There’s a difference between enjoying going out shopping and being a shopaholic. Enjoying going round all of the shops and trying on new clothes is amazing, but when you find yourself in a position where you can’t help but overspend and you’re always in debt, it can become a problem. A problem that can be hard to break out of alone, and more often than not a debt that has been accrued through overspending on unnecessary items is hidden and unknown to those closest to them for a long time. If this is something that you struggle with, then here are some tips on how to break the habit of being a shopaholic.
Force yourself to think before making a purchase
Much alike being on a diet, a great piece of advice is to force yourself into thinking about whether you really need to buy what you’re holding onto. Giving yourself at least ten minutes to properly think about it before heading to the checkout is often a perfect chance to regain clarity and more often than not, you will find that you put back that dream handbag that you don’t really need.
Leave your cards and cash at home whenever possible
Unless you know that you’re going to need to use your cards or cash for essentials like food or travel, leave your money at home so that you have no way of spending the money. A simple, yet effective way of stopping yourself from spending. If you’re really looking to break the habit, it might be a good idea to cut up any cards you have spent on so that it’s impossible to do it anymore.
Borrow money
Paying off your current owed money will help you concentrate on never getting back into that position again. Consider borrowing money so that you can pay off all of your debts and then concentrate on paying back just one thing each month. Take a look at these small personal loans, you’ll be surprised at how quickly your troubles could be eliminated!
Find a hobby
Another way of stopping yourself from indulging in new pieces of clothing that you don’t really need is to find yourself a hobby. Hobbies can take your mind off things and they don’t have to cost the earth, if any money at all! Think about what else you enjoy doing and pursue it as a hobby and before you know it you will have forgotten all about the need to go out shopping. Take a look at this list of hobbies that are completely free and see if any of them take your fancy!
Finally, tell someone about the issues that you are going through so that you can gain some support to turn to if you’re feeling like you might break. The support and understanding of a loved one can help massively, so don’t keep it a secret!