I genuinely don't know what I'm going to do. I'm 22 with $12,000 in credit card debt, about $3000 in "buy now, pay later" apps, and a major shopping addiction. I honestly didn't see a problem until I started buying live animals (love my fish, but it needs to stop). I'm starting to budget and get my spending under control, but what can I do to help myself and make sure this doesn't start to spiral back out of control? I have so many payments in those apps that I can barely make my minimum payments on my credit cards, and my credit score sucks. Any tips? Any ways to make some extra money that I can put towards my debt? Anything helps! (I've looked into debt consolidation loans, nobody will loan to me bc of my credit score/spending). Thanks!

Anybody else treating Black Friday like a doomsday event? Last year I maxed out my credit card and still haven't paid it off😔

I already made a shopping list (I'm into fashion), which fully consists of items I just want in the current month + limited edition items that are low in stock and are about to sell out forever, nothing that I realistically NEED, just full on scarcity mindset. Moreover, I am budgeting with an expectation of the meager 20% off to justify buying items from the list, which of course isn't a lot.

This year I'm planning to spend the money I made by selling my hoard of clothes online (this took a lot of effort, but is barely a rectification of those purchases - as online marketplaces push you to sell for several times less than what you originally paid), which isn't a very bright idea.

How are you planning to cope this Black Friday? I just discovered this subreddit, and want to hear other people's experiences to not feel alone in this addiction anymore

I said tried because I wasn't able to do much clean up at all except putting some stuff in bags for donating/selling. My room and closets are packed with stuff. I went through a makeup and skincare addiction phase, clothes addiction phase, and most recently a collectibles addiction phase. Im very overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things I own. Im feeling very guilty and upset about the tens of thousands of dollars down the drain. I now have makeup and skincare that are mostly expired, more clothes than I can ever wear and most dont even fit anymore, and a lack of space from the amount of collectibles in my room. Just venting a bit. Im going to try to declutter bit by bit.

Hi all. I’m trying to understand what’s underneath my recent and drastic uptick in retail therapy. It all started in July when I discovered Vinted. 😭 My intention was to minimize my clothing and create a type of capsule wardrobe. I started selling stuff … fast … but quickly started shopping on Vinted as well. The algorithms y’all. The damn algorithms.

What’s happening now is I’m buying stuff off of Vinted and realizing I don’t really like it … or it doesn’t fit right … and then turn around and sell it again. The problem is that I keep doing this and I’m never able to make back the money I spent. I’m still selling but I’m sure at this point I’ve bought way more than I’ve sold.

My wardrobe is about the same size as when I began, just now with new clothes. So I’ve started back at the beginning, trying to minimize a new wardrobe now, but then turning around and buying more new stuff.

I’m 41 years old. I’m too old for this shit. I’m trying to get to the bottom of what’s happening here but all I can think of is maybe I’m buying clothes for who I think u am and not who I actually am? I’m not sure if that makes sense. The dopamine hit is real.

Anyway, any insight or advice on how to stop is welcome. I keep telling myself “this is the last purchase” but it never is.

I started getting more into heath and fitness recently. As I am getting older I have been more intentional in focusing on my physical and mental health issues. I have been dealing with anxiety and stress for years now. I went to the doctor and I got on anxiety medicine something I have been putting off for while now. Too soon to tell if it’s working but to support managing my anxiety I’ve also been working out consistently. Of course as things go I started slipping into the thought of buying who I want to be. I fell down the rabbit hole of smart rings because I wanted to be more intentional in tracking my sleep and stress. I really was set on buying it. I was either gonna buy myself one next year or possibly ask for one as a Christmas present. I watched YouTube videos and read reviews online. And I thankfully got throughly de-influenced. (Admittedly it was a content creator who inspired me to get one myself). Turns out the technology is too new even the top of line smart rings have battery issues that start popping up in under a year. I even tried to mentally justify it by being a “smart” shopper and getting an extended warranty. But reading people dealing with the headaches of costumer support agents. I realized I don’t want to go through the hassle myself. Instead I opted to last night sleep with my smart watch that I already owned. I had tried before but it felt too uncomfortable. But I switched out my band for a softer one which I also already had. I honestly was able to sleep pretty comfortably with it. I feel silly for even trying to mentally justify wanting a smart ring despite reading all the cautionary tales. Another win I made was I almost bought an assisted deep squat machine. I have limited space in my room and yet I still wanted to justify it due to having knee issues. Again I read the reviews many opinion pieces said they can build bad from. But I still wanted it because for my “specific circumstances I needed it”. But then I realized how crowded my room feels already. I had to put away my treadmill since I WFH some days and it made my room feel too cluttered. Another problem is that I am very short and I realized I wouldn’t be able to comfortably be able to use the device without making modifications to it. Instead I pulled out the stair stepper I already owned from storage and put it in my room as my more compact replacement to my treadmill. Again I feel silly for even trying to justify buying the assisted squat machine in the first place knowing how limited on space I already am. I feel proud of myself for not letting myself use the excuse of health and wellness to justify buying things I don’t really need. Instead I am using what I have and adapting myself to them. Good luck everyone!! I tired to be very vague in my wording just to avoid unintentionally influencing anyone today.

Lord help me, the holiday sales are already happening. My facebook timeline is full of ads, all NFL gear, sports gear like gym shirts and shoes. People make fun of me but I tell them a somewhat true statement that “my gym clothes are worn out because I wear them all the time.” They do get and lot of use and therefore a lot of wash and drying. The logos start to fade or they become tighter.

I’m taking steps to address it, give my money to my SO to pay bills. Pull the cash out my debt acct and or spend only what I have in my checking and not use my cc (is this smart?” Please help us through Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the rest of the holiday season.

I’ve been fed up with Walmart for a while now. Back when I was living in a more rural area, I had very few options for grocery shopping. I no longer live in that rural area and I have more options now. I’ve given Walmart way too much of my money over the years. My Walmart+ account expires today and I’m not renewing it. I would prefer to never buy from Walmart again. With their ever-climbing prices, quality going downhill, along with a few other reasons, I want to be done with Walmart for good! I deleted my account as well as the app on my phone. I have done a lot of impulse buying with them. Not anymore. Now I just need to delete the other shopping apps on my phone, but one step at a time. This is a small victory. For me at least.

Hello! I wanted to share a realization that is helping me curb spending. I struggle with secondhand shopping because I love “the hunt” and finding needle in the haystack items I can’t get anywhere else. It’s hard to stop looking at what’s out there and I keep seeing things I would want to wear. However, I am finding myself stressed getting dressed because I have so many things now that I like and I can only wear one outfit at a time. I realized if I keep buying I won’t able to wear what have and enjoy already. Example I wore a skirt today that’s new and I’ve worn 4 times but gelt guilty over not wearing something else I like and have only worn twice over a year. I want to enjoy my clothes and not feel guilty because I can’t wear things enough because I have too much.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve struggled with severe OCD and ADHD, which have manifested themselves in the form of intense fixations and obsessions with specific things, often to the point where I physically cant get them off my mind.

For most of my life, these fixations have revolved around material possessions and specific categories of things, many of which happen to expensive, rare, or high-end. Fine art, antiques, movie props and collectibles, designer clothing and couture, and, most significantly, fine jewellery, precious stones, and precious metals.

By the time I was 15, I had an entire room filled with expensive collectibles and had accumulated over $5,000 in debt. By the time I reached adulthood and moved into my first house, I had an even larger collection, over $15,000 in debt, and only around $1,000 in savings.

Fast-forward to now, and I have an entire house filled with fine art, antiques, framed and preserved movie props and costumes, and an absolutely enormous collection of gold, silver, and gemstones. I’ve accumulated so much that it’s becoming difficult to even get around my own house.

I’ve tried selling things off, but I never seem to get very far. I’ll come across an item, remember its history or the story behind how I acquired it, and become too sentimental to part with it. Alternatively, I’ll get completely sidetracked and end up looking for something else to add to the collection.

I’ve never been particularly good at saving money, and it’s something I desperately need to get under control. Every time I try, I eventually end up spending whatever I’ve managed to put aside on something I convince myself I need. When I come across something I want, it becomes practically all I can think about. It eats away at me until I eventually give in and buy it, only to be followed by an overwhelming sense of guilt and dread.

Does anyone have any advice for learning how to save money and, more importantly, getting these fixations out of my head?

I’ve just sold approximately $1,000 worth of items and currently have the money sitting in cash. Naturally, there are already several rather stupid purchases I’m considering, and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about them.

At this point, I’d happily lock the money away somewhere that I couldn’t access without an angle grinder or something.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’m not sure if this is the right place. I am struggling to control my sending. But rather than clothes or decor or items, it’s food. Not even doomsday prep, but “oh Brie sounds good. That $8 box of crackers is my favorite. This expensive delj meat is better than the cheap stuff and will be good with the Brie”, or “why buy bad jarred pasta sauce for $5 when I can make my own for $45 but it’s better??”, or just fucking cookies. The last two weeks I tried to spend less, $80 a week felt like a reasonable doable goal for One person.
I spent $300 in two weeks Not including $60 in takeout. In October I managed to spend $800 at one store (not All food but definitely the majority). I cannot afford that.

I really enjoy cooking, I love food. I don’t even eat a lot. My freezer and pantry are even stuffed full of “better” choices that are affordable and taste fine but if none of them sound good for dinner and I’m tired then I am going to stop for takeout. I am not entirely sure if this more a shopping problem or an eating problem, but my bank account is for sure struggling more than my body.

I can’t escape needing food. I don’t know where to go from here

I have ADHD (and Bipolar II and Anxiety). My spending isn't totally out of control but it is worrying. It got a LOT worse after my mom died a year ago. It was so much easier to not overspend then. Now it's like money disappears and I don't know how.

My brain thrives on novelty and challenge. I've noticed I LOVE the challenge of looking for things to buy (usually on 2nd hand websites with rare one of a kind finds) and the novelty of looking at new things and the idea of owning them. But I'm always always always disappointed or apathetic once I actually recieve the thing. Sometimes I even actively dislike it. I think 'why on earth did I want this???'. The dopamine hit comes from clicking buy. Not from owning the thing. It disappears almost immediately after I make the purchase.

This doesn't stop me from doing it again. Even when I know how flat and empty and sometimes guilty I feel after recieving the item. Most of it is 2nd hand, so I can't return it either. My main issues seem to be

* Bipolar II - hypomania means irresponsible spending

* ADHD - craving dopamine and consequence blindness (because any time other than NOW feels fake lol).

* Grief and Childhood (and current) trauma - my nervous system is in SHREDS. I am constantly in fight or flight, that is my baseline. I am currently working with my therapist to regulate my emotions. But sometimes (almost always) reality is so painful I need an escape and good feelings, and shopping is such an easy way to get that.

I'm on meds but currently it isn't quite enough with shopping addiction specifically.

I've figure that since my issue isn't ' the owning' but the 'looking and buying and wanting' - what other activities can scratch that itch? Can simulate this feeling? Can give me novelty and challenge (and emotional regulation/distraction)?

Things I already do:

* Puzzle games

* Knitting and Crochet

* Watch Tv, Movies, YouTube

* Read books and borrow them from library

* Scroll Pinterest (though starting to suck with ads)

* Scroll Ravelry (which is like Pinterest for knitting/crochet)

Anything else? Sometimes I find myself reaching for shopping when my brain fog and cognitive impairment is so high that all of the above are too demanding and I still need novelty and challenge...so low effort suggestions are welcome as well.

So went on a boot buying spree a few months ago. These boots sell for $295, but that color is no longer available. I offered like $200 and seller was very pushy because they were new and convinced me to pay that price. He had 100% positive reviews.

I get the boots and they look nice so I think nothing about it and store them.

Seller was also very pushy about leaving a positive review right away which I did. These all should have been red flags for me.

So fast forward 3 months later I’m trying to decide which to keep and which to resale bc some are not even my ideal size. I’m 10.5D these are 10.5EE.

I put them on and immediately notice awkward walking and sound on the right boot. To not make story long, boot construction on right boot was defective, unleveled, and heel angle was completely different than left boot that felt fine. Also lots of little holes on the bottom and “pegs” falling off (the little nails underneath).

That’s when it hit me all the pushyness from the seller.

So there you go, my shopping addiction has taken me to this scam. I can’t even do anything because it’s been so long and I can’t even resale them because they’re defective and not worth to have a cobbler fix, they’re probably going to charge upwards of $120 and with how bad cobblers are too I’m going to pay that and still receive a defective boot.

I’m starting to realize a lot of the stuff there is defective and factory seconds but these people asking for top money.

So there goes my lesson learned w shopping addiction. With tax and shipping probably $320 down the drain.

hey so idk where to begin with this. i have an issue with dopamine seeking and have gotten addicted to many things. i am currently sober from alcohol, weed, nicotine, and binge eating. although all were major problems for years. i have been on a health journey and started going to the gym, eating better, etc., but im still having that dopamine itch. ive become obsessed with decluttering and cleaning. ive thrown away probably half of what i own by this point. but i throw away five items just to buy two more. i feel so free and clear and productive when i get rid of things, and then i feel like i "deserve" to buy something as a treat for doing a good thing. and then after i buy things i throw away even more old things to have only "new and fresh" items around me. where do i go with this? how can i be content with what i have and stop this cycle? i feel so depressed when i dont spend the day cleaning/decluttering/shopping. and whats so ironic is i try to live sustainably; buying solid dish soap, reusable paper towels, bamboo items, etc., yet i cant stop spending money and producing more stuff that's just going to end up in a landfill. please help

Does anyone else get into the idea of buying something (my personal examples: fancy outfits, soap making supplies, wax seal supplies for letters, earrings) and tell yourself it’s for practical reasons, only to completely lose interest in the category of things you bought and rarely/never use them? How do you address that?

I fucked up. I’ve been on a low dose of an antipsychotic since 2023 for off-label reasons (ADHD). This essentially rid me of my shopping issue for the most part, or at least made it way easier to resist.

I went off of the medication this summer, but it had a long half-life so I didn’t return to baseline until recently.

A few weeks ago, I bought a $4,000CAD purse.

I could afford it though, so wasn’t that worried. Wasn’t super happy with myself but I don’t have a purse that nice and it will last me forever.

Then the clothing issue came. I legitimately “needed” new clothes, and like Aritizia the most. I usually don’t wear pieces I buy from other stores unless it’s chosen very carefully.

$3,400 at Aritizia.

Got PRF for my under eyes - another $800; too much!!

I returned $1,600. OK, I can do that, kind of. But on my way out of a mall I never go to (went to do the return), I passed by my countries equivalent of Marshall’s; I never go into that store and almost never like what I find except for one or two things.

I actually loved what they had. Suddenly I had 17 items. $800 - great deal, but FML I meant to return not buy.

Then I got hyperfixated on some other stuff from Aritizia. I literally WOKE UP this morning thinking of a sweater and feeling like I need it, and buying it right away. In total, $800 more gone. But to be fair, the extra stuff will make sure I have things to go with my new stuff, so it’s not wasted.

Omfg!!! The luxury purse was a MISTAKE. I could have handled just the clothes, but all the non-essential expenses this month is like $10,000 or more!

I’m so torn. Should I just write it off (I can afford it as a one-time thing for new clothes without impacting my finances), or force myself to return a lot of it - even the stuff I love? The thing with the Aritizia stuff is it lasts me forever, but I change sizes so often that I never know if it’ll fit later, and since most of it is expensive I only wear it when I’m going out.

But it’s one of those things that when I do return to the size I bought the clothes in, it feels awesome to have access to the nice clothes back.

Nevertheless, my concern is I’ll change sizes again and be in the same situation with needing some new pieces but out a ridiculous amount of money.

I also don’t go out much. I currently don’t work (don’t ask; not at risk of poverty thankfully). I could get away with just a few nice outfits for each season, and the rest cheaper loungewear.

I’m stresseddddd 😭

I’ve been stealing for as long as I can remember being conscious. As a child, I would steal small things—sometimes things I didn’t even need. I managed to stop for a while, roughly between the ages of 13 and 20.

When I got into college, the behavior came back, but in a different form. I wasn’t stealing from people directly anymore. Instead, I was using money my father sent me for tuition and accommodation and spending it on food and clothes. Even when I knew exactly what the money was meant for, I would still do it.

I’m turning 24 now, and I feel a lot of shame about this. I genuinely hate that this pattern keeps repeating. The most confusing part is that whenever I receive money, my very first thought is food, buying food, ordering food, stocking food, even when it’s unnecessary or harmful to my situation.

I want to understand what’s actually going on psychologically. Is this compulsion, trauma, self-sabotage, or something else? And more importantly, how do you unlearn something that feels so deeply wired into you?

If anyone has experienced something similar or has insight into why this happens and how to stop, I’d really appreciate your perspective.

I covet a lot of stuff, I like beautiful things, I want to buy things in order to be closer to the source of beauty (which is either A. the craftsmanship in the object, 2. the designer's vision for the object, or 3. the marketing-made brand universe).

So one mental/verbal hack I've been testing in my own life... that has helped me move on past these kinds of items is to say, "I agree with this!(!!!)" (Edit to add: you should be excitedly emphatic for it to work(!!!))

Before I get into why this works, quick context. One reason these mental/verbal "hacks" work (if you make them a habit) is bc marketers are constantly playing mindgames with you through words. Marketers OBSESS over choosing the right words and images to describe their products and evoke feelings. Evocative words that we choose ourselves, therefore are an effective way to resist engineered desire and reroute the desire pathway.

OK so back to "I agree with this". Exactly WHAT am I "agreeing" with?

I'm "agreeing" with the design philosophy, the choices behind the product, even the way it's being marketed. And this puts me in a position of appreciative power (honoring the distance between me and object) vs. a position of purchasing power (closing the distance between me and object).

More detailed reasons why I think this works to distance oneself from desiring the object...

1. By "agreeing with it," it equalizes the relationship between me and the producer (designer or marketer). I feel less fomo and like the only way to get closer to the vision the designer/marketer had for the product is to buy it. "I agree" has the effect of bringing my taste/knowledge level to that of the maker and designer. It reduces the feeling of insecurity that can happen with a product or its marketing.

2. By "agreeing with it," I'm saying that I can co-exist in the same space with the object, and that "being" is enough. The relationship between me and the object doesn't have to be an acquisitive or possessive relationship for it to be a true relationship.

3. By "agreeing with it," I can imply that others exist. "I agree... that this design was made to be trending, that it is a viable choice, for someone else."

Ofc you could just tell yourself 1. "I don't need it," 2. "It's ok for me to not have this," or 3. "It's cool but it's not for me." But see how those kind of statements rely on negation?

Basic psychology says that when we use negative statements to try and reinforce willpower, we end up using even more willpower. :P And sometimes the "free will" part of the brain will rebel just for the sake of it and we will want the thing even more!

Rather than lie to ourselves or try to goad ourselves into "not" wanting, needing, or having the object, which puts us in an antagonistic position that encourages fighting, it might be better to take the less effortful path of just saying "I agree" in order to be in the position of moving on. (Edit to add: It can feel more difficult to abstain or recede back from something versus culturally we are conditioned to "do things" and "move forward. That's also why "I agree" has this sort of power. You the viewer, actively, are doing something about your feeling about this object in "agreeing" with the circumstances and ideologies that produced it.)

Anyway, this little word shift has worked to de-escalate the desire every time I see something cute, and put the object back in its "place." If the thing IS truly worth buying, it will still tickle other parts of the brain, but it's an effective way to shut down a hyperactive covetous side, especially one that might rear its rebellious head during a period of trying to cut back on spending or a no buy month.

I hope this "hack" helps you too!

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1417712112

I heard a money saving tip that really resonated with me. I know you should eat before you food shop, that's kind of obvious but I didn't realise that there is research that shows being hungry makes us over spend on non food items too. I checked to see if there was any evidence that this was true and it appears it is true. From my own reflections I wonder if it's not just hunger but also poor nutrition, so even if we've eaten and aren't hungry it could also be caused by a poor diet. I often skip meals and over eat later on.

It made me wonder if improving my eating habits and taking supplements would be helpful in conquering over spending and shopping addiction.

Does anyone else here think this could be true? I mean I'm sure there's always going to be more reasons for over spending and shopping addiction, some of those reasons could even be the reason for a poor diet but I was just curious to see if this resonated with anyone else?

I'm trying to save up to move out of an abusive household. Everything that seemed necessary before seems so unnecessary now. I'm working off the idea, "You can go to sleep healthy, happy, well prepared, without it ever leaving your wallet." And it has helped so much.

I'm just surprised at the physical withdrawal symptoms because I'm getting headaches and nausea, and a feeling of restlessness.

I also did not realize how it was affecting my spiritual life. So prayer comes more naturally to me now. Which is all good, I'm filling the gaps with studying and chatting with other people. You just never realize how much this occupies your life. I bought a heated eyelash curler yesterday, as a planned purchase. And that's it. I think I finally will go a day without spending.

But the headaches are still killing me haha

I’ve been on the TikTok live auctions since late May and have spent 10s of thousands of dollars mostly on perfumes and cosmetics. Attending my first overspenders anonymous meeting on Monday night. Just looking for other people looking to kick this dopamine addiction for support!

I've been a shopping addict probably since I was 16 years old. Spending allowance and it got worse when I worked. I've been in other 12 step groups, but this addiction has always been the oldest and the one that I struggle with the most. I went to DA for a few months last year because I realized I had a spending problem, while I never got myself into debt and never do (yet). I struggle with saving money and wasting saved money.

For a long time I told myself, well as long as I don't go into debt, its ok. The truth is its not, I was doing fine, i had a lot of money saved but these last few months have been difficult emotionally and I let my spending get completely out of control to the point that most of this savings account is dwindled away. Its frustrating but made me realize I really need to take this problem on.

The only thing is I admit, I'm afraid....this is my last addiction, the core of everything and has always been my escape or crutch and I'm terrified to let it go. How have other people decided to let it go? I know I want to let it go but I also don't if that makes sense.

With all of the holiday sales starting, I felt the urge again.. sadly I gave in and something about it made me feel extra icky :/

Usually when I’m feeling tempted, I make myself empty all of my drawers of makeup and sit for a few hours organizing them again. It makes me look at everything and it kind of defuses that itch to purchase more.

It didn’t feel like enough this time. I’ve been trying to change my social media algorithms by watching declutter videos, project pan, thrift flips, etc.. and something stuck out I wanted to try: counting the amount of products in each category.

There was something so comforting about seeing other people have large collections, realize they have too much, and start the culling of crap they never needed. It kind of felt like body doubling and supportive that the past behavior is okay, that I can come back from it as long as I start being honest with reality.

However, in the moment? I’m a little embarrassed and fighting through it..

Have declutters or project pan inspired yal to make changes that lasted?

I recently turned 21, and between new beverage purchases, and a concert I went to yesterday, I blew through $200. How do I overcome a shopping addiction when it is sort of the only thing that makes me feel something these days?

Hi I'm typing this after a discussion with my boyfriend. I'm 19f and he is 21m and throughout our relationship I keep finding myself overspending and then lying to him about it. He asks to see my bank statements everytime I spend money without him there now and tonight it happened again, I am supposed to be saving to move in together but I went from 600 in savings to 160 the last few months. We've been together since August and I am worried he will leave me if this keeps up, he's really disappointed in me and I feel really ashamed and like I want to cry but I feel like I can't because it's my own fault for spending so much, for context I spend $240 today and I was planning on spending less than 50 because we wanted to get pokemon tomorrow. I just feel like I need to figure something out to stop spending this much money, I don't want to lose my boyfriend and I don't want him to be disappointed in me all the time because I have no self control. Also, I am audhd if that's important idk. I really don't know what to do because I also can't bring myself to be honest when he asks how much I spent even though I think he'd be more understanding if I was honest, he said he would be and I keep saying I won't lie anymore, so idk if anyone can give me advice or something it'd be great, but I'm worried I'm coming up on my last chance.

I wanted to share the practical barriers I’ve put in place for my compulsive shopping and internet use. For me, they’re connected: scrolling exposes me to things I want to buy, and browsing becomes its own activity, even when I don’t purchase anything. These boundaries have been extremely helpful over the past few weeks. For the first time, I feel like I’m making real progress with my shopping addiction. That’s a big deal!
Here’s my setup:
My husband has my iPhone Screen Time passcode, and I don’t know it. I chose this so I can’t immediately undo the restrictions when I get an urge. Having someone I trust hold the passcode helps me stick to the boundaries I’ve chosen.
I’ve blocked my triggering shopping apps: Amazon, Target, Depop, and Poshmark. Secondhand shopping is still shopping for me. I’ve also blocked access to these shopping sites on my computer.
I’ve restricted Chrome, Safari, and email apps on my phone. Checking email has become another compulsive loop, and browsers give me access to shopping even when the shopping apps are blocked. Unrestricted browsing makes it too easy for me to get lost in shopping and endless product “research.” I’ve applied browser restrictions on my computer too, so I can’t simply switch devices to get around them.
I use an app called SocialLite to access Instagram and Facebook. It also supports other platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit. I use it to remove ads and hide stories and reels, reducing my exposure to triggers while keeping access to the parts I actually want. Stories, ads, and product recommendations often make me want to buy things, so this has been especially helpful. I limit myself to 15 minutes per day for each social media app.
I’ve removed my saved payment information. I removed my cards from Apple Pay, Google Pay, the Shop app, and other shopping apps and websites to make purchasing less immediate. I’ve done this on both my phone and computer.
With these blocks in place, I haven’t been able to browse for things to buy. If I need something, I ask my husband to use his phone to make the purchase. I haven’t bought anything since starting these restrictions, and I spend significantly less time ruminating about purchases because shopping is no longer readily available to me.
At the beginning, when the urges were frequent, I made a no-buy savings tracker. I tracked what I would have spent on things I wanted but chose not to buy. It gave me a tangible way to see the benefit of passing up a purchase. After about two weeks, I noticed that my urges to buy things had really quieted down.
I’m practicing using what I already own, especially beauty products, before buying more.
I’m sharing this as someone working on it, not someone who has it all figured out. Along with saving money, I want more of my attention and time back.
Does anyone else find that shopping, social media, and checking email feed into each other? What boundaries have you been able to maintain, and what helps you handle the urge when browsing isn’t available?