I try to avoid stores completely but sometimes i must go get something and i always fell for buying a bunch of useful but totally unnecessary items. Do any of you know tricks to stop myself from doing that?
I mostly online shop, so I have a rule that something has to sit in my cart for 24 hours before I check out unless it’s an emergency or I’m ordering groceries or something. Most of the time, I don’t want it so bad the next day so I delete it out of my cart. Filling a cart that you don’t actually order is almost as satisfying as actually placing an order.
So I’ve actually been in an overshopping class because of this issue. Best thing to do is to write what the urge is that’s creating that impulse. And then find an alternative to the shopping to change that habit for shopping. A healthy one. I often end up over eating, but that’s not a healthy alternative. You swapping one addiction for another. What’s a hobby or activity you like to do? Try and go to THAT when your urge to shop hits? When are you shopping? Nighttime? Daytime? On a lunch break? You could go for a walk, or crochet, or workout? At those times. You’re replacing one habit for another. It’s what I’ve been trying to work on. To marginal success. I mean running out of money was a BIG helper. But now I am REALLY having to change a lot of those habits now. So I’m REALLY reading. Absorbed into books. I changing when and how I go to bed because I was up until midnight sometimes just shopping. So it’s small steps. But they have BIG marks they can leave. I mean already for this month we are 1/8th of our spending. I also am SUPER active in our budgeting which I NEVER DO! ADHDers are notoriously known for being bad with money and budgeting, and it’s so true for me! So I have been trying to watch on our Rocket money (budget?) app and make sure we’re staying below the projected budgets for each area. It’s almost like a goal/ addiction there! I WANT to win! I hope this helps! It’s so hard to change a behavior, but so worth it because one’s like these can overtake your life in ways.
Impulse shopping is a result of the need for dopamine, which our brains naturally lack. Try to sway your mind in those moments to seek dopamine in a cheaper way. Maybe some sort of food or thrilling activity instead, when you leave the store
To be honest, I had the same problem, but I do not recommend my 'solution'😅 I simply do not have any money I can spend on things that are not absolutely necessary, I can't even afford to buy a single use facial mask anymore🥲
