#overshopping

Stop Overshopping

Simply minimizing or avoiding shopping all together is one way to prevent over-spending, but you and I both know that’s just not realistic. Yes, the less you shop, the fewer the opportunities to spend money on things you don’t really need – but shopping can be fun and it’s often a social activity. Impulse shopping is where most people struggle; buying things just because they’re on sale or discounted, buying something because someone else is also buying it (I call that a #peerpressurepurchase) or as one friend put it, “It was just so dang cute, I had to buy it!”  

Shopping, spending and stimulating the economy is a big part of everyday life, but I’m here to help you avoid the dark side of shopping – over-shopping, over-spending & over-consuming, be it Black Friday or any day of the year. Here are some simple tips:

When shopping, ask yourself:

• Do I “desperately” need this?

• Do I have a place to put this?

• Do I have the time and energy to organize/clean a space to put this?

• Will I really use this (in the next 3 months)? 

• Do I already own this? (how many times have you purchased something only to realized you already owned it!?)

When buying clothes, ask yourself:

• What do I already own that goes with this?

• Is this something I’ve been eyeing for awhile?

• Do I look in my closet and wish I had this?

• Do I already own something similar?

• Do I only want it because it’s on sale?

• Will I still love it in 3-6 months (too trendy)?

If you’re shopping for gifts:

• Considering an “Experience” gift instead of material items.

I came across this great video/article on the Time Magazine website explaining the physiology behind why we over-shop in Ikea and ultimately our attachment to the things we buy.

WATCH NOW: