want. This forces you to think more carefully about your purchases, too. If you use a John Lewis discount code and perhaps even a cashback site, you may be able to get a great deal.
Take Money Out Of The Bank So You Have To Use Physical Cash
It’s easy to spend money using a card because we don’t have to hand over the cash. Leave your bill money in the account and take out the rest. You should find it much harder to hand over physical cash, and will likely think harder about whether you really want something.
Get To The Root Of Your Problem
Usually, wanting to shop compulsively comes from a root problem. It may be because you’re stressed, but oftentimes, it’s because people don’t feel like they are enough. Be honest with yourself and look inward.
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© Copyright 2020 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
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