What Is Emotional Spending? How can you get over it?

Does the receipt of a parcel cause an instant dopamine hit? Maybe you are trying to find solace in emotional spending. You are not alone in this stigma as many examples are there.

Be it a Gen Z or a Millennial, this habit has not spared anyone. The convenience of placing an order online has contributed to this problem a bit more. Now, not being able to visit the store is no longer an accepted excuse.

A survey was done in 2023 interviewing people from the age group between 16 to 64 years. It has approximately covered 52 markets. The reports claimed that consumers are purchasing different items to boost their mood.

This behaviour faces no impact despite inflation or any financial obligation. No matter if their financial condition is going through a rough patch. Spending for pleasures or desires can offer instantaneous happiness.

A potential factor to trigger emotional spending

42 out of 100 UK Gen Z live with their parents. They do not have to own a home as they are living in their parent’s home. For this reason, they are able to save money that could have been spent on rent or home purchases.

This is like their disposable income and they can do whatever they want. 91% of them indulge in spending this additional money to purchase things mindlessly. Again, you can compare millennials with impulse buyers.

27% of UK millennials are more driven to spend more to beat their stress. Shopping is a like activity for them to find happiness amidst the stress in life.

What do you mean by emotional spending?

Seeking happiness from retail therapy is not a solution. It can rather push you into deep trouble. At times, you choose this route to vent your bad feelings or insecurities about failures.

Emotional spending defines a unique state of mind. Spending money to purchase things when feeling emotionally low seems like a good idea. This helps in diverting your mind from the ongoing situation.

You consider this as a respite from the present trauma or crisis. In this endeavour, you fail to see how this is transforming into a habit. Emotional spending once in a while is not that bad.

However, it should not be the only accepted remedy for you. This spending habit is dangerous as it can influence you to take extreme steps to fulfil this purpose.

For example,

You do not even think twice while getting an instant cash loan in 1 hour in Ireland. The shrinking size of your bank balance cannot prevent you from shopping. This is because you are ready to find out alternatives like these loans.

Why does emotional spending happen?

You choose spending money as the most convenient way to feel better in a complicated situation. This happens to everyone but the frequency might not be the same. Furthermore, some are capable of controlling this behaviour.

Others who cannot get a hold of this emotional spending thing might have these reasons.

• Feel like there is something missing in your life
• To recover the gap that could be imaginary
• Psychological factors might be responsible
• Need to fulfil the dissatisfaction of your life
• Want to feel happy instantaneously
• Buying new things makes you feel equal to others
• Shopping seems like a status symbol
• The increase in social-media involvement

Are there ways to control this emotional spending behaviour?

If this is hurting your finances, this is definitely not good. You must try to rectify it immediately or else returning back would be difficult. Although it gives temporary happiness, you cannot feel content once the month winds up.

This calls for measures that should be part of your strategy.

Try to control this impulsiveness

First, accept that you have this problem and you must overcome it. The good news is that it is possible and you do not have to be too strict. All you need to do is to find an alternative way to deal with your emotional lowness.

Give yourself a hobby if you do not have one already. For example, if you like painting, you can try this out instead of unnecessary shopping. Whenever you have to handle the feeling of despair, grab a sketchbook to draw something.

It could be any hobby or anything that you enjoy doing. To start, you can throw some of these below questions to prevent the urge to shop.

• Why are you purchasing this item?
• Will it serve any real purpose?
• Will it help in improving your living?
• Do you have enough money to bear the cost?

If you are not satisfied with the answers, you will step away from purchasing. Besides, you can try to keep the item waiting in the cart for some time. This trick is to tame your mind about resilience.

If that item is something vital, you will come back and place an order. Otherwise, you will simply forget about going ahead with purchasing.

Be focused to your budget

Such impulsive shopping ventures do not happen if you follow a standard budget. This is because you have an idea about your earnings, expenses and savings. You will never indulge in spending beyond your means when you do not have adequate funds.

If you are still unaware of the benefits, research now and devise your budget right now. This is a financial tool that keeps you informed about the present status of debts. It lets you focus on crucial and long-term financial goals.

Keep reminding yourself about goals and financial commitments to be on track. Think twice before buying a new thing when you have to repay private loans in Ireland. The second one is your priority while the first one is avoidable as it is a desire or luxury.

The bottom line

The very thought of “let’s go shopping” emerges when you see additional money in your account. Maybe you are supposed to save it, but you forget. You feel like these are spare cash, and you have the liberty to spend it.

The first thing that comes to your mind is to buy something. Avoid this habit by automating your savings.