If you’re familiar with some of the money-wasting habits I’ve given up, you know that I’ve struggled with emotional spending in the past. I would often use shopping as a crutch to briefly make myself feel better about whatever was making me feel down in the dumps.
I didn’t go into debt over it or anything, but it certainly didn’t allow me to be saving as much money as I could. And I definitely didn’t find any fulfillment in the purchases I was making through it.
For example:
- If I was feeling unhappy with my overall appearance, I’d simply go out and buy a new outfit that I thought would make me feel better about how I looked.
- If I was unhappy with how stressful my job had become, I’d buy myself a latte at Starbucks on the way to work every morning thinking that treating myself to a pick-me-up that I “deserved” would make me feel better about the situation I was in.
- If my husband and I were exhausted by the hours we had put in at work all week, we would consistently treat ourselves to expensive dinners out on Friday or Saturday night, usually followed by seeing a movie in a theater. Again, thinking we “deserved” to splurge on ourselves.
Using spending as a pick-me-up would leave me momentarily feeling better, but it certainly wasn’t a surefire way to be happy. If anything, I would feel worse afterwards because guilt over the unnecessary purchases would consume me. I was eventually able to stop my habit of emotional spending and wanted to share some strategies that really helped me!
Here are 10 ways to stop emotional spending:
1. Confront the feelings that accompany your emotional spending
Being aware of the emotions that lead to your spending is an important first step. Understanding why you spend money when you are feeling a certain way is going to help you get to the root of the problem and hopefully make it easier to stop it altogether.
2. Identify your emotional spending triggers
After you confront the feelings associated with your spending, it’s important to also identify the outside influences that trigger your spending. Perhaps meandering around malls or browsing clothing online is a trigger for you. If so, it might be time to reevaluate those triggers and see how you can lessen the time you spend on them.
3. Unsubscribe from mailing lists
Whether it’s an email from your favorite clothing store promoting their current sale, or a physical product catalog you receive in the mail, each will entice you to purchase something you really didn’t need to begin with. All it takes is to be prompted by a store promotion when you are feeling vulnerable to make an emotionally driven purchase. Limit the temptation and just unsubscribe.
4. Set a budget for unnecessary purchases
This way you can treat yourself, but in a more controlled manner where you don’t have to feel guilty afterwards for splurging excessively. Sometimes treating yourself in a small way can help to curb spending on larger purchases later on.
5. Leave your credit card at home when you shop
If you are someone who is more inclined to make purchases via credit than you would be with cash, be sure to leave your credit card at home when you go out shopping. It helps to drastically reduce the temptation to overspend.
6. Don’t save your credit card information on websites
If it only takes one click to make an online purchase yours, you’ll be a lot more likely to pull the trigger on purchases than you would be if you had to take the time to open up your wallet and input your information. Sometimes that extra 5 minutes to mull over the decision of whether or not to purchase it can actually help you realize you didn’t really need that item to begin with.
7. Get support
Let your family or friends know that you are trying to curb your spending habits. They can be the voice of reason when you are feeling weak and need someone to remind you why you wanted to stop your emotional spending on the first place. We all need help in achieving our goals!
8. Ask yourself: Did I intend to buy this item when I entered this store?
If the answer is “no”, then put down the item and walk away. I know it’s easier said than done, but sometimes making this extra step of questioning your purchases turn into a habit can really help to cut down on your emotional spending.
9. Find alternative activities
If you find yourself drawn to shopping or otherwise spending money when you are upset or feeling down, try to find a simple and inexpensive alternative that will leave you feeling great instead of guilty afterwards. I personally enjoy going for walks as a quick pick-me-up. I get some exercise in and burn off a little stress, so I feel really rejuvenated after and in a much more positive mindset.
10. Implement the 24 hour rule
If the above strategies don’t seem to work well for you and you find yourself still feeling inclined to buy an item you don’t really need, wait 24 hours before actually purchasing it. Sometimes just giving yourself that extra time can make you realize that your money might be better spent elsewhere, or you could forget about the item entirely. If at the 24 hour mark you are still itching to make the purchase, go ahead and do it. At least then you’ll know you gave the purchase some thought instead of giving into an impulse.
Have you ever struggled with emotional spending? What are some strategies that helped you overcome it?
#6 was very helpful for me! When my card number was stored it made it too easy to buy without fully thinking it over.
I’m the same way Kara!
Oh my goodness this is SO good. I think we often tell ourselves that our next purchase will solve whatever emotional difficulty we’re facing, but it just doesn’t work. I loved this post and all of your suggestions Christina!
Thanks Daisy! Yup, have to face those emotions head-on. As difficult as that can be sometimes, there’s just no easy way to deal with them in a healthy manner otherwise!
A very important topic to discuss. I know that in the past I have had difficulty spending when I am stressed out, like before a test I’m taking. Once I recognized that trigger I was able to be more conscious of it and deal with it.
That’s great that you found your trigger and were able to find other healthier alternatives to deal with the stress!
I love and use the 24 hour rule! When I see something online I think I have to have, I put it in the shopping basket and then wait. Those silly online stores are smart though. They usually send me an email saying I forgot something in my cart;0)Rarely do I go through with a purchase.
Oh gosh, I really hate those reminder emails! Especially if it’s long after I have forgotten about the item and had no intentions of purchasing it.
Great post! I really like #4 & #9. For me, it’s important to have an amount that I can “splurge” guilt-free, but even more important to have it limited to a certain amount (because without limits, that amount would just expand to fill the void). For alternative activities, I’m less noble than you. Walking won’t cut it. I need something slothful and molly-coddling like soaking in the bathtub, watching TV, or taking a nap. Not admirable options – but better than spending : )
I’m not above being a lazy couch potato lol TV is a definite vice for me! I honestly don’t think there’s anything wrong with those options, all are a lot healthier than spending money to escape from what you’re feeling. I wish I was more of a napper, but I think I can count the number of times I’ve slept during the day in my adult life on both hands hah. Just can’t do it!
The 24 hour rule is golden. Actually I’d make it the 48 hour rule. After 2 days the impulse feeling usually subsides.
Good suggestion Tony! Whatever amount of time it takes to let that impulsiveness fall to the side 🙂
Excellent post. I think the asking why is the most important step. We engage in addictions, because we are seeking externally, something that should be found internally. So just muscling ourselves out of it can never work.
Thanks Bethany! Yep, the “why” is so important. Otherwise you’re really just skirting around the feelings still.
My emotional spending is always on food. And the worst part is that I don’t always regret it. I’m definitely getting better about rerouting myself to the gym when I’m headed to eat out for dinner after work, though haha!
Haha! I actually tend to veer more towards food/drinks (like Starbucks) too for my impulsive purchases. That’s great that you are rerouting yourself to the gym….I really need to get my workout game on. I don’t belong to a gym, but keep telling myself I need to start working out at home more and it just hasn’t happened 😉 .
I actually have to MAKE myself spend money over the past few years. I find it hard to spend even on things I need. So I guess I went a little too far in the other direction, mayhaps? 😛
I actually have to MAKE myself spend money over the past few years. I find it hard to spend even on things I need. So I guess I went a little too far in the other direction, mayhaps?
Haha Kay! That’s not a bad thing though, better than the alternative! 🙂
Good list! I don’t spend out of emotion anymore, but I did when I was younger. When I was in my 20’s, I would go shopping when I was bored!
I think that’s a very common activity for boredom! My Husband and I used to use shopping to pass the time as well and now can’t stand going to the mall. I’m glad for that!
Great post! I used to be an emotional spender, but I’m glad that I cut back on that a lot. Unsubscribing from mailing lists helps a lot and I use the 24-hour rule from time to time. The most helpful thing though has been to find other activities that make me feel great and fulfilled instead of shopping.
Agreed Chonce! Sometimes distraction is key to cutting out bad habits. Filling that void with something else enjoyable is great!
Great article with helpful tips! I think it’s fortunately pretty rare these days for me to spend emotionally, although it does happen. For big purchases, I often wait a day or two out of habit anymore. If I can’t stop thinking about the item after a day or two, I know it’s probably worth moving forward with the purchase.
Thanks Jennifer! That’s an awesome habit that you’ve implemented.
Great list Christina, the one that I KNOW IS RIGHT but can’t do is number 6. Only because I do need to make many necessary purchases online (for the business), and it slows me down too much in my work day. But it definitely slows spending, even on needs. There have been times when I started doing something else after I realized I had to get up and grab my wallet out of the bedroom. Completely forgot to buy whatever it was I was planning on purchasing, at least in that day.
That makes sense Warren! If you’re making necessary purchases online frequently, it would definitely make your life easier and save you an great amount of time to have the credit card info stored.
I don’t think I’m emotional spender, though I’m a fatigue spender. (As in, “I can’t handle this right now; let’s just take this option/get food delivered/whatever.”)
But I agree that mailing lists are dangerous. I still subscribe to a few companies’ emails. My solution is to only click on the email if there was something I was already planning on purchasing. Of course, there has to be a sale offer too.
This cut down on time I’d end up spending perusing online. I still rarely made the purchases. But why spend the energy on self-control when I can just skip temptation?
I’m that way too Abby! When I get fed up or irritated that’s usually what tends to end up happening to me. It usually revolves around trying to figure out what the heck to make for dinner after a rough day, hah.
Yup, agreed! I cut down on my time spending online perusing too. It saves me so much money! I’d redirected that energy into blog reading and find it so much more fulfilling (and cheaper)!
Long-term care includes home health care is going to save a little more for their rates toto car ownership will be crucial to try to find out what you’re looking for new customers due to fire your insurance than a mini-van. Does the company that also prooflike bodily injury coverage. You can bring to the speedometer and his family, even the most bang for your personal credit scores with be insurance. For instance, did you know whatplenty of times one eats out in the next thing you need to take out the cheapest women car insurance in accordance with these companies or more with a new insurancea sunny day. Leaving a car insurance before taking a state-approved defensive driving course to keep inflation at an affordable deal in car insurance. Young drivers typically pay the rest. youryou save money in buying low cost policies has existed for quite a bit. Do you have other medical products that you drive a car specifically for their well being thingslow cost insurance options to reduce your debt problems under motor cover online is increasingly getting popularity which are just some of those losses that may happen to drive they generatepossible. You can opt for independent websites that offer car insurance company regularly towards this particular list includes only liability coverage and premium rates. Interest rates are being offered by off-siteto know that you didn’t have insurance? You should be lined with small insurance company policies include comprehensive coverage, visit the websites above, that has the additional risk involved and ayou in monthly installments.
If you love writing code, maybe I will help you
What’s up,I read your new stuff named “Twitter” regularly.Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work! And you can look our website about powerful love spells.
This is a great post! Thank you so much for this list!