Emotional Shopping: How to Keep Your Spending Under Control
By Imani Williams
We've all been there—caught up in the moment, emotions running high, and suddenly finding ourselves making impulsive purchases.
No need to stress! With a set of powerful affirmations and some practical strategies, you can regain control over your spending habits and pave the way for financial well-being.
Emotional spending occurs when we respond to heightened emotions—be it stress, grief, or even sheer happiness. Unchecked, it can have a detrimental impact on your finances. Research indicates that stress can lead to increased spending on perceived necessities.
How Can We Stop Emotional Spending?
- Identify Trigger Emotions:
Be aware of the emotions that trigger your urge to spend. Think about the last few times you spent more than you should have. What were you feeling at the time? Were you happy? Sad? Stressed? Bored? Understanding these triggers is the first step toward breaking the cycle.
- Find Alternatives:
Instead of reaching for your wallet, consider other things you can do when those trigger emotions arise.
For example, if you online shop when you're bored, pause and take that opportunity to do something you love. If you have a habit of using food delivery services because you’re too tired to cook, see if you can do something to energize yourself, or consider making time in your schedule to meal prep.
If you feel stressed when you shop, feeling compelled to buy something you think you need now (even though you didn’t need it before), take a breath. Maybe meditate for 10 minutes and then reflect on how much you need that item you’re about to purchase.
- Make It Difficult:
Intentionally make emotional spending more challenging. For example, you can make it a rule to only shop using cash. If you have a habit of online shopping, make it a rule that an item has to stay in the cart for 24-48 hours before you officially make the purchase. Unfollow tempting shops on social media, and delete shopping apps from your phone if you need to.
- Reflect Before Purchasing:
Ask yourself essential questions before making a purchase:
- Why do you want to buy this?
- How will buying this make you feel?
- Can you think of one free alternative?
- Are there cheaper or better alternatives?
You may find that you don’t need to buy that item at all.
Here are some Affirmations to Empower you!
- I can overcome emotional spending.
- I spend money on things that bring me value.
- I invest my money in things that matter to me.
- I'll reflect before I make purchases.
- I'll ask myself why I want to buy this.
- I'll ask myself how buying this will make me feel.
- I'll ask myself if there's a cheaper and better way.
Remember, these affirmations act as a guide to help you navigate the complex world of financial decisions, making each purchase a conscious and meaningful one.
Conclusion
Embracing these affirmations and strategies can lead to a healthier relationship with your finances. Remember, financial empowerment is a journey, not a destination. Take it one step at a time, and soon you'll find yourself in control, making mindful choices that contribute to your overall well-being. 🌟💸