If you are tired of overspending online, the first thing to do is to acknowledge the issue. Recognize that you have a problem with online shopping and that it's negatively impacting your life financially and emotionally.
Next step is to regain control of your spending habits. Here are some strategies you can take to help curb online shopping addiction:
- Track your spending: Keep a record of your online purchases to help you identify triggers and patterns that lead to impulsive buying.
- Create a budget: Set a realistic budget for your discretionary spending by putting aside a specific amount of money for your online shopping and other non-essential purchases each month and sticking to it.
- Unsubscribe from promotional newsletters: Remove temptation by unsubscribing from promotional emails. You may think that you might miss out on sales and coupon codes, but you will actually save more by shopping only when necessary.
- Find healthy alternatives: Identify other activities that you enjoy and that don't involve spending money, such as exercising, pursuing a hobby or volunteering.
- Practice delayed gratification: To curb impulse purchases, wait at least 24 hours before completing the transaction. Often, the desire to buy will fade, and you'll realize that you don't actually need the item.