Hard Rules for Emotional Spenders
Emotional spenders may shop, not when they need an item, or even when they particularly want an item, but they do shop when they feel loved, unloved, bored, tired, agitated, happy, depressed, or some other mood. Emotional shopping is addictive for some, and can allow a person to feel a nice little high. But we all know emotional shopping is not truly ok. It’s not shopping based on real need.
If you have some issues with emotional shopping, the best thing to do is to create some hard and fast rules to abide by. You can try the following:
Leave the credit cards at home, at all times. If you emotional shop on the Internet, you can freeze your cards, give them to your partner for the day, or finally, cut them up altogether.
Train your brain to know when you’re feeling like you might do some emotionally charged shopping. If anger makes you want to shop, notice that, and the next time you get mad, try a new habit, like jogging or smashing a punching bag.
Shop with friends; this means friends who don’t emotionally shop. If you only shop with your clear headed pal, chances are you’ll think twice about that skirt you don’t need.
Avoid your favorite haunts unless you have a list and stick to it. You may like one shopping place over another; Target, the mall, the row of cute boutiques downtown. When you’re feeling ready to shop based on emotions it’s best, obviously to stay clear of those specific haunts.
Carry new habits. If you’re out and about, it’s not as easy to avoid that feeling of wanting to shop. In this case it’s best to have a plan B. Carry a coloring book, crossword puzzle book, novel, or an iPod (or other system) with some short games or movies.
It takes some personal hard work, but emotional spenders don’t always have to give in. Do you ever shop based on your emotions only?
Tags: bad shopping, emotional shopping, emotions and shopping, habits for smart spending, spending habitsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Budget, General, Shopping Issues, Simpler Thinking
2 opinions for Hard Rules for Emotional Spenders
Shannyn
Sep 4, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I realized that I have been emotionally shopping. I am dealing with the loss of a loved one, and just can’t shake the feeling that I need to buy stuff to fill that hole in my life.
Oy, this too shall pass- at least I’m at the right place!
Do you overspend on others?
Sep 13, 2008 at 1:58 pm
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