Almost everybody loves to shop and spend money buying things that sometimes are not necessary anymore. Shopping to make us happy or Retail Therapy can be a way to get rid of stress or deal with personal problems. Some people consider it a form of cure. Unfortunately, retail therapy sometimes goes too far and becomes unhealthy.
When you get addicted to shopping just like liquor or drugs, the outcome can become negative and obsession emerges. It can cause money issues, break budgets, and even destroy personal relationships. Then, retail therapy is not really the best type of remedy. The key is to shop in moderation.
But how do you stay away from retail therapy? Don’t buy unnecessary things! And when you can achieve this goal, here are the probable remarkable things that can happen. You will realize improved relationships in life. This means looking forward to less arguments regarding debts and bills with your love ones and reduced anxiety as well as additional time to spend with family members.
Emotional Spender
Are you a habitual emotional spender? Here are some probable symptoms:
- You often feel disheartened or unhappy after a shopping spree.
- You return more products than you keep.
- You hide the evidence of purchases from your spouse.
- You have clothes or accessories that you never used or forgot that you ever bought
them.
Then it’s time to get away from all these before you ruin your budget and ultimately your life. The consequences are positive if you are able to avoid Retail Therapy.
More Money to Save
It’s a wonderful feeling if you have financial security. You feel more relaxed and relieved regarding your personal funds. Yet, proper control over your money can turn out a lengthy process. Your goal is to curb spending habits so there is money left in case of emergencies.
To keep away from retail therapy, it is important to determine what sparks your emotional spending impulse. The initial strategy in restraining retail therapy is to understand the reasons for spending and overspending. Strive to fight spending cravings and everything will turn out right.
Keep Track of your Expenditures
Keep an eye on your spending to identify emotional purchases. Through this approach, you are able to figure out your compulsive spending practices. Keep your receipts or use apps to monitor your behavior. You will notice that in certain periods, you’re inclined to spend more on unnecessary stuff as well as the number of times you visit retail shops.
48-Hour Rule
Try the 48-Hour Rule which is simple but effective in handling purchasing temptations. Before you shop, write down the name of the item or items and their corresponding prices on a notepad. It is a way of controlling your impulses rather than walking around the store and dropping everything in your shopping cart. Allot 48 hours before deciding to buy a particular merchandise. Ask yourself if you really need that commodity. The Rule helps you become more objective in making purchases.
Small Purchases
Choose small purchases within your spending budget. Buy items that are not too pricey that you can use. It’s one way of staying out of debt. Maintain a list of things that you need and yearn for. Unsubscribe from email lists. The idea behind this is to avoid the temptation of ordering items online.
Coping without Shopping
Look for new ways to deal with stress such as taking a prolonged warm bath, working out in the gym from time to time, or going out to dinner occasionally with your loved one. Just anything to make you feel better but not splurging on shopping.
Not Therapeutic
We must all be honest. Does retail therapy fix problems? Is it the magic weapon to fight anxiety and cope with pressures of daily life? It is quite easy to feel guilty about buying anything that makes us feel nice. It could be an expensive pair of shoes or an ice cream cone. There’s nothing wrong to indulge in shopping for luxurious products once in a while (if our budget allows). But do this strategically and carefully. All told, retail therapy will not work as some people expect. It is not something long-term but merely a temporary fix. 000000
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