Am I a shopaholic? How to Control Our Expenses this Christmas

The holidays are here, and with them, there are endless options to spend money, starting with Black Friday. But when does the satisfaction of “tapping” our credit cards (well, paying with Apple Pay is also exciting) for holiday presents cross the line into shopaholism?

If you are not familiar with this term yet, let me explain it to you: Shopaholism refers to a compulsive buying disorder that involves the urge to shop for emotional comfort and to avoid negative feelings like stress and anxiety.

Now, if you are wondering if you are a shopaholic, stay with us to learn more about this, see if you need to take action, or just chill and enjoy the holiday shopping season.

Shopaholic Test

Are you a little bit worried about how much you spend during the holidays? Join the group! To help you better understand your shopping habits, ‘Psychology Today’ offers a Shopaholic Test to identify if your Christmas or regular shopping are getting out of control. If that’s not for you, let’s learn about the signs.

Signs of a Shopaholic

What is the difference between being a shopaholic and enjoying shopping? Enjoying shopping becomes shopaholism when it leads to compulsive buying and financial distress.

Here are a few signs:

Impulsive Buying: You buy without thinking, especially lured by holiday sales.
Emotional Attachment to Shopping: You shop to uplift your mood.
Financial Consequences: Post-holiday credit card bills are significantly higher and are a problem for tomorrow and not today.

The Art of Overspending and its Triggers

The holiday season is filled with tempting sales, online shopping deals, and the emotional desire to find the perfect gifts, all of which can trigger overspending. It’s important to recognize these triggers to control your spending. However, shopaholism can have a significant impact on your relationships, lead to financial distress, and affect your mental health.

The short-term joy of Christmas shopping may result in long-term stress and anxiety, making it crucial to be mindful of your spending habits during the holiday season (Yo se, it’s complicated).

Strategies to Overcome Shopaholism

Set a Budget: Decide on a spending limit for your Christmas shopping.
Make a list: When buying gifts for your loved ones, create a list of exactly what you have in mind and stick to it without looking for additional options.
Address Emotional Triggers: Understand why you feel the urge to shop excessively.
Seek Support: Talk to family if you think it is getting out of hand, or consider joining Shopaholics Anonymous.
Stay Out of Social Media: I know this is a hard one, but social media can exacerbate shopping addiction by constantly presenting tempting offers and idealized lifestyles. For that reason, it is better to avoid it, at least during the holidays.
Practice Self-Control: Self-control can be challenging, but it can be learned. It’s essential to delay instant gratification and think purchases through to avoid regretting them later.

Success Stories

¡Hay una luz al final del tunel! Many have triumphed over their shopaholic tendencies. These stories often involve a journey of self-awareness, support, and adopting new spending habits (this is a good one for New Year resolutions).

I hope that with this information, you understand that being a shopaholic isn’t just about loving shopping; it’s about the inability to control spending impulses, especially during high-pressure times like Christmas. If you feel you need help, this is also a perfect time to reach out to loved ones.