Ever heard of retail therapy? Well, we've been told that it really does work. So, say you walk into the mall and get something you want and then you feel super happy about it. And now, you're addicted to buying things. Retail therapy has started burning holes in your pocket and you don't know what to do about it. Well, worry not, because experts have come up with three solutions to help curb that urge to shop. Take a look.
Pretend: The very first thing to do is to pretend that you're shopping. So, say you're browsing on some shopping site online and you saw something you liked. Select that item, even add it to your cart and then close the window. Similarly, if you're going out to shop, don't carry your wallet with you. Just do some window shopping instead.
“Have some type of cooling off time period before you commit to purchasing the item,” says Ross Steinman, a professor of psychology. “You should attempt to eliminate consumer decisions in an emotional state. This often leads to impulse buys.” Then after you've waited long enough, eliminate all 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.
Prepare: The next step is to stay prepared. Only pretending to shop won't help curb all your urges so at some point you're going to give in to your impulses and that's what you need to be ready for. “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,” says one doctor.
Make sure that you know why you're buying what you're buying and make sure that you can justify your reason for buying that product. Make a budget and create a list of things you want and then hold yourself accountable for that list. This way if you spend money on items from that list, you'll know whether it was the right decision or the wrong one.
Ponder: Now, comes the final step. As you start your shopping process, keep a track of your buying behaviour. “It will raise awareness about how much somebody is spending and also identify trigger points,” Steinman says. Try to take multiple factors into account like what time of the day you prefer shopping or whether you feel more energetic towards shopping if you've had some coffee.
He further added that you should also try to keep a check on how you're feeling when you buy things. Then you could use other resources or do other activities to help feel the same kind of high. Try to opt for these tips and see whether they work for you. Stay tuned for more updates.
