{"id":24516,"date":"2026-04-26T20:12:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T20:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24516"},"modified":"2026-04-26T20:12:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T20:12:54","slug":"retail-therapy-are-emotions-draining-your-wallet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24516","title":{"rendered":"Retail Therapy: Are Emotions Draining Your Wallet?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I want to talk about the kind of shopping you\u00a0don\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0talk about with your friends. It\u2019s a type of spending that\u2019s especially dangerous because it makes you feel better in the moment\u2014but causes shame and regret later on.\n <\/p>\n

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Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s called retail therapy,\u00a0<\/strong>and it might be costing you more than you know.\n <\/p>\n

Now, let me just say that I\u2019m a natural spender. Spending money comes easily to me, and I love shopping. I\u2019m not ashamed of that. But when shopping is how you deal with stress, sadness or even fear, then it\u2019s a big problem.\n <\/p>\n

You may turn to retail therapy without even realizing\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0you made that purchase. But once the fun of shopping fades and all you\u2019re left with is your busted budget, you experience even more heartache.\n <\/p>\n

What Is Retail Therapy?<\/h2>\n

Retail therapy is spending money to make yourself feel better. It\u2019s emotional spending, and a lot of people use it as a way to escape their problems or relieve stress. In fact, our own research at Ramsey has found that a third of Americans (34%) are more likely to spend money when they\u2019re stressed or emotional.\n <\/p>\n

But retail therapy doesn\u2019t fix your problems. It just distracts you from them for a bit. (And then it leads to even more problems in the end.)\n <\/p>\n

We all have different\u00a0money mindsets, so some people are more prone to this than others. Whether you only deal with this occasionally or it\u2019s a bigger pattern in your life, it always winds up\u00a0costing more than you bargained for.\n <\/p>\n

You guys, I know buying a new outfit or gadget can temporarily relieve the weight of our emotions, but that hit of happiness never lasts. Retail therapy hangovers feel like a lot of guilt, shame,\u00a0worry\u00a0and anxiety. I don\u2019t want that for you! I want you to feel secure in your finances\u00a0without\u00a0an ounce of remorse.\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cI am an emotional spender. I do well for a while and then I binge spend . . . like $3,000-for-Christmas-gifts (no kids) kind of binge spending. Sometimes it\u2019s just nickel-and-diming myself with stupid spending and no self-discipline.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\u2014 Aleah
Eugene, OR\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Psychology of Retail Therapy<\/h2>\n

So, that \u201cfix\u201d you get from retail therapy? You\u2019re not just imagining it\u2014there\u2019s actually\u00a0science behind it. Shopping really does make you feel better in the moment. Take a look at why retail therapy makes us feel so good.\n <\/p>\n

It gives you a sense of control.\u00a0<\/h3>\n

When life seems to be spinning out of control, deciding\u00a0what<\/em>\u00a0to buy and\u00a0where<\/em>\u00a0we\u2019ll shop makes it feel like we\u2019re back in the driver\u2019s seat.\u00a0But are you really in control, or are your emotions calling the shots?\n <\/p>\n

It\u2019s like a drug.<\/h3>\n

When we shop, the body releases \u201chappy hormones\u201d like dopamine, or what Psychology Today calls \u201cthe feel-good neurotransmitter.\u201d1<\/sup>\u00a0Ironically, most of the blissful feeling happens while we\u2019re anticipating<\/em> buying that shiny new toy, not during the actual purchase. And before we know it, the bliss is gone.\n <\/p>\n

It boosts your self-esteem.<\/h3>\n

Advertisers totally take advantage of this. They know which days and at what times you\u2019re most likely to feel vulnerable, and they send out their emails, targeted ads and text notifications during those times.\n <\/p>\n

So, if that dress you\u2019ve been eyeing on Instagram just happens to go on sale when you\u2019re feeling insecure, don\u2019t assume it\u2019s meant to be. In the moment, you feel like buying that dress will solve all your problems. You\u2019ll look\u00a0so<\/em>\u00a0great in it. But just like we talked about, that high will likely wear off by the time it arrives on your doorstep.\n <\/p>\n

It\u2019ll get you if you\u2019re a sap for a sale.<\/h3>\n

Okay, I admit it. I\u2019m totally guilty of this. Retailers are always working hard to appeal to our inner deal-lover so we spend money to\u00a0\u201dsave\u201d money.\n <\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s buy one, get one free for something we never wanted to begin with or 70% off something we\u2019ll never use again,\u00a0retailers aren\u2019t giving us what seems like a great deal out of the goodness of their hearts. They\u2019re trying to make a profit on us.\n <\/p>\n

It makes you hope for the future.<\/h3>\n

When we\u2019re shopping, it\u2019s easy to think about the future\u2014the game we\u2019ll be watching on that big-screen TV, the date we\u2019ll go on in that gorgeous designer dress, or all those ducks you\u2019ll bag in that new duck blind (love ya, Winston).\n <\/p>\n

Advertisers know this too. They paint a picture of the new life you can have if you just buy their product. And when you\u2019re deep in your own emotions, that new life seems like the perfect way to avoid your feelings and your problems.\n <\/p>\n

What Is a Shopping Compulsion?<\/h2>\n

Okay, we\u2019re going to get a little more serious for a second. While retail therapy can be a temporary emotional escape, a shopping compulsion (or compulsive buying) is a deeper, ongoing struggle. It\u2019s when shopping becomes less about pleasure and more about pressure\u2014an uncontrollable urge to buy, even when it leads to serious financial or emotional consequences.\n <\/p>\n

\u201cWith healthy shopping, we purchase in a calm and planned manner of the things that we need,\u201d said Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic. \u201cCompulsive shopping, in contrast, is done with a sense of urgency. There is an emotional trigger, and it often results in emotional or financial distress.\u201d2<\/sup>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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BEHAVIOR<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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RETAIL THERAPY<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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SHOPPING COMPULSION<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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FREQUENCY<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Occasional\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Frequent\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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MOTIVATION<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Mood relief\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Compulsion despite consequences\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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CONTROL<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Usually optional\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Feels irresistible\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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RESULT<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Temporary guilt\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Long-term emotional and financial harm\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Dangers of Retail Therapy: What Does It Actually Cost?<\/h2>\n

Is retail therapy really such a bad thing if it seems to be saving our sanity?\n <\/p>\n

Here are some areas of our lives that both researchers and shopaholics agree can suffer at the hands of retail therapy if we don\u2019t shop responsibly.\n <\/p>\n

It puts our financial security at risk.<\/h3>\n

There are two problems with this. First, saying, \u201cI deserve it\u201d and splurging on\u00a0big-ticket items\u00a0is a quick way to get upside down with your money. You aren\u2019t getting rid of your emotions. You\u2019re just adding\u00a0money stress\u00a0and strained finances\u00a0<\/em>to the mix.\n <\/p>\n

Second, those daily or weekly smaller purchases really add up too. If you\u2019re constantly hitting Add to Cart every time work gets overwhelming, you\u2019re slowly but surely eating away at your\u00a0financial security.\n <\/p>\n

It gets in the way of our long-term goals.<\/h3>\n

Hoping to\u00a0get out of debt, buy a house, save up for your kid\u2019s college tuition, or even pay for in-home care for your elderly parents? Hey, those are awesome\u00a0financial goals! But when you satisfy short-term desires without factoring in the future, that\u00a0comes at a cost\u2014not only to us but also to those around us.\n <\/p>\n

It hurts our self-control.<\/h3>\n

Thanks to the rush of dopamine released when we shop, retail therapy can easily become addictive and taxing on our self-control. For those who are already prone to addictive behaviors, not practicing self-control on what may seem like small things could lead us to chase that dopamine release through other addictions.\n <\/p>\n

It affects our health.<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s have some real talk: Retail therapy might work in the short term, but it can never cure what\u2019s driving us to shop in the first place\u2014it just numbs the pain for a moment.\n <\/p>\n

Pile a load of guilt, anxiety and\u00a0buyer’s remorse\u00a0from all that money we just spent on top of the pain that drove us to shop, and we\u2019ve got a royal mess of stress on our hands when the dopamine fades.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

So, next time retail therapy calls your name, do your health a favor and make the wise choice\u2014for your wellness and your wallet.\n <\/p>\n

It tries to replace our relationships.<\/h3>\n

If we\u2019re using retail therapy as a coping mechanism to deal with life\u2019s ups and downs, the relationships that are most important to us can easily feel the sting of neglect while we chase the next thing that\u2019s sure to make us happy.\n <\/p>\n

But as Derek Thompson humorously wrote, \u201cShopping bags aren\u2019t a great replacement for friendships.\u201d3<\/sup>\u00a0Do we really want our legacy to be that we invested our time in things, rather than in those we love?\n <\/p>\n

It can turn into a shopping compulsion.<\/h3>\n

So, remember the \u201chappy hormone\u201d hits we get whenever we go shopping? If we keep up the retail therapy over a long time, our brains begin to link shopping with general emotional relief, making it harder to stop even when the consequences pile up. And that\u2019s the real danger with retail therapy.\n <\/p>\n

When emotional spending becomes a full-blown addiction\u2014frequent, impulsive and hard to control\u2014it can damage your mental health and your relationships even more. We might start doing things like lying to the people we love to hide our shopping addiction, or worse . . . stealing<\/em> to satisfy the urge to both buy things and avoid financial problems.\n <\/p>\n

That\u2019s when retail therapy becomes a shopping compulsion, and that\u2019s not a road you want to go down.\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cFor me, 99% of my temptation is Amazon. So I\u2019ll freely add stuff to my cart and then make myself wait to see if I still want it the next day. Most of the time, I don\u2019t.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\u2014 Deborah
Winston-Salem, NC\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“If you fail to plan, you\u2019re planning to fail.” Ever heard that saying?\u00a0You need a plan to keep those roller-coaster emotions far,\u00a0far<\/em>\u00a0away from your shopping cart.\n <\/p>\n

Here are some simple steps to help you shop responsibly and avoid buyer\u2019s remorse:\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Tip<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Why It Works<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Make a budget\u2014and stick to it.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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You can enjoy spending without guilt when it\u2019s already planned.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Window shop (but don\u2019t buy).\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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You\u2019ll get that dopamine hit without draining your wallet.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Wait 24 hours before buying.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Time helps separate feelings from real needs.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Stick to necessities.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Meet the urge to shop by buying what you\u2019ll actually use.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Shop smart.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Compare prices and wait for sales instead of impulse buying.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Unfollow social triggers.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Fewer ads and comparison traps mean fewer temptations.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Avoid your spending traps.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Skip the stores or delete the apps that lead you to overspend.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Live generously.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Giving meets emotional needs in a lasting way.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Make a budget\u2014and stick to it!<\/h3>\n

Imagine waking up the morning after a big purchase or after\u00a0treating yourself to something fun\u00a0and breathing easy because\u2014being the financially savvy person you are\u2014you already made room in your budget to splurge. Now that would be a good way to start a new day!\n <\/p>\n

So, first things first. You need a budget. There are lots of ways to do this, but my personal favorite is with Ramsey\u2019s budgeting tool, EveryDollar. And you can start for free right now, so jump on that!\n <\/p>\n

And hey, I know what people say about budgeting. But listen:\u00a0<\/strong>Your budget is the path to freedom and fun.\u00a0Trust me.\n <\/p>\n

As you\u2019re\u00a0planning your budget\u00a0for the upcoming month, decide how much of your income will go toward your essentials (like rent and utilities), how much will go toward\u00a0giving, and how much will go toward your money goals (like\u00a0paying off debt\u00a0or\u00a0building your emergency fund).\n <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re out of debt and have an emergency fund in place, be sure to include things you\u00a0enjoy in the budget,\u00a0like adding new pieces to this season\u2019s wardrobe, splurging on a new set of tools, or taking a\u00a0date night\u00a0out with your spouse. But if you want to make a purchase and there\u2019s no room in the budget\u2014sorry! <\/em>\n <\/p>\n

Window shop.<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, even window shopping can release a surge of dopamine, giving your brain that fix it craves. But this way, it doesn\u2019t cost you a thing!\n <\/p>\n

I have a friend who actually does this with online shopping. She browses her favorite websites, reads the reviews, and saves items to her cart. And then . . . she just leaves them there. That whole process makes her feel some of the shopping buzz without any of the retail therapy burn.\n <\/p>\n

Wait it out.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re about to click Purchase Now, wait a moment and ask yourself these three questions:\n <\/p>\n