Amayzine

The characteristics of a serious shopping addiction

Last weekend I got to pull out my inner market vendor again during the LINDA.festival. Together with Marly and friend/stylist Nicolas, we were back at a huge stall selling our clothes (each one a gem, if I may say so). And as I was unpacking, I honestly felt a bit sad: the amount of stuff I have collected in a year is disproportionate. Marly and Nicolas jokingly said, ‘Honey, you really have a problem.’ But maybe they were a bit right... Items still with price tags on them, beautiful shoes that I actually can't walk in, and so on. It might be called a small shopping addiction. I solemnly swear that I will improve my life and from now on weigh my purchases better. I would rather save for that one dream vacation with the family: that's much more fun than that new to-die-for designer bag? I challenge you to take a good look at your own shopping behavior (without cheating, okay?) and who knows, you might find these tips just as useful as I do.

Characteristics:

  • You often lie about your purchases and try to hide them from your partner and friends
  • If you haven't shopped for a week, you feel restless
  • You feel a rising tension leading up to the moment of purchase and a feeling of happiness once the purchase is completed
  • You feel guilty about your purchases
  • Often you come home with many more items than you intended
  • You use shopping to feel better
  • Several times a day you think about shopping
  • You have a secret debit card or credit card to make your purchases

Can you check more than four characteristics? Congratulations, you have a nice shopping addiction. With these tips, hopefully, you'll get over it quickly.

  1. From now on, keep a list of your shopping purchases. Note the date and price per item, as well as your mood when you bought the item. This way, you become aware of what you buy and the underlying reason.
  2. Make it difficult for yourself to make purchases. Avoid your favorite shopping streets and block the sites where you regularly shop. Online shopping is a silent killer.
  3. Avoid the sale. During the sale or sample sale, I often go wrong: you buy yourself into trouble because it's all ‘so cheap’, but of course, that's relative. In the end, you've still spent a fortune, often on things you don't need at all.
  4. Leave your credit card at home. And when you go shopping, take cash with you and only buy what you were looking for. To prevent yourself from deviating from this, it's best to note down at home what you are going to buy.