A new leather jacket, a new flatscreen tv, a fancy car, – spontaneous ill-advised purchases are not uncommon for women with ADHD. Quite the contrary we know that shopping addiction can be a possible consequence of ADHD and can have a significant impact not only on your financial situation but also on your family and relationships. So how does a woman with ADHD stop buying stuff you don’t need. The following strategies can assist you to stop buying unnecessary things to help you move in a better direction.
What are your triggers – stress shopping purchases can really add up over time and the big part of avoiding those purchases is to remove the triggers that make them happen. Think about a time you purchased something that you didn’t need and ask yourself the following questions
What were you feeling before and after the purchase?
What were you trying to escape or to avoid thinking about?
How long did it take for you to return to your baseline emotional state?
When you get there, how desperate are you for another high?
What is your go-to apps, stores, or products?
Only when you know your triggers can you take steps to minimize them.
Unsubscribe From Email- One of the triggers might be from the emails with all the special deals. In this situation you can unsubscribe from those special deal emails and when are you most vulnerable to buying promotional email products that you are most likely to buy.
Find a Support System– Joining a support group or online group who understands what you are going through with regard to your spending habits. Some of them might have some helpful insights on how to stop buying things you don’t need. Enlist their help in controlling your urges to spend money on things that look tempting in the moment, but that will ultimately end up in the trash bin (or donate pile).
Set a Budget and Track Your Spending. – the more you are aware of your money coming in and going the easier it will be to see if it is something you can afford. At the very least it will give you a breakdown of what you are earning and what you are spending and how you are spending it. And seeing the impact of your spending (e.g., the mounting credit card bills) can motivate you to take corrective action.
Plan Your Shopping – Not knowing what day you are going to go shopping can be an Achilles heel for most of us, especially when we’re tired, stressed, or in need of a pick-me-up. If you have a budget set up and know how much you can afford to spend each month, you can plan your fun shopping around the things you want most. Give yourself enough time to consider thoughtfully what items will bring you the most enjoyment. Setting up specific days, times, and spending limits, and you’re less likely to go overboard.
Impose a 30-Day Waiting Period – When you find something that you really like but don’t really need impose a 30-day waiting period. Set a day and time to revisit the thing you want to buy and see if you still want it. Chances are that your interest in that item will diminish somewhat in favor of new discoveries. If those aren’t necessary, either impose the same waiting period.
Find Other Ways to Boost Your Mood – Shopping shouldn’t be the only way to make yourself feel better. Whatever the reason you are feeling a certain way, try to do one of the following easy no costs pick me ups
Go for a walk.
Make yourself a favorite food or drink
Play music that soothes or energizes you
Take a power nap (not always possible, we know)
Call or text a friend or supportive family member.