Shopping can be relaxing, entertaining, even a hobby — but it can also turn into an expensive habit. These three psychologist-backed tactics help you manage the urge to spend.
1 Why Shopping Becomes an Expensive Habit
Shopping can be a form of relaxation, an entertaining way to spend time or even a hobby. But it can turn into an expensive habit.
Whether you sometimes give in to a weakness for designer handbags or brand-name shoes, here are three ways to help you manage the urge to spend. Pick the tactic that works best for you: postponing the purchase, making a plan or doing something else instead.
2 Pretend (or Postpone)
If you want to feel like you went shopping without spending any money, do everything you would when you really shop, but stop short of actually buying anything.
Browse online, pick out a shirt in your favorite color and even add it to your cart. If you’re in-store, go window shopping without your wallet. Then wait.
“Have some type of cooling off time period before you commit to purchasing the item. You should attempt to eliminate consumer decisions in an emotional state. This often leads to impulse buys.”
That’s the advice of Ross Steinman, a professor of psychology at Widener University in Pennsylvania. That delay period will vary from person to person, but Steinman suggests waiting at least one day. Depending on the purchase, you could wait a week or even a month before deciding whether to buy the item in question.
This might be enough to work the urge to buy out of your system. But just in case, eliminate any remaining temptation.
“Delete those items so that they are not waiting for you in your shopping cart only one click away to purchase the next time you visit the online retailer,” Steinman says.
3 Prepare
But pretending isn’t always a reasonable solution. At some point, you will surely need to buy something. And that’s OK.
It’s actually best to still go to stores, rather than avoiding shopping altogether, advises Dr. Kevin Chapman, a licensed clinical psychologist in Kentucky. That is, as long as you’re proactive and prepare yourself mentally before you shop.
If you “ride the wave” and confront the emotion driving why you want to shop, you can teach yourself self-control, he says.
“Ultimately, you’re teaching your brain a new association. Meaning I can think of a store like Target or Costco or Ikea and think that it doesn’t compel me to shop per se. It’s just another store.”
He compares the strategy to overcoming a fear of elevators. “Say I have an elevator phobia. Well ultimately, at some point, I have to confront an elevator,” Chapman says. “But the way you do it is you don’t throw someone into an elevator and say, ‘sink or swim.’”
Instead, you prepare so you know what to expect. As it pertains to shopping, Chapman says to formulate a “game plan.”
Recognize that you have a tendency to overspend. Create both a budget and a list before you go shopping (in-store or online). Then, hold yourself accountable to that list and feel a sense of confidence that results when you succeed.
4 Ponder
As you shop, keep track of your buying behavior so you can identify patterns. Steinman recommends noting things like the cost, time of day and what the item was for, among other details.
“It will raise awareness about how much somebody is spending and also identify trigger points,” he says.
Ask yourself questions about any trends that you notice. Steinman gives examples: Do you mostly make purchases in the late evening? During the day? After you’ve had coffee and increased your energy level? What about after you receive your paycheck?
As you do so, think about your emotions. If you’re looking for the high that comes along with shopping, Steinman recommends doing something else in its place that gives you a similar feeling — for example, donating your time or resources.
And keep in mind that the temporary emotional high that comes with impulsive shopping is just that — temporary, according to Chapman. It may be a little easier to give up overshopping if you know the feeling is fleeting.
This article was written by NerdWalletand was originally published by The Associated Press.
Courtney Jespersen is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @CourtneyNerd.
The article These 3 Tricks Can Help You Shop Less originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three tricks to help you shop less?
The article outlines three tactics: pretend (or postpone) by going through the motions of shopping without actually buying; prepare by going to stores while mentally ready, with a budget and a list; and ponder by tracking your buying behavior to spot patterns and triggers. You pick whichever tactic works best for you.
How long should I wait before making a purchase?
Psychology professor Ross Steinman suggests building in a cooling-off period and waiting at least one day before committing. The delay varies from person to person, and depending on the purchase you could wait a week or even a month before deciding whether to buy the item.
Why does the article say to keep shopping instead of avoiding stores?
Clinical psychologist Dr. Kevin Chapman says it's best to still go to stores rather than avoid them, as long as you're proactive and prepared. By confronting the emotion driving the urge, you teach your brain a new association so a store like Target, Costco or Ikea no longer compels you to shop.
How can I prepare before I go shopping?
Chapman recommends formulating a game plan. Recognize that you have a tendency to overspend, then create both a budget and a list before you shop, whether in-store or online. Hold yourself accountable to that list and feel the sense of confidence that comes when you succeed.
What should I track to understand my shopping habits?
Steinman recommends noting details like the cost, the time of day and what the item was for. This raises awareness of how much you spend and identifies trigger points. Ask whether you buy in the late evening, during the day, after coffee or after a paycheck, and consider your emotions as you do.
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These 3 Tricks Can Help You Shop Less is a Billshark resource with information and navigation relevant to recurring bills, consumer choices, and savings decisions.
Shop less with 3 psychologist-backed tricks: postpone purchases, prepare with a budget and list, and track your habits to spot spending triggers.
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Shopping can be relaxing, entertaining, even a hobby — but it can also turn into an expensive habit.
Shopping can be a form of relaxation, an entertaining way to spend time or even a hobby.
Whether you sometimes give in to a weakness for designer handbags or brand-name shoes, here are three ways to help you manage the urge to spend.
If you want to feel like you went shopping without spending any money, do everything you would when you really shop, but stop short of actually buying anything.
Browse online, pick out a shirt in your favorite color and even add it to your cart.
That’s the advice of Ross Steinman, a professor of psychology at Widener University in Pennsylvania.
This might be enough to work the urge to buy out of your system.
“Delete those items so that they are not waiting for you in your shopping cart only one click away to purchase the next time you visit the online retailer,” Steinman says.
But pretending isn’t always a reasonable solution.
It’s actually best to still go to stores, rather than avoiding shopping altogether, advises Dr.
If you “ride the wave” and confront the emotion driving why you want to shop, you can teach yourself self-control, he says.
“Ultimately, you’re teaching your brain a new association.
He compares the strategy to overcoming a fear of elevators.
Instead, you prepare so you know what to expect.
Recognize that you have a tendency to overspend.
As you shop, keep track of your buying behavior so you can identify patterns.
“It will raise awareness about how much somebody is spending and also identify trigger points,” he says.
Ask yourself questions about any trends that you notice.
As you do so, think about your emotions.
And keep in mind that the temporary emotional high that comes with impulsive shopping is just that — temporary, according to Chapman.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
Courtney Jespersen is a writer at NerdWallet.
The article These 3 Tricks Can Help You Shop Less originally appeared on NerdWallet.
The article outlines three tactics.
Psychology professor Ross Steinman suggests building in a cooling-off period and waiting at least one day before committing.
Clinical psychologist Dr.
Chapman recommends formulating a game plan.
Steinman recommends noting details like the cost, the time of day and what the item was for.
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1 Why Shopping Becomes an Expensive Habit.
2 Pretend (or Postpone).
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Frequently Asked Questions.
What are the three tricks to help you shop less?.
How long should I wait before making a purchase?.
Why does the article say to keep shopping instead of avoiding stores?.
How can I prepare before I go shopping?.
What should I track to understand my shopping habits?.
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