I never imagined that my online shopping would lead to me losing control. It started with some treats – A nice phone case here, a set of earrings there. I was chasing that tiny thrill of joy every time a gift arrived at my door.
But you know, before I knew it, I was filling my shopping cart at night. To be honest, neither I nor my bank account was happy.
You're not the only one who has ever felt trapped in the same cycle; I have as well. Today, I'm going to share how I overcame my online shopping addiction. These 5 simple habits will truly change your life.
Contents
Why Can You Get Addicted To Online Shopping?
We can get addicted to online shopping easily these days. We can buy anytime, anywhere we want, with the never-ending sales that flash on the screen.
Plus, our favorite online influencers can make us buy things that we really don't need. And over time, it turns into a habit that you just can't escape.
Common Warning Signs That You Might Be Overspending
This is how I came to realize that my online shopping habit was becoming unmanageable. Check to see whether any of these seem a bit too familiar to you:
- Whenever I'm bored, anxious, or just need a quick pick-me-up, I frequently go shopping.
- I feel like I've won a little victory when I hit that “Buy Now” button.
- My spending habits have caused tension with those close to me.
- Sometimes I feel regret or question what I was thinking after going on shopping sprees.
- I've made up white lies about what I ordered or how much I spent.
- My closet has things I’ve never worn, and there are unopened packages I forgot about.
- I catch myself daydreaming about what to buy next or scrolling shopping apps so often (instead of doing something else).
- My friends and my family have pointed out my overspending (gently or not).
Don't worry if some of these hit home for you. You know, you can only make change when you recognize the signs.
Effects of Being an Online Shopping Addict
No one can deny one thing – Shopping makes us happy. But when your online shopping habit is out of control, it will drain your account. You can feel that it is harmless at first.
But then you will soon feel guilty seeing many unopened boxes pile up around your room. This will disconnect you from what can truly make you happy.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry. There’s a way out I'll share with you in the next section.
How To Overcome Your Shopping Addiction – 5 Life-Changing Habits
It may not be easy at first, but it's 100% possible. You need to build healthier habits and a new mindset to break free. Ready to take back your control?
Set Your Goal
Everything changed at that point. “What do I actually want my money to do for me?” was the impactful yet simple question I asked myself as I sat down.
I took out a notebook and jotted down all of my life's desires. No shame, no edits:
- My accumulated savings or pay off my debt?
- Save for my dream travel or buy a new house?
- Open a small shop and build a website in the future?
- What are the top 3 priorities in my life?
I then decided on a goal that truly fueled my enthusiasm. My goal at that time was to save $1,000 to accumulate an emergency fund and give it a 5-month timeline.
Whenever I hovered over that “Add to cart” button, I asked myself: “Would I rather have this or be closer to my goal?”
The game-changer was that simple habit of establishing a specific, time-bound, and personal goal (or SMART goals). No more evasive promises like “save money someday.”
Implement New Habits
Here are some practical habits you can start right now:
Set A Monthly “Wants” Budget: Give yourself a clear, limited amount to spend on non-essential things. $50 a month, for instance, for enjoyable items. This helps you notice where your money is going.
Pause Before You Buy: You should wait 1 or 2 days before making any purchase. This will help you avoid impulsive purchases. Usually, the impulse will go away.
Reduce Temptation: Limit your time on social media, unfollow shopping accounts, and unsubscribe from marketing emails. You know, “out of sight, out of mind” will work.
Make Use Of What You Already Have: Go through your closet, or random home items and start using what you bought. You may be shocked at how much you forgot.
Pick New Hobbies: Reading, working out, cooking, journaling, or learning a new side hustle – anything you like. The goal is to create positive, meaningful distractions.
Some days you'll slip, but that's okay. The important thing is to be consistent in gradually forming healthy habits. Saying no to impulsive purchases will get easier with time.
Make Space For Your New Life
Here's how to get started:
Focus On The Most Stressful Area First: For me, it was my bedroom – crammed closets, boxes beneath the bed, and other assorted junk.
Break It Up Into Sections: Try to clear small areas within the space rather than a large one. Just one corner, one sheft, or one drawer at a time.
Ask yourself: “Do I love this one? Does it fit my lifestyle and values?”. Let the stuff go if your answer is “No”.
Permit Yourself To Hold Onto “Maybe” Items: It's acceptable if you're not quite ready to part with anything. Label it, put it in a box, and come back to it in a few months. No pressure.
Use What You Already Have: Set a challenge for yourself to use what you currently own before purchasing anything new. Renew old favorites, mix and match your wardrobe, and try out those neglected beauty products.
Practice Gratitude & Embrace Adversity
Adversity is something you lean into rather than something you avoid. This is one of the most important lessons I've learned so far.
Start By Identifying Your Limiting Beliefs
These are the kinds of beliefs that hold you back and make you feel inadequate. Have you ever thought: “I need more makeup to feel beautiful”, or “I'll be judged if I repeat an outfit”?
How to change them:
Once a negative thought appears, replace it with a kinder and empowering belief. For example, instead of saying “I’m not good at money,” say “I’m still learning how to manage my money better, and I’m improving every day.”
Why Practicing Gratitude Matters
You will stop feeling like you're missing out on things all the time when you concentrate on what you already have. Gratitude helps you silence your inner critic and makes you see wealth instead of lack.
A few simple ways to practice gratitude:
- Keep a gratitude journal: Write down 3 things you’re grateful for every morning. Big or small — it all counts.
- Use motivational sayings to help you stay grounded: One of my favorites is from Oprah: “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have, you’ll never have enough.”
It can be a hot shower, a supportive buddy, or a sunset you see on your walk home. There's always something for us to be thankful for each day, even on our worst days.
Keep in mind that the goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Being grateful encourages you to value your journey and keeps you going forward.
Taking pictures of positive moments and sharing them on Facebook to keep you motivated is also a great idea.
Be Responsible For Your Actions
Why It Matters
Yes, life may be unpredictable. We have no control over such events. But the choice of how to react to the circumstances is always yours.
Taking full responsibility for an issue doesn’t mean taking all the blame. It means accepting your role and making every effort to make things better going the future.
How I Started Taking Responsibility
I was deep in my shopping addiction in my 20s. And I had a never-ending series of justifications for my overspending, like:
- “I had a bad day, I deserve this.”
- “It's essentially saving money because it was on sale.”
- “Shopping is harmless because it makes me happy.”
After going on a shopping binge, I would tell myself, “Don't feel bad,” but I secretly did. And my finances (and confidence) get worse and worse.
The biggest shift came when I admitted to myself that:
- I was in charge of my money.
- I was the one who decided to go over budget.
- I was the only person who could fix this.
What Helped Me Stay Accountable
Create a simple yet realistic budget. This will help you to hold yourself accountable. It forces you to be honest about your income, expenses, and the behaviors that were hindering your progress.
Takeaway
Don't say: “It’s not my fault.” You will feel much more positive about saying: “I messed up, but I’m fixing it”.
Last Words
If you’re on a similar journey of overcoming an online shopping addiction, remember — it’s not about being perfect. It's about picking what matters to you, taking small steps, and being honest with yourself.
And trust me, it’s worth it. Your fresh start begins today.