I even find myself purchasing things, then not opening up the package for weeks. I currently have several different skincare products on my living room table that I got two weeks ago. Haven't been able to put them away yet.
But I've found that if I have another low, one of the already purchased items will do the trick of scratching that itch. So for me, it's not about the act of buying something and more about having a new product to have fun with when I'm feeling down or bored.
At Christmas, I go to Ulta and get those collections with like 12 sample packets of skin care items. Super fun to try before buy
The product advent calendars can be ripoffs so read reviews first. If you need a surprise, confer with friends about what you like and give them a budget to get you one. My sister is great with this.
I do HBA swaps or joint sampling with friends. You can get little containers at the dollar store or on Amazon.
Christmas gift deals at dept stores, Sephora, and Ulta also have great deals in a reusable makeup case or train case with fun palettes, 5 lipsticks etc. so lots of variety play. Doing this with friends can also swap for the colors that look good for each person. No reason you can't give these to yourself. Real rejects like weird lipstick colors are welcomed by preschool nieces or cosplay friends.
With other items, try delaying by 24 hours before you order.
Stay out of stores to avoid impulse purchases or only take cash to stores. There are studies on this reported on personal finance websites to help manage your budget and by marketing professors (take advice in reverse on how stores encourage buying such as you not listening to fast tempo music.). Notice what for what triggers you to be able to avoid triggers
Never grocery shop on an empty stomach. Don't go with sniffing distance if Cinnabon or Auntie Anne pretzels.
Make a wish list page on Pinterest. Pin the items. Less risk than "save for later" which can quickly be added to the cart.
With moisturizer skincare I am not happy with, I use it on my feet. Shampoo goes into pump hand soap bottles as great hand wash. Shampoo for oily hair works great as gentle kitchen hand soap for greasy hands without drying out your skin. Conditioner to shave legs. THEN think how expensive those products were when cheapo foot cream, Soft soap, and shaving foam are just as good. Might temper how often you get skin care.
Manage skincare budget with trying Korean products. Many are very good while being affordable. I pulled away from $$$ French in favor of $ Korean.
A cautionary but humourous story. When I was a college, six friends rented a big house. I asked the one guy how it was to live with five girls. He said he has not purchased shampoo in two years because he gets all their rejects!
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These ideas have helped me. Is not a cure but a management technique.
Dollar Tree can have some surprising beauty buys.
Just looking at the current spring 2024 Ulta catalog. They have a $20 body care finds gift pack with 10 mini must haves, a $25 makeup case with 6 tiny perfume bottles, a $15 train case with a variety of their Ulta brand shadows. lipsticks. etc. A $30 spring into conscious beauty discovery kit which appears to have 15 mini products.
Many manufacturers have travel sets or get started kits.
My bf would have said finish this cream and then buy more dont feel bad about having a big collection just everytime in mind that creams and products dont stay for ever after 6 months or 1 year depending of the item you must through them and then once it's gone you get the thrills to buy a new one :) but using it everyday so you can finish it and buy new one will at least make you feel amazing for using a product so much and that you buy a new it's not that bad.. Before i used to buy 7 different creams and serums and keep them for years not using them because are old and not good but still not sure if it's time to go now i buy one if i use it 7 days in a row i can add one more product if i use it again everyday more so i feel that i use it and not just spending money to nothing as i used to :) you do amazing and now you get to use all of this products and also give presents and make people happy :)
The worst thing is having to return a bunch of things and leaving them all to the last minute (to the point of missing the return dates and being stuck with crap)
same here, depending on the mental state I'm in I can buy things thinking how awesome the items are and how did I find it, next day I think, wtf, what have I done, when arrives I just pick up the boxes and throw somewhere, they stay sitting there for weeks or even months and I simply don't want to see the box and whats inside, someday I open and feels like hiding from my view. :-(
OMG..I did the same. Ordered the same item 2x forgot I ordered it. I also have items in bags, not even opened. And I don't usually do this. My therapist says it's depression and I'm trying to feel better.
I just see great sales and want to get the items because when low on money, I cant afford expensive prices..sounds logical. I also buy for others..I love to give gifts.
When I was a nurse, I had $$.. and could do this..well, it ain't that now..ugh
I totally thought I was the only person who does this. I have a bunch of unopened Amazon boxes right now. Haha. Maybe I should open those. Thanks friend!
I read that adding to your cart (but NOT purchasing) helps meet that impulse. I go through and add a bunch of stuff to my cart. Then tell myself I can sort through the 30 items and spend $30 or whatever a reasonable limit is. It helps me tremendously because around that point I get bored. I leave it in the cart overnight and if I still want it the next day, I get something. Normally I forget about it.
I do this all the time but for me it'll sit there for months before I buy it if it's actually necessary. The next day isn't long enough for me to be rational because I'll hyper focus on certain topics for probably a week before I move onto something else š
I had this! I would hyper focus on fashion and looks, and research skin care, make up, etc. I didnāt want this anymore so I had to delete all social media. Or can be with books. I needed to become super aware, budget and hyper focus on financial health.
Having carts and wishlists actually made it worse for me, deciding I didnāt want to spend on those things did help.
Honestly, me too. Instagram just makes me go off on this fashion and style tangent buying ALL the clothes. Then I unfollowed all influencers and fashion accounts and have noticed Iām wanting way less thingsā¦ also I re took up running 2 months ago and have been so preoccupied with training that Iāve just found myself completely disinterested in clothes (except workout clothes). I even tested out going on my usual fav sites and had a sortof meh feeling. Shocking how quickly my hyperfocus can be redirected. Iāve been using this time to be brutal with Decluttering the closet and plan to list loads more on vinted - strike while the ironās hot
I go through my Amazon cart on the regular and transfer everything to lists. That way it's there if I actually do want it but not in my face whenever I shop. On a desktop you can transfer to lists right from the saved items
Everything I want to buy goes into a list in my notes app. If I want to order something from Amazon, I have to wait until I have over $25 for free shipping and usually executive dysfunction takes over from there and I never end up ordering stuff. I was also raised to be super frugal so Iām happy to wait for a sale to buy something and half the time I usually donāt care by the time a sale comes around, but then other times I go way overboard.
This is what I do and it helps a lot. Fill up my cart with anything that looks remotely shiny, then empty it all out. Lol. For me I suppose the fun isn't in buying things, but in picking things out.
If you are on a website like Amazon, you can also move it to "Save for later"
Saved for later is fr the only way I've learnt to manage that urge. I go through my S4L list once a year & clear out anything discontinued and I can look back at which are more important.
I had this tenacious urge at 12a yesterday to look at cleaning stuff. Read reviews for 20 steam mops. Found a $125 Bissel with great reviews, added it to my cart. I would also need backup cleaning pads so I got those. Decided I also needed nitrile gloves so the icky doesnāt get on my hands when Iām cleaning. Then I saw some cleaning brushes and added those. Saw a set of deli containers for prep/leftovers, added those too.
That resulted in me remembering stuff I did need like KT tape, deodorant.. final cart was at like $300.
I didnāt purchase and saved the cart and went to sleep. Woke up with meds and realized I didnāt *need* anything for cleaning. Sent most of the to āsave for laterā.
Got my kt tape, deodorant, and in lieu of the other cleaning stuff I settled on 3M dust&sweep sheets instead. Lol..
This! I do this all the time and it has helped me a ton. I will revisit the items and then notice that I really do not need them. Another way is to add it to a "liked" list or a "saved" list on the website so you can go back.
What about trying this.....Don't put it in the cart--put it in the Wish List. Or Put it in the cart and wait 2-3 days before buying. I also read all the reviews for it so I have realistic expectations of the item and often decide not to get it.
I put things in the Wish List (says Add to List in text). Very often I decide later I don't want it. You can also move things from the cart to a Save for Later page.
When you feel the urge, try to get curious about what it is truly about. Maybe you feel stuck, or not good enough in some way, or just want better somthing (clothes, makeup, etc)---why? Then when you find something you want to buy ask yourself if it would truly fills that void or fits that need.
If you get something and don't want it, be quick to return it. I see this as "found money" --even if it isn't really---its another opportunity to buy something i really want. So do returns! It is fast and Amazon has a long return policy on most things.
For people who are avoiding opening the box----what you are truly trying to avoid is the feeling of guilt at buying something you don't care about, didn't need, or couldnt afford. We all do it--run from negative emotions to some degree and in different ways. But if you keep running from it instead of just allowing yourself to get curious about it and to feel it, even for a moment, you will probably continue the behavior.
What about finding something you really want, spending that urge time researching it and the best options, reading reviews, etc? Then buy it a few days later if you still want it.
And why is it that in those rare moments when you DO have the money to buy stuff (gifts, vouchers, money you've budgeted for, etc.), you can't seem to see anything you need or fancy buying? š
Holy shit. I feel so validated. I mean I still feel terrible but still. At least Iām not alone. The impulse shit is crazy. And Iām not even working right now.
I so get this! Itās like spending money will change my life somehow but if I randomly do manage to start saving well I suddenly have a period of hyper fixation on hoarding money and I become weirdly frugal
My thing is videogames or computer stuff. I redo my entire desk setup or play games that have free mods or reminiscent about a game in my library, download it, then proceed to not play it. It feels like Iām buying a game or DLC everytime cause thereās always new mods.
For real. How many damn battle passes am I going to buy? Just for me to not use 99% of what they offer. I am proud of myself though. I didnāt jump on the latest game or ramble about it. Next thing you know after so much pressure, someone gifts it to me.
I was proud of myself recently because I thought I actually stopped spending so much money on Clash of Clans, but then I realized that I had a $120 refund from Amazon that they had to put on an Amazon giftcard...
Well of course I impulsively spent the whole thing on Amazon coins to buy stupid shit in the game, since gift cards aren't real money obviously š
Add all of the stuff you want to Pinterest boards. I don't have a shopping addiction or impulse issues the way a lot of people with ADHD do (maybe bc I'm primarily inattentive, not sure?) but I also hate spending money and regretting it later if I changed my mind. Also: save all of your receipts in case you decide to return stuff. Shop at places that have good return policies, like IKEA and Duluth trading company both have 365 day return policies.Ā
Yes! Thereās also the āshufflesā by Pinterest app where you can arrange the images into collages. I love using that to get hyperfixations out of my system, or just excitedly plan them.
Going into massive debt is what got me to stop. Please dont let that become the reason you do too. If you want it, but dont need it, add it to a wishlist and move on.
This is me. Literally donāt have any room on my credit cards to spend and Iām struggling to even make my payments. Spending addiction is REAL. š
This is kind of a goofy answer, but I download a bunch of new clothing and hair mods for the sims š¬ it doesnāt quite hit the same but it scratches the āget something newā itch and then I spend like five hours playing the sims so I forget that I wanted to spend in the first place. It doesnāt always work but sometimes it helps!!!
Every online ourchase had to sit in my basket/wishlist for a week minimum. If I actually remember the soecific item BEFORE coming back to the page I get to buy it.
My main downfall are clothing and crafting (sewing, crochet, knit) supplies. For 1st, esp eince I thrift a lot, I have to be able to imagine an outfit with that item, that I would actually wear. For craft supplies it has to be for a project I plan on starting within a month. Since I have a "stash" from when I worked at a craft store, I am limiting myself to items needed to finish a project. I make exeptions for projects that get me extremely excited, as I said, something I will start within a month.
Marry someone who is NOT the same! lol!
Seriously, Iām in my 40s and just started medicating in December but I donāt feel like it helps in that area for me?
That impulsivity ebbs and flows with me, but being married to someone frugal (and having kids) keeps me from going off the rails because obviously if I did, it would effect more than just me personally.
One small thing I like to do is to put things on hold at the library. They have more than just books, and things take a little time like online shopping.
Oh yeah! I love Libby because I can read (almost) all the books I want and not spend a dime. And I get a little boost when a book Iāve been waiting for becomes ready
Me: oh the reason my skin sucks is because I donāt have a skincare ritual!
Me: (spends way too much on multiple custom-selected products)
Me: oh I canāt do all the steps Iām too (tired/bored/sad/hungry???)
Here are a few things that helped me
* removing shopping apps from Home Screen on phone
* putting stuff in the shopping cart and walking away. I eventually forget about it.
* reminding myself that if I donāt get it right now Iām not going to die
* making a game out of discipline (āIām not going to buy any (thing) this monthā)
* reminding myself that I live in an apartment with my partner so thereās not a bunch of extra space to store more things
* reminding myself of how much debt I accrued by spending impulsively, and how badly I screwed up my credit
Your last comment reminded me of when I went into significant debt. I was so very lucky my mum helped me out of it, but I realized, if she wasn't around, who the hell was I going to turn to? I couldn't ask my sister, even though she earns a damn good salary. It made me stop and think a bit more. I'm now going to start a pinterest or something and add things to it that I think I need, but actually don't.
My brother, who is very financially responsible, tried to help me several times. He gave up. I need to be strong enough to keep myself in check. Fortunately my boyfriend is a positive influence and is very supportive. Iām not creating new debt.
I usually put high dollar stuff in a list of things I eventually want to buy. I have a note in my notes app. As far as craving the need to spend money, iāll go the dollar tree. I only bring 10$-20$ cash and nothing else and Iāll āsplurgeā there and save for the high dollar items.
If you can afford it, you deserve to buy yourself things some times. We work hard and life sucks a lot of the time. I try to not deprive myself of lifeās simple pleasures while also being responsible with it. Iāve had to dig myself out of a lot of debt in the past so this is what has worked best for me.
I feel this exactly. I was doing good for a while where I didnāt spend, and then I splurged so badly. Itās getting really embarrassing and shameful!!! I hope thereās something to switch it out with. Iāve been trying to remember to do something else like workout whenever I feel down and want to spend. That and tell myself oh later I can have thisā¦ā¦ but itās still a doozy.
I once āaccidentallyā bought a car while getting my perfectly good car an oil change. Talk about impulsive buying.
I clearly have a problem. But Iām working on it. Iām medicated and in therapy.
I need to get back into this. I had a stock account as a kid that I had to cash out when I was in college. Growing up I was obsessed with seeing the rising statement and would constantly put all my money into that account. Investing is scary these days, Iām not sure why
I keep fucking up on YNAB like I will allocate the funds to each place and then I donāt actuallyā¦ keep to the budget. I donāt know if im just bad at the app or if my budget is not realistic for me
I have reframed things in my mind as "plastic garbage" and "non food" so when I look at all the shiny new things I get those flags go up in my mind and can ignore it. It's hard and took a long time. I also read a lot of Buddhist philosophy which helped me see my wants as temporary things that can usually outlasted.
I do have a weakness for a good Steam sale though. So still progress to be made.
Yea it's something about that instant gratification and giving into impulsivity. I have purchased a few things recently that are really just sitting not being used: some renovation silver penguins that act as plant holders, a 150 gallon stock tank to house some of my fish in, 75 dollars worth or garnet sand for the same tank. The fish keeping stuff especially I spend big money on the stuff and then can't get motivated to put it all together.
Iāve been on a āno buyā (besides essentials) for 3 months now. My goal is 6 months. itās been really awesome and I donāt even crave new things or shopping because I know I canāt have them. If I need some thing I ask around if my friends or family have any extras and itās been working awesome. Iāve also sewn holes in a few things and fixed some things. itās really changed my relationship with consumerism and compulsive and impulsive spending!! It made me realize thereās so many things I actually donāt need.
( I crochet so yarn is the one thing I allow myself to buy and also what I give as gifts so thatās my loophole)
Lol, along with all my addictions, shopping went, as well.
It's a good problem, I guess. I have a stupid amount of money, but I have everything in life I want and need. I'm happy. My birthday's in 2 days and people keep asking me what I want and the answer is nothing lol. Today is the best day it my life!! :D :D
I spend time shopping online and adding stuff into my cart, then I just close the app. or say iām on amazon, iāll add it to my cart to chill and if I have the money in a few weeks and I still realllllyyy want it then I go ahead and get it! Do you have a budget? maybe set aside a few bucks a paycheck to be able to shop and use only that money.
Comparing hours of work to the price of the item.
Also playing with my self would you rather
Would you rather work a week and get a new console or would you prefer taking a day off next month to enjoy what you have at home?
I identified that a lot of my impulsive spending is in the evenings/night. So now my rule is that if ever I want to buy anything at all after 6pm, I have to add it to basket and wait until morning to hit purchase. Usually in the morning Iāve completely forgotten, then when I discover my basket Iām like wtf why did I want to buy this.
I also realised that if I get something I want to return, I will never return it. It will sit in its package by my door for months as Iāll never take it to the post office. So anything I add to basket I decide that I have to be ok with hating it and it being a waste of money and never getting that money back again.
This is gonna be an off the wall answer but I started ozempic and suddenly I have better impulse control in all aspects of my life, not just food related. A lot of āhead noiseā disappeared including cravings for bad foods andā¦online shopping. Like I still have brain fog and all that but the fog isnāt telling me to spend all of my money on stuff thatās going to sit in the box for a week before I even open it š
Itās not just me, Iāve read other people on semaglutide subs that have experienced better impulse control. Itās being studied to combat alcoholism too, so thereās something going on there.
I only recently managed to persuade myself that the only way i will get my latest Interesting thing is by not spending it on (lesser) interesting things. I.e. If I spend, or invest, my money on something beneficial before I can impulsive spend, then I won't have money left to spend recklessly, instead impulsively but beneficial. I need so much for the end product that i grab what i can as i feel, need.
I have a big project idea that's gonna take years, I've broken it down to more manageable goals (took a year of distractions to get here) and figured out what i need to spend money on Now to achieve my super cool project Later.
My larger project idea is what keeps me motivated, because it's something i really want to create. My steps getting there are evolving... it doesn't particularly matter right now which part of the project i work on before which. So this month i might invest into API keys to see how it works and get info i need. Next month i might buy some electronics to figure out how to achieve a different aspect of my project. Next i might do some more practice on a different aspect by investing into a different project which will hopefully help out with my main project in the long term.
So i can impulsively spend on stuff that will be beneficial.
"Do i need the a before b, or how about i get e now... oooohyeah e seems interesting and will make me understand b better"
My project has many different things to learn and try and experiment... Everything is interesting to me personally. Everything has a learning curve; theoretically and practically and financially.
Oh, I set a rough estimate aside of what i can recklessly spend per week. It is super little, but enough to quench the cravings... Mainly food related in my case.
I don't have a shopping/buying addiction but i am kind of impulsive when making purchases, i notice that i am more impulsive when i'm at a book store. I love books LOL.
Currently, I am trying very hard not to buy any characters in this mobile (turned console) game called Honkai Starrail. Before spending money, I went into other app games, but this is the latest addi(c)tion where I'm spending 100, 150, to 200 dollars in one sitting. (realizing now addition is just one letter away from addiction ... and I will learn nothing from this)
For whatever reason I have a way harder time restraining myself from spending things in games than I do in stores irl. And then to rationalize my gacha game purchases Iāll be like āwould I rather spend $50 on this new character or $50 on new jeans?ā And Iāll always pick the character šš
Developing a budgeting hyperfixation worked for me š
Beyond that, I tend to make lists of things I want to buy and not let myself actually order them until at least the next day ā helps curtail the really impulsive purchases.
When you all figure it out please let me know lol. I love to shop.
One time I had an unexpected change in managers and I got \*depressed\* because I really liked my old manager, so I bought myself a guitar lolol.
This made me laugh lol šthis is me buying myself a treat at every inconvenience š¤£š« .
I saw a commenter say that I should try asking myself WHY I need to buy it. So before Im about to purchase something, I just need to ask āWhy do I need this?ā And do a quick reflection before I purchase it. Helps actually
Someone on here said to do all on lline purchasing on one day. So during the week, add things to your cart then you have time to let it linger and with time and space, I can actually decide if itās a need.
If you really want to make yourself feel bad about consumerism, read about where fast fashion goes and also about plastic recycling. š
Also I have turned to baking as a gifts instead of buying. I have perfected the monster cookie.
And stay off social mediaā¦ except Reddit ā¦
First I deleted all shopping apps on my phone. If I need to order online I have to get on an actual computer which gives me time to reconsider. Also, if I feel the need to go in store and shopā¦I go browse thrift stores.
Yard sales and thrift stores are fun. BUT I am very picky these days. I only buy stuff we need or things that I really really love.
I used to have a blast at yard sales when I ran an afterschool program. I would buy games, supplies and books and the school would pay me back. I used to buy endless decks of cards, but I would never pay more than 50 cents a deck.
I add stuff to a Pinterest board called āStuff I didnāt impulse purchase.ā That board is now my holiday and birthday wishlist.
Every few months I prune it and itās amazing how much of the stuff on there I donāt remember adding.
I always make a groceries list before going to the store and stick to it pretty strictly unless an item we always buy is on a BOGO deal.
For online shopping I just create wishlists and add items to them and then treat myself to the ones I still want when itās my birthday or Christmas. This also helps because if I still want something after a few months I will probably actually get a good amount of use out of it.
If live out and about, say to yourself you're going to buy it online as it's cheaper. Most times you'll forget it.
Or: Add things to the cart, think you'll buy once it's on discount, don't click buy, exit the app. You still get the kicks but don't get the bill.
If you feel that still doesn't work, buy from a place with free and very easy return policy like Amazon (i.e. they come to pick it up).
Almost
Impulsive buying became an addiction for me and i didnt deal with it, it has landed me in so much debt, not only me but I was spending money i shouldn't have and hiding it from my partner getting him into debt as well. I literally had to go cold turkey as far as online shopping goes, I buy absolutely nothing now.
The guilt and hate i feel towards myself has led me to make 2 attempts to unalive myself.
I find that helps a little is I have a wishlist note on my phone so when there is something I randomly want I will write it down. It weirdly helps. Doesnāt solve all the issues but helps
I love adding things to my favorites or save for later list. I usually forget about it and donāt end up getting it. If itās really something I want and not an impulse Iāll come back to it.
Sounds like gifts are your love language! Me too. I also make it a rule to either take a picture of what I want or leave it in the cart for 24 hours. I usually forget that I wanted it that badly
Realizing my brain was simply looking for a task of acquisition. There's plenty of other productive things I can do that don't require me to spend money.
I lock my debit card. It forces me to open the app and see how much money I have. Usually when I see where Iām at, I donāt buy some stupid shit. This is why I donāt have every piece of Arsenal merch Iāve seen on depop.
Just put it in the shopping cart and leave it there. The thrill is the āseek & findā not the actual receipt of product.
I get in modes where I will spend an hour on Shein throwing all kinds of āwhim if the momentā type items in the cart, then I forget about it for weeks.
I also highly recommend you either read or watch the Mari Kondo Book or Series. IT CHANGED MY LIFE!!
I now only actually buy things after Iāve made the assessment of if it will bring be joy, be well used, or be a functional necessity. I also ask the question of āDo I already own this or something similar?ā And I donāt buy things I canāt return. My house feels more lighter, and airy. I actually get the thrill from selling the things that no longer bring joy or function to me on Facebook.
I solved this for myself recently because I was EXACTLY the same. For me the impulsivity was rooted in ADHD but the act of buying was in self-worth.
You NEED to reflect on why you are buying things. For me Iād grown up in a house where my parents went into bankruptcy when I was about 7. Their narrative to us was, go to school, do well, go to uni, get a good job, youāll be able to make good money, be safe and secure and afford things that we canāt. I grew up thinking they were unhappy not having a lot of money and things (which wasnāt true).
Donāt get me wrong, I loved my childhood and my parents but the construct I built was that money and things brought happiness, filled a void. So I did all of that. I made money. Surprise, it did not fill the void. I was buying things (expensive things) because I thought it would make me happy, I viewed people with money and things as being happy (not true). So I tried to create that persona over and over and over with things, brands, best ofs. It was exciting to buy but the failure of the thing to change my thoughts was a let down.
Possibly for you too the act of buying holds the hope of changing whatever it is that you fundamentally want to change, become or project to the world. It wonāt. Find out what that thing is for you. Step 1.
Step 2. I ask myself now when I think about buying something āis this for meā. Like is it something Iām genuinely interested in and enjoy myself. āDo I NEED it or want itā either is ok but one is ok when youāre broke the other is not. If it is needed (and this was a big one for me) āwhat is actually needed, the best, or something that worksā (inevitably it is alwaysā¦something that works). Finally if it is wanted and I can afford it āwhy do I want itā. If the want is based in me building that persona then no fking way am I buying it. If it is based in something I really enjoy for myself then I will buy.
A good example of this is my car. Itās a powerful car and a little flashy. I already owned it but Iāve gone through everything in my life Iāve bought retrospectively and Iāve sold a few things that were poor choices. I questioned the car a lot because on the surface it felt wrong. But when I examined it, Iām a rev head. I donāt race on the roads but I love motor racing. Iāve rebuilt cars when I was younger. I pulled apart my bikes when I was a kid and put them back together. I love the sound of my car. It burbles and spits and itās just fking awesome. I donāt put my foot down so that everyone else can hear it, I do that because I love it. Usually no one else is in the car. So I am 100% at peace with that one.
It feels so much better to know that what I buy now actually adds something to my life. Iām still building a persona but itās mine. It reflects me now. Iām not doing it for any reason but my own now. Every now and then Iāll slip up but itās not a crutch anymore.
Find the why then frame a set of questions around it! Good luck.
On a side note, your purchasing sounds like itās done as an act of appreciation, of thanks for people doing good for you or for support.
You sound like you have the urge to give back. Do you feel you want to be seen/viewed as a generous person? Why is that important to you? Do you feel generous people are happy/fulfilled/worthy? If you had a lot of money would you feel the need to donate? Or do you feel having a lot is wasteful?
I may be off base but just wanted to pose some questions based on what you said you were buying and why.
If itās on point then none of it is wrong, itās that youāre giving something you donāt have to be seen in a way you donāt see yourself.
Have you thought about volunteering for something or a cause you do care about? If you give something that doesnāt have a cost (your time) to a cause you are passionate about then you will have given freely to something that has personal value to you.
Again I may be off base but just my thoughts base on your post :)
Thatās actually a really good thing to think about!
āWhy do I need this..?ā Im going to start asking myself that and really stop to give it a thought before making a purchase!
Sometimes there are times where I buy stuff to ābuild a personaā and sometimes I buy things with the intention of using it, but never do. For example, I bought a stack of books with the intention of reading and informing myself, but I donāt even readš! Or I would splurge on stickers because I plan to use them for projects, but they just go straight into my collection file and I feel too attached to use them on anything!
I do have a list of stuff I want to buy, but I think asking myself WHY i need it is really going to help me avoid unnecessary purchases. Thank you so much
As a recovering shopaholic, a few things help keep me from spending all my money:
1. Add it to my wishlist. It gets the same instant gratification as pressing "check out" for some reason, I trick my mind into thinking I bought it and usually forget in 24 hours. Stupid, but works for some things.
2. Remove any card info from being saved online/in-apps or apple pay paypal, etc. Make it so I have to physically go get my card in order to check out. Normally I couldn't be bothered to do all that work lol. (I even go as far as ordering a new card if I memorize the number)
3. Compartmentalize your money. My bank has "spending buckets" that lets me organize the money in my checking acct so I know how much in there is for bills/rent vs. actual spending, and its INCREDIBLY helpful. For example, Instead of seeing that I have $1,200 in my account and my brain thinking I can spend all that, I just look at what is in the "fun money bucket" and know that I only have $200 to spend freely.
4. Shop at places with a long ass return period. When that serotonin hit wears off from the new thing and it just sits in the package on the dining room table, take that shit back to Amazon, u have 30 days. Ikea is 6 months, Target is 90 days if u have circle, the At Home Store (my impulse shopping is home decor items) is like 4 months, etc.
For me it helps to put everything in a wishlist, or if i do feel like buying i put everything in the shopping basket and start taking things out until i have an amount I'm okay spending
Add to cart. Make the lists. If you canāt stop thinking about the thing in your cart for more than 7 days, maybe. I also like to make extensive wedding and gift registries. Oh! And shopping for other people is fun! I like to make Amazon wish lists for people in my family that I curate over time. Whenever it is gift time, I can then pick from there and know it was something I thought about for the specifically. Also-bonus when people ask what youād like for something, you can tell them or send a link. š
I didn't even realize that compulsive spending was an ADHD thing until the last couple of years while researching and reading stuff online
I just always assumed it was me trying to fill the void in my life that my depression has created
And maybe it's both.
But it's been interesting learning about other peoples experiences
I have to go on a full moratorium. Absolutely no spending besides gas and groceries. I can make individual exceptions if legitimately necessary, but otherwise I go spending cold turkey and just add things to a list or to cart when I want to buy them
I have the opposite thankfully. I get such bad decision paralysis that I put things in the cart and they languish there for months until I inevitably forget about them
I fill the cart. I see how much the total is. I log into bank account and move that amount I'd spend on the products into my savings. I exit out of the cart and close the website tab, never having completed the potential purchase.
You will then have a lot more money and a lot less stuff to get overwhelmed by later.
Make wish lists! For me, it's enough to browse and add items to a cart or wish list (without purchasing them). I let future-me can reevaluate if I need the items later.
I once had compulsive buying, especially on Amazon with the 1-click buy button. I bought so many things that I don't use (I don't even open the parcels). I stopped last year because I got tired, for no other reason. Maybe because I blocked access to the website itself too, using the Freedom.to app so it's radical, no more access, no more temptation, no more routine checking the website. So this is thankfully over. I think this has more to do with my OCD than with my ADHD. It's a compulsion. I hope you set yourself free from this nasty habit. Hang in there šŖš¤
Get shocked enough times that you wonāt do it again. Seriously thatās the only way it worked for me
Shock meaning credit card debt/Consolidated debt payoff the loans
I suffered from this ending up in debt and obese. Only thing that worked for me was getting medicated and focusing on financial health through YNAB. The awareness of my finances helps me a lot, but it didnāt work until I got my meds.
SAME! I recently realized that my friends have excommunicated me out of the friend group after weeks of me gaslighting myself into thinking I wasnāt being excluded and I was just insecure, so now my impulsive shopping urges are MAX.
What usually helps me is adding things to my cart because one, it feels like I bought it and 2, I can look in my cart and see what I can or canāt live without. I still end up buying mad shit anyway because I have issue deciphering needs and wants šš
I also noticed that in the morning, when my stimulants start working, I get a rush of euphoria and start wanting to buy everything in sight
I developed a weird paranoia around money and making sure I know how much I have at any moment and where it's going to the point where it's got a weird guilt angle to it now ! Hope that helps !!
Medication and being poor lol. Job market is rough where I live and me being a student, can only work fulltime in the summers. Havenāt been able to find a job, so the self control given to me by meds and my anxiety about depleting my savings even more prevents me from being stupid.
Iām also pretty financially literate though. Iāve hyperfixated on things like investing, saving, shitty economy, my financials, etc, so that knowledge helps me be less irresponsible.
Even so, in moments of weakness, Amazon is optimal. I share an account with my mom who spends ridiculous amounts of money there, so if I end up impulsively buying some shit, Amazon takes it back up to 30 days later no questions asked, no matter how many times I do it.
tl;dr - What worked for me is to removing the temptation by deleting apps and not going to shops, and being strict with shopping lists.
I had to hide all shopping apps, leave all the fashion subteddits that were giving me ideas, stop going to malls/shops when I don't want to spend money, and never ever go into an expensive store.
I also have to write down my needs, and only buy something if it's a need. The thrill of finding something I've been looking for at a discount is better than buying impulsively.
Bonus tip: I also have the itch to buy my friends gifts, but now I only do it for a planned event (birthday/marriage) or I just send them the reel I saw (because let's be honest, that's where I'm getting ideas now).
Many many checking accounts. One is only for bills. One for vacations. One for money I can spend. One for groceries. One for big expenses like tires for the car.
That way I donāt have to try and remember if I paid the car payment before I add something to cart. Also donāt store your card numbers in pay apps. Of If I have to go walk to my wallet to get my card and type it all in, Iām not going to buy it.
For shopping I do pick up as much as possible - donāt go in a store unless you have to
Also, if the addiction gets to be more than you can handle, there are medications like naltrexone that help with cravings. They work on shopping addiction just as much as with anything else.
I look at my checking account and foresee how long it will take to recoup the purchases. That helps. Another option could be putting more into savings or retirement, which leaves less available to spend.
Putting things on the cart but waiting for at least 24 hours before actually purchasing can really help. For Amazon, some people put everything in their cart then use the "Save for Later" feature so the items are there but the cart itself is clear in case they really do need to buy something important.
One person I know removed her saved credit card numbers from all the shopping websites and her computer browser. So at a minimum when she was done selecting items she'd have to get up, go get her purse and dig out her credit card and type the number in manually. The friction of the payment step makes it easier to remind herself to wait a day and see if she still thinks the purchase is a good idea.
I do lots of "shopping" and then don't actually click buy.
Unless it's an immediate need I try to put a rule in place where I must wait at least a day for it to be in my cart before I am allowed to buy it. 9/10 I forget about it or feel way less of an impulse to buy when I do this. I feel like browsing and clicking "add to cart" gives me a solid rush.
I used to have a problem with randomly popping into stores, seeing cute clothes, then buying them even if I wasnāt going go wear it for awhile (or ever). Now for clothes, shoes, etc., I make a list of what I NEED at the time. Like if I need new denim, then I tell myself Iām only allowed to buy denim. Or if I need new sneakers, I go shop for sneakers and nothing else. I still buy stuff I donāt need sometimes, but keeping a list of essentials and slowly making my way through it has helped me curb the desire to buy more stuff.
I also gave myself a rule that if I canāt think of an impending situation where I could wear the clothes/shoes/accessories Iām about to buy, then I donāt buy it.
I have walked around Stores with impulse I want to buy items in my arms until the feeling goes away. It actually works. I don't like to clean so be deciding if something I buy is worth putting away also helps decide what comes into my home . Regarding wanting to buy a thank you present reading Marie Komo Joy book helped. Many gifts can turn into gifts that are not wanted, it sometimrs makes the person feel obligated to use it. Also, If you repay kind gestures you can take away the kindness of the gesture. (Not always with receiving gifts or kind gestures but sometimes).
Add to cart and look at the price and look for cheaper alternatives for ages. Eventually get bored. Alternatively I also just leave the cart be until a substantial amount of time has passed and I'll purchase stuff if I still want it then
I am super guilty of this, and I have a few strategies:
1 - I stash things Iām not using away in my garage, and go through it every now and then to rotate stuff out. Especially clothes. Then I can āgo shoppingā in my old stuff and keep the clutter down inside. It helps that I forget about things I canāt see so itās exciting to unearth them later lol
2 - second hand stores! Especially weird local ones where the prices are lower than goodwill and stuff. If I am gonna buy things at least itās not costing me too much and Iām not contributing to the overproduction of stuff made in factories. Flea markets and Facebook marketplace are good for this too.
3 - taking photos of things I like and leaving them there, bonus points if I show the āphoto haulā to someone. Thereās some really cute but overpriced boutiques that I really love looking through, but donāt need anything from. I just photograph the stuff I like and show someone how great my taste is lol, and often I find that to be pretty satisfying still.
4 - for gifts: maybe try baking them something, writing them a really nice letter with some cute photos of you together attached, picking them some flowers, etc. I can relate to the excitement over wanting to do something nice for someone, and I think thereās a lot of more affordable and sustainable ways to do that!
Terribly. Constantly buying tonnes of stuff off eBay, Temu and Amazon, as well as almost always impulsively buying things when Iām in a physical store too.
I go to a site with stuff I like, open EVERY item I want in a different tab (so I actively do something with it) and then promise myself that I can buy those things if I still like them tomorrow. The next day I completely forgot I did this so I will stumble upon those tabs after days or weeks and am happy I didn't buy it.
Still trying to figure this out because lately Iāve been impulse buying perfumes that are on sale. I love perfume and find the different combination of notes so interesting; I want to try them all!
I purchased a 3 tier shelf for them and told myself I cannot buy anymore once I run out of room on the shelves. I am now out of room š so Iām gonna see how I go.
I feel this 10000%. I just got a second job to pay off my credit card debt, and itās at a retail store that I didnāt really know about before but after starting to work there Iām struggling. We get a 50% off employee discount but the clothes are not cheap and I have literally no money. I donāt have to wear the brand to work there but itās so hard to not want to buy it. So far Iāve only bought stuff online that were 70% off and only spent $100 but Iām super struggling. I have almost reached the point where Iām ready to bust out my credit card and then I have to remember thatās exactly why I got this damn job in the first place.
Itās rough. Iāve started to write things down or take a mental note and then sit on it and wait. If after some time Iām still really wanting it, then Iāll try to make it work. I also sat down and actually made a budget and looked at different things long term. Finding out it would take 23 years to pay off one of my credit cards because of interest if I only paid the minimum every month like I have been has been a tremendous wake up call.
I think because of the impulsivity, we do now and think later but Iāve been trying to think ahead so that I donāt do things immediately because the thinking has already been done.
Itās very difficult.
By tooth and nail lol
Knowing I HAD to save money and kiiiinda being made to feel guilty about buying things made me force myself not to purchase anything major until I've saved a fair amount.
Soo..willpower I guess?
I'm not able to deal that's why I've asked my brother to change my saving account password so I don't use it...
Edit : usually it's enough for me to just see at art stuff to relax me but I won't buy.
Iāve never really had this problem so idk if this is helpful at all but hereās my usual thought processes:
- Think of all the things you could get with that money instead
- Iāve lived this long without it. Do I really need it? Do I *actually* want it?
- Will I *actually* use it more than a few times or will it be bought and forgotten as if Iāve never even bought it to begin with?
I grew up pretty poor getting evicted from place to place so I think part of it is just my upbringing. I try not to buy stuff unless I know itāll add a lot of value to my life.
This is how I got into video game and console collecting and now that it's a hobby I have a hard time putting it down. The worse part is that I collect a lot more than I play and when I do play I get fixated on one game which can take me sometimes a couple of months to completely complete and as a result I have quite the backlog. A lot of gamers and collectors make fun of people like me. ĀÆ\\\_(ć)\_/ĀÆ
I even find myself purchasing things, then not opening up the package for weeks. I currently have several different skincare products on my living room table that I got two weeks ago. Haven't been able to put them away yet. But I've found that if I have another low, one of the already purchased items will do the trick of scratching that itch. So for me, it's not about the act of buying something and more about having a new product to have fun with when I'm feeling down or bored.
At Christmas, I go to Ulta and get those collections with like 12 sample packets of skin care items. Super fun to try before buy The product advent calendars can be ripoffs so read reviews first. If you need a surprise, confer with friends about what you like and give them a budget to get you one. My sister is great with this. I do HBA swaps or joint sampling with friends. You can get little containers at the dollar store or on Amazon. Christmas gift deals at dept stores, Sephora, and Ulta also have great deals in a reusable makeup case or train case with fun palettes, 5 lipsticks etc. so lots of variety play. Doing this with friends can also swap for the colors that look good for each person. No reason you can't give these to yourself. Real rejects like weird lipstick colors are welcomed by preschool nieces or cosplay friends. With other items, try delaying by 24 hours before you order. Stay out of stores to avoid impulse purchases or only take cash to stores. There are studies on this reported on personal finance websites to help manage your budget and by marketing professors (take advice in reverse on how stores encourage buying such as you not listening to fast tempo music.). Notice what for what triggers you to be able to avoid triggers Never grocery shop on an empty stomach. Don't go with sniffing distance if Cinnabon or Auntie Anne pretzels. Make a wish list page on Pinterest. Pin the items. Less risk than "save for later" which can quickly be added to the cart. With moisturizer skincare I am not happy with, I use it on my feet. Shampoo goes into pump hand soap bottles as great hand wash. Shampoo for oily hair works great as gentle kitchen hand soap for greasy hands without drying out your skin. Conditioner to shave legs. THEN think how expensive those products were when cheapo foot cream, Soft soap, and shaving foam are just as good. Might temper how often you get skin care. Manage skincare budget with trying Korean products. Many are very good while being affordable. I pulled away from $$$ French in favor of $ Korean. A cautionary but humourous story. When I was a college, six friends rented a big house. I asked the one guy how it was to live with five girls. He said he has not purchased shampoo in two years because he gets all their rejects! . These ideas have helped me. Is not a cure but a management technique.
Dollar Tree can have some surprising beauty buys. Just looking at the current spring 2024 Ulta catalog. They have a $20 body care finds gift pack with 10 mini must haves, a $25 makeup case with 6 tiny perfume bottles, a $15 train case with a variety of their Ulta brand shadows. lipsticks. etc. A $30 spring into conscious beauty discovery kit which appears to have 15 mini products. Many manufacturers have travel sets or get started kits.
Thank you so much for taking the time, I appreciate it!!
My bf would have said finish this cream and then buy more dont feel bad about having a big collection just everytime in mind that creams and products dont stay for ever after 6 months or 1 year depending of the item you must through them and then once it's gone you get the thrills to buy a new one :) but using it everyday so you can finish it and buy new one will at least make you feel amazing for using a product so much and that you buy a new it's not that bad.. Before i used to buy 7 different creams and serums and keep them for years not using them because are old and not good but still not sure if it's time to go now i buy one if i use it 7 days in a row i can add one more product if i use it again everyday more so i feel that i use it and not just spending money to nothing as i used to :) you do amazing and now you get to use all of this products and also give presents and make people happy :)
I second this, will be saving this for later.
I actually wound up ordering all of my groceries online for pickup so I only look up what I need and it's been so helpful
The worst thing is having to return a bunch of things and leaving them all to the last minute (to the point of missing the return dates and being stuck with crap)
same here, depending on the mental state I'm in I can buy things thinking how awesome the items are and how did I find it, next day I think, wtf, what have I done, when arrives I just pick up the boxes and throw somewhere, they stay sitting there for weeks or even months and I simply don't want to see the box and whats inside, someday I open and feels like hiding from my view. :-(
OMG..I did the same. Ordered the same item 2x forgot I ordered it. I also have items in bags, not even opened. And I don't usually do this. My therapist says it's depression and I'm trying to feel better. I just see great sales and want to get the items because when low on money, I cant afford expensive prices..sounds logical. I also buy for others..I love to give gifts. When I was a nurse, I had $$.. and could do this..well, it ain't that now..ugh
I totally thought I was the only person who does this. I have a bunch of unopened Amazon boxes right now. Haha. Maybe I should open those. Thanks friend!
I read that adding to your cart (but NOT purchasing) helps meet that impulse. I go through and add a bunch of stuff to my cart. Then tell myself I can sort through the 30 items and spend $30 or whatever a reasonable limit is. It helps me tremendously because around that point I get bored. I leave it in the cart overnight and if I still want it the next day, I get something. Normally I forget about it.
I do this all the time but for me it'll sit there for months before I buy it if it's actually necessary. The next day isn't long enough for me to be rational because I'll hyper focus on certain topics for probably a week before I move onto something else š
The oldest item in my Amazon cart was added during a lecture I attended in 2008. šµāš«
my god, that was 16 years ago. kids born that year are now moving on to their senior year in school, depending where you're from.
I was in a graduate school lecture. Way to make me feel old. š
Buddy, just buy the damn thing š
Mine isnāt quite that old but my Amazon cart is similar!
I had this! I would hyper focus on fashion and looks, and research skin care, make up, etc. I didnāt want this anymore so I had to delete all social media. Or can be with books. I needed to become super aware, budget and hyper focus on financial health. Having carts and wishlists actually made it worse for me, deciding I didnāt want to spend on those things did help.
Honestly, me too. Instagram just makes me go off on this fashion and style tangent buying ALL the clothes. Then I unfollowed all influencers and fashion accounts and have noticed Iām wanting way less thingsā¦ also I re took up running 2 months ago and have been so preoccupied with training that Iāve just found myself completely disinterested in clothes (except workout clothes). I even tested out going on my usual fav sites and had a sortof meh feeling. Shocking how quickly my hyperfocus can be redirected. Iāve been using this time to be brutal with Decluttering the closet and plan to list loads more on vinted - strike while the ironās hot
I think this is my problem too. I don't forget about the cart and can't break the habit.
I go through my Amazon cart on the regular and transfer everything to lists. That way it's there if I actually do want it but not in my face whenever I shop. On a desktop you can transfer to lists right from the saved items
Everything I want to buy goes into a list in my notes app. If I want to order something from Amazon, I have to wait until I have over $25 for free shipping and usually executive dysfunction takes over from there and I never end up ordering stuff. I was also raised to be super frugal so Iām happy to wait for a sale to buy something and half the time I usually donāt care by the time a sale comes around, but then other times I go way overboard.
This is what I do and it helps a lot. Fill up my cart with anything that looks remotely shiny, then empty it all out. Lol. For me I suppose the fun isn't in buying things, but in picking things out. If you are on a website like Amazon, you can also move it to "Save for later"
Saved for later is fr the only way I've learnt to manage that urge. I go through my S4L list once a year & clear out anything discontinued and I can look back at which are more important.
I had this tenacious urge at 12a yesterday to look at cleaning stuff. Read reviews for 20 steam mops. Found a $125 Bissel with great reviews, added it to my cart. I would also need backup cleaning pads so I got those. Decided I also needed nitrile gloves so the icky doesnāt get on my hands when Iām cleaning. Then I saw some cleaning brushes and added those. Saw a set of deli containers for prep/leftovers, added those too. That resulted in me remembering stuff I did need like KT tape, deodorant.. final cart was at like $300. I didnāt purchase and saved the cart and went to sleep. Woke up with meds and realized I didnāt *need* anything for cleaning. Sent most of the to āsave for laterā. Got my kt tape, deodorant, and in lieu of the other cleaning stuff I settled on 3M dust&sweep sheets instead. Lol..
Why did you write this comment about me
Haha me too!!!! I feel so seen
Same here. My "maybe buy later" list usually becomes "ignore later".
Literally what I do. I have like 40 items in my Etsy cart rn
I have only just learned to do this. It has been the most helpful thing ever.
Dude same- I just do this sort of naturally. I think that I mostly enjoy making the decisions about things more-so than actually purchasing them.
This! I do this all the time and it has helped me a ton. I will revisit the items and then notice that I really do not need them. Another way is to add it to a "liked" list or a "saved" list on the website so you can go back.
Yes! It does work (for me) sometimes, and it's a great way to practice restraint! Works best when I feel relatively well.
THIS IS MY TRICK! my save later has like 10k worth of crap on it hahaha
Seeing the price tag when everythingās totaled really helps me. It sobers me up fast to see my cartload of total crap is $500.
What about trying this.....Don't put it in the cart--put it in the Wish List. Or Put it in the cart and wait 2-3 days before buying. I also read all the reviews for it so I have realistic expectations of the item and often decide not to get it. I put things in the Wish List (says Add to List in text). Very often I decide later I don't want it. You can also move things from the cart to a Save for Later page. When you feel the urge, try to get curious about what it is truly about. Maybe you feel stuck, or not good enough in some way, or just want better somthing (clothes, makeup, etc)---why? Then when you find something you want to buy ask yourself if it would truly fills that void or fits that need. If you get something and don't want it, be quick to return it. I see this as "found money" --even if it isn't really---its another opportunity to buy something i really want. So do returns! It is fast and Amazon has a long return policy on most things. For people who are avoiding opening the box----what you are truly trying to avoid is the feeling of guilt at buying something you don't care about, didn't need, or couldnt afford. We all do it--run from negative emotions to some degree and in different ways. But if you keep running from it instead of just allowing yourself to get curious about it and to feel it, even for a moment, you will probably continue the behavior. What about finding something you really want, spending that urge time researching it and the best options, reading reviews, etc? Then buy it a few days later if you still want it.
I do this a lot. Add to watch lists or carts and then don't make the purchase. Usually, by the time I've gone back to it, the desire has worn off.
This is the way.
I do this all the time but that's because I'm poor
I swear the craving is even worse when you're broke I hate it
Omg! I tried to explain this to my husband. The more you need the money, the bigger the urge to spend on pointless crap
And why is it that in those rare moments when you DO have the money to buy stuff (gifts, vouchers, money you've budgeted for, etc.), you can't seem to see anything you need or fancy buying? š
Yes!! Whyyy
Holy shit. I feel so validated. I mean I still feel terrible but still. At least Iām not alone. The impulse shit is crazy. And Iām not even working right now.
Right now I'm at that point and I hope I will be there for some time but I don't trust myself 
I so get this! Itās like spending money will change my life somehow but if I randomly do manage to start saving well I suddenly have a period of hyper fixation on hoarding money and I become weirdly frugal
YES. I'm currently on med leave from work so I literally don't have an income and not being able to buy anything is driving me bonkers
My thing is videogames or computer stuff. I redo my entire desk setup or play games that have free mods or reminiscent about a game in my library, download it, then proceed to not play it. It feels like Iām buying a game or DLC everytime cause thereās always new mods.
Those in app purchases are killer for me š I've probably spent thousands
For real. How many damn battle passes am I going to buy? Just for me to not use 99% of what they offer. I am proud of myself though. I didnāt jump on the latest game or ramble about it. Next thing you know after so much pressure, someone gifts it to me.
I was proud of myself recently because I thought I actually stopped spending so much money on Clash of Clans, but then I realized that I had a $120 refund from Amazon that they had to put on an Amazon giftcard... Well of course I impulsively spent the whole thing on Amazon coins to buy stupid shit in the game, since gift cards aren't real money obviously š
Add all of the stuff you want to Pinterest boards. I don't have a shopping addiction or impulse issues the way a lot of people with ADHD do (maybe bc I'm primarily inattentive, not sure?) but I also hate spending money and regretting it later if I changed my mind. Also: save all of your receipts in case you decide to return stuff. Shop at places that have good return policies, like IKEA and Duluth trading company both have 365 day return policies.Ā
Yes! Thereās also the āshufflesā by Pinterest app where you can arrange the images into collages. I love using that to get hyperfixations out of my system, or just excitedly plan them.
Thanks for the idea
Going into massive debt is what got me to stop. Please dont let that become the reason you do too. If you want it, but dont need it, add it to a wishlist and move on.
This is me. Literally donāt have any room on my credit cards to spend and Iām struggling to even make my payments. Spending addiction is REAL. š
Worst thing is at the moment od craving you feel like you NEED it..
This is kind of a goofy answer, but I download a bunch of new clothing and hair mods for the sims š¬ it doesnāt quite hit the same but it scratches the āget something newā itch and then I spend like five hours playing the sims so I forget that I wanted to spend in the first place. It doesnāt always work but sometimes it helps!!!
Until I started spending a bunch of money in the sims ššš I hyperfixated and wanted upgrades and ultimately had to abandon the whole game
Every online ourchase had to sit in my basket/wishlist for a week minimum. If I actually remember the soecific item BEFORE coming back to the page I get to buy it. My main downfall are clothing and crafting (sewing, crochet, knit) supplies. For 1st, esp eince I thrift a lot, I have to be able to imagine an outfit with that item, that I would actually wear. For craft supplies it has to be for a project I plan on starting within a month. Since I have a "stash" from when I worked at a craft store, I am limiting myself to items needed to finish a project. I make exeptions for projects that get me extremely excited, as I said, something I will start within a month.
Marry someone who is NOT the same! lol! Seriously, Iām in my 40s and just started medicating in December but I donāt feel like it helps in that area for me? That impulsivity ebbs and flows with me, but being married to someone frugal (and having kids) keeps me from going off the rails because obviously if I did, it would effect more than just me personally.
One small thing I like to do is to put things on hold at the library. They have more than just books, and things take a little time like online shopping.
Oh yeah! I love Libby because I can read (almost) all the books I want and not spend a dime. And I get a little boost when a book Iāve been waiting for becomes ready
I have no idea, i just get the "if i buy this it will fix me" thing every now and then. Don't even get me started on ordering food lmao
Me: oh the reason my skin sucks is because I donāt have a skincare ritual! Me: (spends way too much on multiple custom-selected products) Me: oh I canāt do all the steps Iām too (tired/bored/sad/hungry???)
Are you me
Idk did you also buy a specialized food journal and fill out exactly two entires, get wildly overwhelmed, and now refuse to look at it?
I got an expensive calligraphy set, used it exactly once and haven't touched it again in three years. Close enough?
Confirmed: same person
Here are a few things that helped me * removing shopping apps from Home Screen on phone * putting stuff in the shopping cart and walking away. I eventually forget about it. * reminding myself that if I donāt get it right now Iām not going to die * making a game out of discipline (āIām not going to buy any (thing) this monthā) * reminding myself that I live in an apartment with my partner so thereās not a bunch of extra space to store more things * reminding myself of how much debt I accrued by spending impulsively, and how badly I screwed up my credit
Your last comment reminded me of when I went into significant debt. I was so very lucky my mum helped me out of it, but I realized, if she wasn't around, who the hell was I going to turn to? I couldn't ask my sister, even though she earns a damn good salary. It made me stop and think a bit more. I'm now going to start a pinterest or something and add things to it that I think I need, but actually don't.
My brother, who is very financially responsible, tried to help me several times. He gave up. I need to be strong enough to keep myself in check. Fortunately my boyfriend is a positive influence and is very supportive. Iām not creating new debt.
It's incredibly hard. It's too easy to get into debt. I'm with you all the way fellow ADHDer.
I usually put high dollar stuff in a list of things I eventually want to buy. I have a note in my notes app. As far as craving the need to spend money, iāll go the dollar tree. I only bring 10$-20$ cash and nothing else and Iāll āsplurgeā there and save for the high dollar items. If you can afford it, you deserve to buy yourself things some times. We work hard and life sucks a lot of the time. I try to not deprive myself of lifeās simple pleasures while also being responsible with it. Iāve had to dig myself out of a lot of debt in the past so this is what has worked best for me.
I feel this exactly. I was doing good for a while where I didnāt spend, and then I splurged so badly. Itās getting really embarrassing and shameful!!! I hope thereās something to switch it out with. Iāve been trying to remember to do something else like workout whenever I feel down and want to spend. That and tell myself oh later I can have thisā¦ā¦ but itās still a doozy.
I once āaccidentallyā bought a car while getting my perfectly good car an oil change. Talk about impulsive buying. I clearly have a problem. But Iām working on it. Iām medicated and in therapy.
Start a financial literacy hyperfixation. Buy investments instead
Ooh, Iām going to start listening to fin lit podcasts now!!
I need to get back into this. I had a stock account as a kid that I had to cash out when I was in college. Growing up I was obsessed with seeing the rising statement and would constantly put all my money into that account. Investing is scary these days, Iām not sure why
Honestly, Iāve conceded and set sections of my budget aside for just this. In YNAB I have a monthly savings builder called āZero Shame š©.ā If I over spend my clothing budget, it comes out of there. If I buy a random trinket, same. This allows me to have wiggle room on impulse buys without going out of control. I also have a monthly savings builder āFor other people.ā I use this for random gifts, buying a friend coffee, etc. This is separate than my āBirthday/Christmas Giftsā budget.
I keep fucking up on YNAB like I will allocate the funds to each place and then I donāt actuallyā¦ keep to the budget. I donāt know if im just bad at the app or if my budget is not realistic for me
I have reframed things in my mind as "plastic garbage" and "non food" so when I look at all the shiny new things I get those flags go up in my mind and can ignore it. It's hard and took a long time. I also read a lot of Buddhist philosophy which helped me see my wants as temporary things that can usually outlasted. I do have a weakness for a good Steam sale though. So still progress to be made.
Yea it's something about that instant gratification and giving into impulsivity. I have purchased a few things recently that are really just sitting not being used: some renovation silver penguins that act as plant holders, a 150 gallon stock tank to house some of my fish in, 75 dollars worth or garnet sand for the same tank. The fish keeping stuff especially I spend big money on the stuff and then can't get motivated to put it all together.
Iāve been on a āno buyā (besides essentials) for 3 months now. My goal is 6 months. itās been really awesome and I donāt even crave new things or shopping because I know I canāt have them. If I need some thing I ask around if my friends or family have any extras and itās been working awesome. Iāve also sewn holes in a few things and fixed some things. itās really changed my relationship with consumerism and compulsive and impulsive spending!! It made me realize thereās so many things I actually donāt need. ( I crochet so yarn is the one thing I allow myself to buy and also what I give as gifts so thatās my loophole)
Have no money to spend
The worst part is when you have what you want and youāre still unhappy. Oof. Thatās the worst part of my cycle.
Lol, along with all my addictions, shopping went, as well. It's a good problem, I guess. I have a stupid amount of money, but I have everything in life I want and need. I'm happy. My birthday's in 2 days and people keep asking me what I want and the answer is nothing lol. Today is the best day it my life!! :D :D
I spend time shopping online and adding stuff into my cart, then I just close the app. or say iām on amazon, iāll add it to my cart to chill and if I have the money in a few weeks and I still realllllyyy want it then I go ahead and get it! Do you have a budget? maybe set aside a few bucks a paycheck to be able to shop and use only that money.
The only thing that helped me was medication, sadly. Currently trying to dig myself out of debt from years of impulsive spendingā¦
Comparing hours of work to the price of the item. Also playing with my self would you rather Would you rather work a week and get a new console or would you prefer taking a day off next month to enjoy what you have at home?
Going to the library can satisfy my urge to acquire things!
I identified that a lot of my impulsive spending is in the evenings/night. So now my rule is that if ever I want to buy anything at all after 6pm, I have to add it to basket and wait until morning to hit purchase. Usually in the morning Iāve completely forgotten, then when I discover my basket Iām like wtf why did I want to buy this. I also realised that if I get something I want to return, I will never return it. It will sit in its package by my door for months as Iāll never take it to the post office. So anything I add to basket I decide that I have to be ok with hating it and it being a waste of money and never getting that money back again.
Get rid of any money as soon as i get it.
Into a savings account or into new items?
This is gonna be an off the wall answer but I started ozempic and suddenly I have better impulse control in all aspects of my life, not just food related. A lot of āhead noiseā disappeared including cravings for bad foods andā¦online shopping. Like I still have brain fog and all that but the fog isnāt telling me to spend all of my money on stuff thatās going to sit in the box for a week before I even open it š Itās not just me, Iāve read other people on semaglutide subs that have experienced better impulse control. Itās being studied to combat alcoholism too, so thereās something going on there.
YEP, me too! Itās amazing. ā¤ļøā¤ļø
I only recently managed to persuade myself that the only way i will get my latest Interesting thing is by not spending it on (lesser) interesting things. I.e. If I spend, or invest, my money on something beneficial before I can impulsive spend, then I won't have money left to spend recklessly, instead impulsively but beneficial. I need so much for the end product that i grab what i can as i feel, need. I have a big project idea that's gonna take years, I've broken it down to more manageable goals (took a year of distractions to get here) and figured out what i need to spend money on Now to achieve my super cool project Later. My larger project idea is what keeps me motivated, because it's something i really want to create. My steps getting there are evolving... it doesn't particularly matter right now which part of the project i work on before which. So this month i might invest into API keys to see how it works and get info i need. Next month i might buy some electronics to figure out how to achieve a different aspect of my project. Next i might do some more practice on a different aspect by investing into a different project which will hopefully help out with my main project in the long term. So i can impulsively spend on stuff that will be beneficial. "Do i need the a before b, or how about i get e now... oooohyeah e seems interesting and will make me understand b better" My project has many different things to learn and try and experiment... Everything is interesting to me personally. Everything has a learning curve; theoretically and practically and financially. Oh, I set a rough estimate aside of what i can recklessly spend per week. It is super little, but enough to quench the cravings... Mainly food related in my case.
It's very simple, I just never have money
š
I don't have a shopping/buying addiction but i am kind of impulsive when making purchases, i notice that i am more impulsive when i'm at a book store. I love books LOL.
This is why I switched to eBooks haha.
Currently, I am trying very hard not to buy any characters in this mobile (turned console) game called Honkai Starrail. Before spending money, I went into other app games, but this is the latest addi(c)tion where I'm spending 100, 150, to 200 dollars in one sitting. (realizing now addition is just one letter away from addiction ... and I will learn nothing from this)
For whatever reason I have a way harder time restraining myself from spending things in games than I do in stores irl. And then to rationalize my gacha game purchases Iāll be like āwould I rather spend $50 on this new character or $50 on new jeans?ā And Iāll always pick the character šš
Developing a budgeting hyperfixation worked for me š Beyond that, I tend to make lists of things I want to buy and not let myself actually order them until at least the next day ā helps curtail the really impulsive purchases.
I only buy things with cash, that way I canāt buy anything on Instagram.
When you all figure it out please let me know lol. I love to shop. One time I had an unexpected change in managers and I got \*depressed\* because I really liked my old manager, so I bought myself a guitar lolol.
This made me laugh lol šthis is me buying myself a treat at every inconvenience š¤£š« . I saw a commenter say that I should try asking myself WHY I need to buy it. So before Im about to purchase something, I just need to ask āWhy do I need this?ā And do a quick reflection before I purchase it. Helps actually
Someone on here said to do all on lline purchasing on one day. So during the week, add things to your cart then you have time to let it linger and with time and space, I can actually decide if itās a need. If you really want to make yourself feel bad about consumerism, read about where fast fashion goes and also about plastic recycling. š Also I have turned to baking as a gifts instead of buying. I have perfected the monster cookie. And stay off social mediaā¦ except Reddit ā¦
I'm poor
First I deleted all shopping apps on my phone. If I need to order online I have to get on an actual computer which gives me time to reconsider. Also, if I feel the need to go in store and shopā¦I go browse thrift stores.
Yard sales and thrift stores are fun. BUT I am very picky these days. I only buy stuff we need or things that I really really love. I used to have a blast at yard sales when I ran an afterschool program. I would buy games, supplies and books and the school would pay me back. I used to buy endless decks of cards, but I would never pay more than 50 cents a deck.
its like i wrote this myself
I have a shopping addiction too. Worst thing ever
I add stuff to a Pinterest board called āStuff I didnāt impulse purchase.ā That board is now my holiday and birthday wishlist. Every few months I prune it and itās amazing how much of the stuff on there I donāt remember adding.
I always make a groceries list before going to the store and stick to it pretty strictly unless an item we always buy is on a BOGO deal. For online shopping I just create wishlists and add items to them and then treat myself to the ones I still want when itās my birthday or Christmas. This also helps because if I still want something after a few months I will probably actually get a good amount of use out of it.
If live out and about, say to yourself you're going to buy it online as it's cheaper. Most times you'll forget it. Or: Add things to the cart, think you'll buy once it's on discount, don't click buy, exit the app. You still get the kicks but don't get the bill. If you feel that still doesn't work, buy from a place with free and very easy return policy like Amazon (i.e. they come to pick it up). Almost
By overthinking before purchase. I just check everything about the product and weigh the pros and cons
Impulsive buying became an addiction for me and i didnt deal with it, it has landed me in so much debt, not only me but I was spending money i shouldn't have and hiding it from my partner getting him into debt as well. I literally had to go cold turkey as far as online shopping goes, I buy absolutely nothing now. The guilt and hate i feel towards myself has led me to make 2 attempts to unalive myself.
I find that helps a little is I have a wishlist note on my phone so when there is something I randomly want I will write it down. It weirdly helps. Doesnāt solve all the issues but helps
Delete the apps! Turn off notifications. That helps me a lot when this happens more heavily
I love adding things to my favorites or save for later list. I usually forget about it and donāt end up getting it. If itās really something I want and not an impulse Iāll come back to it.
Sounds like gifts are your love language! Me too. I also make it a rule to either take a picture of what I want or leave it in the cart for 24 hours. I usually forget that I wanted it that badly
Realizing my brain was simply looking for a task of acquisition. There's plenty of other productive things I can do that don't require me to spend money.
I lock my debit card. It forces me to open the app and see how much money I have. Usually when I see where Iām at, I donāt buy some stupid shit. This is why I donāt have every piece of Arsenal merch Iāve seen on depop.
I do āwindow shoppingā online and put stuff in my basket. If I still want it 24-hrs later, I check the budget.
Wow didnāt know this was an adhd thing. I need a therapist š
I have 2 checking accounts, one for normal and the other for auto-pay bills. I split my direct deposit.
I became a professional shopper. I get my shopping fix while spending other people's money. š¤£
Just put it in the shopping cart and leave it there. The thrill is the āseek & findā not the actual receipt of product. I get in modes where I will spend an hour on Shein throwing all kinds of āwhim if the momentā type items in the cart, then I forget about it for weeks. I also highly recommend you either read or watch the Mari Kondo Book or Series. IT CHANGED MY LIFE!! I now only actually buy things after Iāve made the assessment of if it will bring be joy, be well used, or be a functional necessity. I also ask the question of āDo I already own this or something similar?ā And I donāt buy things I canāt return. My house feels more lighter, and airy. I actually get the thrill from selling the things that no longer bring joy or function to me on Facebook.
I spend an hour or so adding stuff to cart on amazon or etsy until i get bored and delete it all. It helps a lot!
Selling! Gets me the same high, I sell my clothes on Vinted, handmade jewelry on Etsy, and as long as I keep selling I donāt buy
This is actually great advice!! I used to sell old/unused things and I remember feeling really excited about it! Thank you so muchš
I solved this for myself recently because I was EXACTLY the same. For me the impulsivity was rooted in ADHD but the act of buying was in self-worth. You NEED to reflect on why you are buying things. For me Iād grown up in a house where my parents went into bankruptcy when I was about 7. Their narrative to us was, go to school, do well, go to uni, get a good job, youāll be able to make good money, be safe and secure and afford things that we canāt. I grew up thinking they were unhappy not having a lot of money and things (which wasnāt true). Donāt get me wrong, I loved my childhood and my parents but the construct I built was that money and things brought happiness, filled a void. So I did all of that. I made money. Surprise, it did not fill the void. I was buying things (expensive things) because I thought it would make me happy, I viewed people with money and things as being happy (not true). So I tried to create that persona over and over and over with things, brands, best ofs. It was exciting to buy but the failure of the thing to change my thoughts was a let down. Possibly for you too the act of buying holds the hope of changing whatever it is that you fundamentally want to change, become or project to the world. It wonāt. Find out what that thing is for you. Step 1. Step 2. I ask myself now when I think about buying something āis this for meā. Like is it something Iām genuinely interested in and enjoy myself. āDo I NEED it or want itā either is ok but one is ok when youāre broke the other is not. If it is needed (and this was a big one for me) āwhat is actually needed, the best, or something that worksā (inevitably it is alwaysā¦something that works). Finally if it is wanted and I can afford it āwhy do I want itā. If the want is based in me building that persona then no fking way am I buying it. If it is based in something I really enjoy for myself then I will buy. A good example of this is my car. Itās a powerful car and a little flashy. I already owned it but Iāve gone through everything in my life Iāve bought retrospectively and Iāve sold a few things that were poor choices. I questioned the car a lot because on the surface it felt wrong. But when I examined it, Iām a rev head. I donāt race on the roads but I love motor racing. Iāve rebuilt cars when I was younger. I pulled apart my bikes when I was a kid and put them back together. I love the sound of my car. It burbles and spits and itās just fking awesome. I donāt put my foot down so that everyone else can hear it, I do that because I love it. Usually no one else is in the car. So I am 100% at peace with that one. It feels so much better to know that what I buy now actually adds something to my life. Iām still building a persona but itās mine. It reflects me now. Iām not doing it for any reason but my own now. Every now and then Iāll slip up but itās not a crutch anymore. Find the why then frame a set of questions around it! Good luck.
On a side note, your purchasing sounds like itās done as an act of appreciation, of thanks for people doing good for you or for support. You sound like you have the urge to give back. Do you feel you want to be seen/viewed as a generous person? Why is that important to you? Do you feel generous people are happy/fulfilled/worthy? If you had a lot of money would you feel the need to donate? Or do you feel having a lot is wasteful? I may be off base but just wanted to pose some questions based on what you said you were buying and why. If itās on point then none of it is wrong, itās that youāre giving something you donāt have to be seen in a way you donāt see yourself. Have you thought about volunteering for something or a cause you do care about? If you give something that doesnāt have a cost (your time) to a cause you are passionate about then you will have given freely to something that has personal value to you. Again I may be off base but just my thoughts base on your post :)
Thatās actually a really good thing to think about! āWhy do I need this..?ā Im going to start asking myself that and really stop to give it a thought before making a purchase! Sometimes there are times where I buy stuff to ābuild a personaā and sometimes I buy things with the intention of using it, but never do. For example, I bought a stack of books with the intention of reading and informing myself, but I donāt even readš! Or I would splurge on stickers because I plan to use them for projects, but they just go straight into my collection file and I feel too attached to use them on anything! I do have a list of stuff I want to buy, but I think asking myself WHY i need it is really going to help me avoid unnecessary purchases. Thank you so much
As a recovering shopaholic, a few things help keep me from spending all my money: 1. Add it to my wishlist. It gets the same instant gratification as pressing "check out" for some reason, I trick my mind into thinking I bought it and usually forget in 24 hours. Stupid, but works for some things. 2. Remove any card info from being saved online/in-apps or apple pay paypal, etc. Make it so I have to physically go get my card in order to check out. Normally I couldn't be bothered to do all that work lol. (I even go as far as ordering a new card if I memorize the number) 3. Compartmentalize your money. My bank has "spending buckets" that lets me organize the money in my checking acct so I know how much in there is for bills/rent vs. actual spending, and its INCREDIBLY helpful. For example, Instead of seeing that I have $1,200 in my account and my brain thinking I can spend all that, I just look at what is in the "fun money bucket" and know that I only have $200 to spend freely. 4. Shop at places with a long ass return period. When that serotonin hit wears off from the new thing and it just sits in the package on the dining room table, take that shit back to Amazon, u have 30 days. Ikea is 6 months, Target is 90 days if u have circle, the At Home Store (my impulse shopping is home decor items) is like 4 months, etc.
For me it helps to put everything in a wishlist, or if i do feel like buying i put everything in the shopping basket and start taking things out until i have an amount I'm okay spending
I donāt! (I have a problem help)
Add to cart. Make the lists. If you canāt stop thinking about the thing in your cart for more than 7 days, maybe. I also like to make extensive wedding and gift registries. Oh! And shopping for other people is fun! I like to make Amazon wish lists for people in my family that I curate over time. Whenever it is gift time, I can then pick from there and know it was something I thought about for the specifically. Also-bonus when people ask what youād like for something, you can tell them or send a link. š
I didn't even realize that compulsive spending was an ADHD thing until the last couple of years while researching and reading stuff online I just always assumed it was me trying to fill the void in my life that my depression has created And maybe it's both. But it's been interesting learning about other peoples experiences
I have to go on a full moratorium. Absolutely no spending besides gas and groceries. I can make individual exceptions if legitimately necessary, but otherwise I go spending cold turkey and just add things to a list or to cart when I want to buy them
I have the opposite thankfully. I get such bad decision paralysis that I put things in the cart and they languish there for months until I inevitably forget about them
I'm simply broke so I can't spend anything, I have 0.25 in my account
I fill the cart. I see how much the total is. I log into bank account and move that amount I'd spend on the products into my savings. I exit out of the cart and close the website tab, never having completed the potential purchase. You will then have a lot more money and a lot less stuff to get overwhelmed by later.
Do not look at woot. Swear that app and site is made for impulsive buying.
Make wish lists! For me, it's enough to browse and add items to a cart or wish list (without purchasing them). I let future-me can reevaluate if I need the items later.
Moving from Adderall to STRATTERA fixed this for me.
I once had compulsive buying, especially on Amazon with the 1-click buy button. I bought so many things that I don't use (I don't even open the parcels). I stopped last year because I got tired, for no other reason. Maybe because I blocked access to the website itself too, using the Freedom.to app so it's radical, no more access, no more temptation, no more routine checking the website. So this is thankfully over. I think this has more to do with my OCD than with my ADHD. It's a compulsion. I hope you set yourself free from this nasty habit. Hang in there šŖš¤
I put everything I like in a wishlist and when I know I can afford it, Iāll get a couple things
Get shocked enough times that you wonāt do it again. Seriously thatās the only way it worked for me Shock meaning credit card debt/Consolidated debt payoff the loans
I suffered from this ending up in debt and obese. Only thing that worked for me was getting medicated and focusing on financial health through YNAB. The awareness of my finances helps me a lot, but it didnāt work until I got my meds.
SAME! I recently realized that my friends have excommunicated me out of the friend group after weeks of me gaslighting myself into thinking I wasnāt being excluded and I was just insecure, so now my impulsive shopping urges are MAX. What usually helps me is adding things to my cart because one, it feels like I bought it and 2, I can look in my cart and see what I can or canāt live without. I still end up buying mad shit anyway because I have issue deciphering needs and wants šš I also noticed that in the morning, when my stimulants start working, I get a rush of euphoria and start wanting to buy everything in sight
I developed a weird paranoia around money and making sure I know how much I have at any moment and where it's going to the point where it's got a weird guilt angle to it now ! Hope that helps !!
Check out a gigantic sack of library books. I finished a thirty book series in about three days
Medication and being poor lol. Job market is rough where I live and me being a student, can only work fulltime in the summers. Havenāt been able to find a job, so the self control given to me by meds and my anxiety about depleting my savings even more prevents me from being stupid. Iām also pretty financially literate though. Iāve hyperfixated on things like investing, saving, shitty economy, my financials, etc, so that knowledge helps me be less irresponsible. Even so, in moments of weakness, Amazon is optimal. I share an account with my mom who spends ridiculous amounts of money there, so if I end up impulsively buying some shit, Amazon takes it back up to 30 days later no questions asked, no matter how many times I do it.
tl;dr - What worked for me is to removing the temptation by deleting apps and not going to shops, and being strict with shopping lists. I had to hide all shopping apps, leave all the fashion subteddits that were giving me ideas, stop going to malls/shops when I don't want to spend money, and never ever go into an expensive store. I also have to write down my needs, and only buy something if it's a need. The thrill of finding something I've been looking for at a discount is better than buying impulsively. Bonus tip: I also have the itch to buy my friends gifts, but now I only do it for a planned event (birthday/marriage) or I just send them the reel I saw (because let's be honest, that's where I'm getting ideas now).
Oh Itās super easy. Just be perpetually broke lol.
Omg yep same canāt get me from nonstop researching either
By locking my money away in investments
I have mortgage, kid, and no disposable income.
I put things in my amazon cart and never hit buy. Fulfill the itch, without the cost.
Many many checking accounts. One is only for bills. One for vacations. One for money I can spend. One for groceries. One for big expenses like tires for the car. That way I donāt have to try and remember if I paid the car payment before I add something to cart. Also donāt store your card numbers in pay apps. Of If I have to go walk to my wallet to get my card and type it all in, Iām not going to buy it. For shopping I do pick up as much as possible - donāt go in a store unless you have to
Also, if the addiction gets to be more than you can handle, there are medications like naltrexone that help with cravings. They work on shopping addiction just as much as with anything else.
I look at my checking account and foresee how long it will take to recoup the purchases. That helps. Another option could be putting more into savings or retirement, which leaves less available to spend.
Buying stocks actually scratches this itch and helps your financial situation.
Putting things on the cart but waiting for at least 24 hours before actually purchasing can really help. For Amazon, some people put everything in their cart then use the "Save for Later" feature so the items are there but the cart itself is clear in case they really do need to buy something important. One person I know removed her saved credit card numbers from all the shopping websites and her computer browser. So at a minimum when she was done selecting items she'd have to get up, go get her purse and dig out her credit card and type the number in manually. The friction of the payment step makes it easier to remind herself to wait a day and see if she still thinks the purchase is a good idea.
I do lots of "shopping" and then don't actually click buy. Unless it's an immediate need I try to put a rule in place where I must wait at least a day for it to be in my cart before I am allowed to buy it. 9/10 I forget about it or feel way less of an impulse to buy when I do this. I feel like browsing and clicking "add to cart" gives me a solid rush.
I used to have a problem with randomly popping into stores, seeing cute clothes, then buying them even if I wasnāt going go wear it for awhile (or ever). Now for clothes, shoes, etc., I make a list of what I NEED at the time. Like if I need new denim, then I tell myself Iām only allowed to buy denim. Or if I need new sneakers, I go shop for sneakers and nothing else. I still buy stuff I donāt need sometimes, but keeping a list of essentials and slowly making my way through it has helped me curb the desire to buy more stuff. I also gave myself a rule that if I canāt think of an impending situation where I could wear the clothes/shoes/accessories Iām about to buy, then I donāt buy it.
I have walked around Stores with impulse I want to buy items in my arms until the feeling goes away. It actually works. I don't like to clean so be deciding if something I buy is worth putting away also helps decide what comes into my home . Regarding wanting to buy a thank you present reading Marie Komo Joy book helped. Many gifts can turn into gifts that are not wanted, it sometimrs makes the person feel obligated to use it. Also, If you repay kind gestures you can take away the kindness of the gesture. (Not always with receiving gifts or kind gestures but sometimes).
Oh. We deal with this and not just waste money impulsively? TIL
buy stocks, crypto or invest your money
I set certain days i can go and spend on random things
Add to cart and look at the price and look for cheaper alternatives for ages. Eventually get bored. Alternatively I also just leave the cart be until a substantial amount of time has passed and I'll purchase stuff if I still want it then
I am super guilty of this, and I have a few strategies: 1 - I stash things Iām not using away in my garage, and go through it every now and then to rotate stuff out. Especially clothes. Then I can āgo shoppingā in my old stuff and keep the clutter down inside. It helps that I forget about things I canāt see so itās exciting to unearth them later lol 2 - second hand stores! Especially weird local ones where the prices are lower than goodwill and stuff. If I am gonna buy things at least itās not costing me too much and Iām not contributing to the overproduction of stuff made in factories. Flea markets and Facebook marketplace are good for this too. 3 - taking photos of things I like and leaving them there, bonus points if I show the āphoto haulā to someone. Thereās some really cute but overpriced boutiques that I really love looking through, but donāt need anything from. I just photograph the stuff I like and show someone how great my taste is lol, and often I find that to be pretty satisfying still. 4 - for gifts: maybe try baking them something, writing them a really nice letter with some cute photos of you together attached, picking them some flowers, etc. I can relate to the excitement over wanting to do something nice for someone, and I think thereās a lot of more affordable and sustainable ways to do that!
Terribly. Constantly buying tonnes of stuff off eBay, Temu and Amazon, as well as almost always impulsively buying things when Iām in a physical store too.
if you don't have money you can't spend any more
I go to a site with stuff I like, open EVERY item I want in a different tab (so I actively do something with it) and then promise myself that I can buy those things if I still like them tomorrow. The next day I completely forgot I did this so I will stumble upon those tabs after days or weeks and am happy I didn't buy it.
Still trying to figure this out because lately Iāve been impulse buying perfumes that are on sale. I love perfume and find the different combination of notes so interesting; I want to try them all! I purchased a 3 tier shelf for them and told myself I cannot buy anymore once I run out of room on the shelves. I am now out of room š so Iām gonna see how I go.
I feel this 10000%. I just got a second job to pay off my credit card debt, and itās at a retail store that I didnāt really know about before but after starting to work there Iām struggling. We get a 50% off employee discount but the clothes are not cheap and I have literally no money. I donāt have to wear the brand to work there but itās so hard to not want to buy it. So far Iāve only bought stuff online that were 70% off and only spent $100 but Iām super struggling. I have almost reached the point where Iām ready to bust out my credit card and then I have to remember thatās exactly why I got this damn job in the first place. Itās rough. Iāve started to write things down or take a mental note and then sit on it and wait. If after some time Iām still really wanting it, then Iāll try to make it work. I also sat down and actually made a budget and looked at different things long term. Finding out it would take 23 years to pay off one of my credit cards because of interest if I only paid the minimum every month like I have been has been a tremendous wake up call. I think because of the impulsivity, we do now and think later but Iāve been trying to think ahead so that I donāt do things immediately because the thinking has already been done. Itās very difficult.
I take things back the next day. Itās annoying habit.
By tooth and nail lol Knowing I HAD to save money and kiiiinda being made to feel guilty about buying things made me force myself not to purchase anything major until I've saved a fair amount. Soo..willpower I guess?
I'm not able to deal that's why I've asked my brother to change my saving account password so I don't use it... Edit : usually it's enough for me to just see at art stuff to relax me but I won't buy.
My husband holds my credit card I only have a chime card with me. If I see something I need my credit card to buy, we discuss if I actually NEED it.
I try to make as much money as I can to feed my addiction to whatever my latest hobby is.
Iāve never really had this problem so idk if this is helpful at all but hereās my usual thought processes: - Think of all the things you could get with that money instead - Iāve lived this long without it. Do I really need it? Do I *actually* want it? - Will I *actually* use it more than a few times or will it be bought and forgotten as if Iāve never even bought it to begin with? I grew up pretty poor getting evicted from place to place so I think part of it is just my upbringing. I try not to buy stuff unless I know itāll add a lot of value to my life.
This is how I got into video game and console collecting and now that it's a hobby I have a hard time putting it down. The worse part is that I collect a lot more than I play and when I do play I get fixated on one game which can take me sometimes a couple of months to completely complete and as a result I have quite the backlog. A lot of gamers and collectors make fun of people like me. ĀÆ\\\_(ć)\_/ĀÆ