/g/ - girl talk

I make just enough money to sustain myself and occasionally treat myself to outings/things I want to buy online.
I make almost less than minimum wage.. but shopping has always been my coping mechanism for stress .. :/
I'm not sure why or how it became my go to strategy but it sometimes leaves me with no money for food/transportation/fun stuff for a few weeks.
In worse cases my bank account is overdrawn pretty frequently… so my credit is shit.
I try to replace this habit with healthier/more practical things but there's just something so exhilarating about getting new clothes or new things to put around the house/play with that honestly gives my life purpose when there is none.

One of my coping mechanisms was buying shit off Amazon so I wouldn't have to kill myself before it arrived.
Now I constantly browse cheap online stores in the hopes that there'll be something amazing, beautiful and cheap that will change my life.
Even on magical occasions that i have walked into a shop, almost immediately seen exactly what i wanted, for a reasonable or even cheap price, and it turns out to be even better than i had imagined, the high isn't great and doesn't last more than a few hours so i don't even know why i try.
Luckily I grew up poor so I'm anxious about money and i never spend too much, just too much on useless shit. the main problem is the amount of mental energy i spend on it.

I literally think about stealing things all day - from stores but also from individuals too and out of people's cars. I used to steal a lot as a child, and I remember the rush it used to give me and how it felt to have something nice that you didn't even have to ask for. Lately I've come really close to actually taking something because of how damn easy it is sometimes.

What do you guys typically buy?

I buy whatever I'm obsessed with at the moment. Awhile ago, it was makeup, then decorative stuff for my apartment, then clothes (specifically dresses that I'll probably only wear 1-2x), and now probably kid stuff like toys, so I can relive the only time in my life when I didn't want to die.

I have enough money to get by but still find myself dipping into savings to buy dumb shit. I don't even understand it because I know rationally that it won't make me happy or fix anything, and that it'll make my anxiety worse because I'm spending money I don't have, yet I can't stop myself. I guess it's just a distraction from the fact that I'm suicidal and am just counting the days until I can kill myself.

>>55914
It's not worth it, anon. I dunno where you live, but in the states, people can go for months stealing from certain stores "without getting caught" without realizing that stores will let you steal a certain amount of shit until they can charge you with a felony for everything instead of for stealing one single item.

Pic related is something I've been wanting to buy, even though I know I'll only enjoy it for a week or so before I get bored

I have a pretty bad shopping addiction. Any money I don't need for bills goes to fucking video game cosmetics or irl cosmetics. It's bad. I've been literally itching to go to Ulta for two weeks and resisting. I need to get cat food but I've been holding out because the store is next to Ulta and I know I won't be able to resist if I go. But I'm down to the last bit of food so I'm gonna go tomorrow…

>>55918
Just for future reference, can you buy the cat food online? I dunno what kind it is, but if it's something available in most stores, you can order online from Walmart, Amazon, etc. Sometimes it's even cheaper online, as an added bonus.

That is, unless you've got an online shopping problem like me then that probably won't help.

>>55921
I actually usually don't shop online because I need instant gratification to boot. So that's actually a good idea, I'm going to try that next time. It's too late now because I only have one can left so I really can't wait. I need some toner anyway….(really! My face breaks out without it. The trick will be to not buy $200 of other shit that I already have dupes of. Sigh.)

I don't have a shopping addiction but I do have a question for you anons. If you buy a bunch of shit, I know this would not be possible for every kind of item, but say you bought something and then the high wears off in just a few hours, can't you return the stuff after that?

>>55924
I hope it works out for you! That's what I do sometimes, because it helps me step back and talk myself out of it before I go through the whole check out process.

>>55925
For me, I try not to buy something that I'm seriously never going to have a use for. I almost never buy knick knacks or stuff that's just going to sit there. A lot of times, I buy stuff for my apartment since I moved recently, so I'm still addictive shopping but it's stuff I'll get some use out of or "need". Plus, I'm a poorfag and still try to take my finances/purchases into some consideration because of the guilt and shame that I feel.

I can only think of a few things I've bought that have no real use yet still get stupid satisfaction from and don't want to return. Like, I impulsively bought this dumb "Grow Owl" toy from Cracker Barrel. It sucked, was a waste of money, and just sits on my shelf, but it's cute, so I still feel a little high from it a month later. I don't think the high ever completely wears off for me.

I was on a shopping high for a while. It might have been because I went down that dark, deep rabbit hole of watching a large volume of haul videos on youtube. Mostly some clothing, random junk from shopgoodwill, and skincare products I didn't need (but each one got used at least if it wasn't returned).

After a few months of wasting saved money I got sick of it. Those pangs of regret after getting another frivolous whatever item eventually became stronger than the shot of dopamine that it gave me.

I feel like I'm heading this way, if I'm not already addicted. These last few months I've been buying so much video games, art books and stupid anime merch. The games aren't as bad as I can actually do something with them but art books and merch are just taking up space.

I just recently ordered some keychains only because they were cute and cheap. I'm not even a big fan of the characters featured, I just wanted it because I could afford it.

Much of my money has been spent on figures and similarly useless things for years. I feel so guilty still living at home with a room full of pointless shit. Thankfully, I've been setting a lot of it aside so I can sell it and put the money into savings.

I'm not sure how it even got started, to be honest. I think I just felt lonely and useless and the stuff I bought helped me feel better in some way.

Pic related, I've spent way too much fucking money on ball jointed dolls.

>>55953
Whenever I see posts like this (not yours specifically, anon,) I feel extremely glad that I've never given in to that voice in my head telling me that I NEED certain fandom related POP figures and stuff like that. My boyfriend caved once and bought Hagrid and Voldemort POP figures because they were on sale at GameStop and I still feel a little salty about it now and then. We could've paid a bill with that money.

>>55955
>We could've paid a bill with that money.
What? Arent't those like, $15?

I have literally the opposite of a shopping addiction. I go to a grocery(!) store and wander around for 20 minutes and come out empty handed. kek I'm such a cheapskate

>>55968
He bought two, but I guess I meant more that it could've been money that went to a bill instead of toys we'll leave in the box and never fuck with. I could give them to my son when he gets old enough to be into Harry Potter, but then collectibility goes out the window. Oh well, I suppose I shouldn't be worried about that anyway.

>>55975
Do you think it's stupid having money set aside for hobbies though?

is anyone else here a broke ass college student addicted to buying cheap shit? I don't even own a credit card to rack up debt on so I use what little i have leftover from rent that I should be saving for other things on useless aliexpress clothing hauls that I'm always kinda disappointed in once it all ships to me, useless cute dollar store/ daiso shit, and things I get heavily on clearance that I end up wearing maybe once.

(at least some of the stuff I waste money on I end up reselling so in that way I kind of get my money back, but like….. I feel like i'm trapped in an endless cycle of buy-sell and every time I manage to clear my closet of junk I go out and accumulate more bullshit)

Fellow poorfag here, I do a mix of things.

>>55972
That is fun. It always feels good when you "beat" your demons by not buying something. Usually I'll start out with 10 items in my cart/basket and whittle it down to 0-2. I will also spend hours browsing eBay, Taobao, and other sites, cart-ing/bookmarking items that I want to buy (then never do.) I get a rush from it.

>>55953
I used to spend my money collecting J-pop CDs and memorabilia. It was stupid expensive and pointless, but also gave me a rush. I would almost never listen to the physical CDs, either…

>>55991
What you can do is "save up" for a big ticket item that's like $400, it'll take you a long time to save it up and by the time you have the money you probably don't want it anymore and the money can go back into a savings account.

Shopping cheap and on clearance isn't bad, just keep track of how much you're spending on it. Whenever you have an urge to splurge, just picture that expensive item you're saving up for and you'll be less tempted.

I was the exact same as you but now I'm at the point where I'm selling and donating all the stuff I went crazy buying. Good luck!

>>55991 fuck same its awful

>>55991
I have money and I'm still constantly ordering cheap shit online. It's barely about the actual item of clothing anymore, it's the temporary gratification I get from buying it (especially online). I waste so much money on things I don't really want or don't fit well just because they're cheap. My closet is fucking bursting and I've gotta throw stuff I've barely worn away on a regular basis, I should sell things but I'm too lazy.

>>56013
>That is fun. It always feels good when you "beat" your demons by not buying something.

I don't know, to be honest I always feel depressed either way. At least when I impulse buy I get something. I starve for a few days, but kek

>>55991
I have this exact same problem. I'm going to try and stop myself from buying anything that isn't strictly necessary this March. The amount of money I spent this year so far is insane.

But I do love knowing that I have a million packages that'll arrive soon!

>>55776
Same here OP and anons. I'm moving in 3 months though, and then moving again in another 2 months, so that will probably give me some other things to be happy about. I hope.

With that said…I luckily (to me…) need some new clothes/travel supplies anyway so it gives me an excuse to go shopping for my big moves.

How has it effected my life? Well, I haven't dated in 3 years (by choice) and am excited to date again in large part because boyfriends make great ATMs. When I think about dating, free movies, restaurants, vacations, and expensive presents are the things I miss most. Right now though, I've been buying and selling stuff to make money to shop. Also, I'm a member of a couple referral program so use the referral money for shampoos/conditioners/makeup/cleaning supplies/cat food etc.

>>55925
Like >>55927 I buy stuff I actually use.

>>55991
Although I use referral money to buy a lot of my basic supplies such as hair/shower supplies, makeup, and cat supplies…I'm obsessed with deals on pretty much everything. I have a hard time even buying food if it's not on sale. I buy used designer clothes from eBay and Poshmark. I've also gotten into refurbishing designer bags and clothes for resale. When I get a $300 shirt for the price of something at Forever 21, it makes me feel happy. If I don't like something, I just resell it. The "rush" stays with me for the life of the item because I am a designer-whore. The thrill of knowing a dress retailed for $1,000 but I got it for $10-$20 never gets old.

>>Does anyone else have family that hates shopping? My mom hates shopping and doesn't care about designers at all. With that said, she'll pay full price for most things just to avoid having to shop around. It's weird to me, because I'm pretty sure 99% of the female population is at least prone to shopping addiction kek

For me, shopping around is half the fun…

>>55991
Yup, I do this too. I used to do it on eBay, but ever since I discovered a Taobao shopping service I've been buying a of cute fan merch and stationery from there. I spend hours looking through pages and end up with tabs and tabs of stuff I want to buy. For the most part I weed out things I don't "need" (kek), but I still spent $100 this month. It all adds up so fast. The worst part is I got my mom into it too and she's always sending me stuff she wants me to buy.

>>56083
>But I do love knowing that I have a million packages that'll arrive soon!
Why are packages so addicting? I have a huge one coming and just knowing its out there makes me happy.

I just started a new full time "big girl" job, also I'm married and my husband pays our rent and all I really need to worry about is my car payment, groceries and utilities. The rest of my money is "fun" money so all I do at work is shop on my phone for Lolita stuff and makeup lmao. I worked really fucking hard to get to where I'm at so I'm just reveling in it. But my life feels really shallow, I constantly need to buy a new accessory/clothes/makeup item or else I feel empty. Honestly it's because I feel really ugly most of the time so my whole life revolves around being a kawaii princessu to feel better about myself. Half the time I feel gorgeous and half the time I feel like I look like a man in a wig. Idk if that's just a normal girl thing or what

I have a pretty severe shopping problem and it makes me worry I'm going to turn into a massive hoarder like my mom. I have piles and piles of new stuff in my room, more clothes than I could ever fit in my closet and massive boxes upon boxes full of my stuff. It's a compulsion at this point and I end up doing it almost without thinking.

At least I feel less alone now…

>>56280
>I'm going to turn into a hoarder
You already are anon, get to Mari Kondo-ing that shit right now

>>56277
Do you have any hobbies that don't revolve around buying things or the way you look?

>>56305
don't 99% of hobbies revolve around buying things in some form?

>>55776
>The only thing in life that makes me happy is buying stuff.
Same
>Anyone here have a shopping addiction?
Me lol
>has it effected your life?
Not really
>how do you get money to support your habits?
Birthday money, Christmas money, my weekend job as store support. I also save the money that's left when I have to buy shit for university.

I'm really addicted to skincare and makeup. At least I have good skin thanks to those products, so when someone tried to say I have an addition I reply that's because I want good skin.

I think I have a bit of a shopping addiction.
Especially when I'm feeling sad or stressed out. Getting cute new clothes makes me feel so nice. The problem is I'm trying to save up a lot of money for a few important things so I can't let myself spend too much. Because of a new job I think I've been spending too much lately. On the way back from work I always go straight into the shopping centre just to try on clothes and it's a weird stress relief thing.

Luckily I have the sense not to buy any of the super overpriced clothing here, ( nearly $70 for some basic ass shirt ) but I do often jump on anything that's on sale- and when I'm online shopping I'll collect a BUNCH of on-sale items into the cart and go back and forth between getting them and not getting them, and then the site will tempt me with the whole "free expedited shipping at $100" thing, so I often do that and tell myself it's worth it because I'm getting a lot of things. I suppose it's better than outright buying a lot of expensive stuff, but It doesn't make too much of a difference when I'm doing it so frequently.

I asked my younger sister to keep my credit card with her for 3 months. I was spending too much cash and was basically broke. I know I did the right thing but it's sad when you realize you have to ask your much younger sister if she can help you control your finances. oh the money I spent on useless shit and fattening food… I don't even wanna think about that.

I don't really buy a lot of things, I just tend to treat myself a bit too much. I'm a student and get a scholarship because of my family being poor as fuck, and I live with my family so I only need to pay for my phone, my food, clothes and stuff for college. So I save money little by little without working , since getting a job when you're a student where I am is a miracle. I could save so much more money than I already do but I used to not have much before college so I tend to go out with friends and eat in fast food restaurant or actually pretty good restaurant pretty often, and I buy cheap and rare video games and other weeb shit while they're still available (I was too poor to get the consoles and games I always wanted to have). I'm starting to buy more makeup and skincare products so I can feel like I'm buying useful things but I still feel guilty about it. I don't even use makeup all that much.

I try not to spend too much on what I buy while still buying as much as usual. Can't wait to have a job and more money.

I think I'm developing a shopping addiction. But I spend other people's money on stuff that I want so it doesn't affect me as much

>>56106
knowing that packages are on their way is SO addicting and i have no idea why it gives me so much joy??? i have a really mundane package and a fun (huge american apparel closing sale clearance haul) package on their way and both are like equally exciting to me

>>56318
Good on you for for doing something about it, however small of temporary.

>>56393
Me too!
I bought $200 worth of stuff from Mixxmix and so much new skincare stuff to try from Ulta. They are all coming tomorrow so Im excited as fuck.

I'm currently doing a "no-spend challenge" for the rest of the month, because I've been so out of control for the past month or so with my spending and it's actually kind of alarming/worrying me now.

Basically, not going to spend money on anything other than groceries, rent, and other have-to's. I put a block on all the sites I usually waste money on and am only going out for work and groceries and then straight home. I'm even going out of my way to shop at a small grocery store that's in the middle of nowhere, so I can't wander over to other stores to spend money.

I'm hoping this might help with my binge eating too since I spend at least $50-100/mo ordering takeout when I've always got plenty of food at home to eat. Kinda scared, but this thread is a little motivating to work on myself.

>>56419
good luck anon, you'll thank yourself in the future

>>56395
Thanks, anon!

I've started by making a budget and tracking my purchases in a spreadsheet to keep my habits under control. If I can see all the stuff I buy in a month and the cost, it will make me think twice about buying something else. Kind of like tracking calories!

At the moment I'm trying to do a huge overhaul of all the things I have. Mostly clothing. I'm trying to get my wardrobe reduced to a more capsule like wardrobe instead of having 100s of items for the sake of having them. Also buying things for quality over quantity and making do with less.

The amount of stuff I have is ludicrous and I actually don't enjoy having so much stuff around me, I find it overwhelming and it stresses me out. It's cathartic for me to sell or get rid of the items.

So far, my methods are working, but it's painfully slow trying to get rid of things.

I can never save money. I made $425 dollars on friday. I'm down to 60. I don't even know what i bought outside of what i planned (which was about $200 worth of things). I spend a lot/most of my money on other people too, so I end up feeling empty from my spending most of the time. Like i said, i literally don't know where it goes.

>>56850
Log into your bank account and add up all of your recent charges.

I used to be REALLY bad with this, spending my entire paycheck on ridiculous things I wanted to the point where I went weeks without gas or electricity because I didn't save any money for paying the bills. I realized how ridiculous it was early on, though, thank god.

Now, I take influences from the whole 'minimalist lifestyle' and only buy things I know I'm going to use regularly, only have a few (but all high quality) clothing pieces, etc. I also cook at home all the time and only eat out once a month at most (and always with friends), I don't drink coffee or smoke so that saves a little bit, I cleared up my debt (that was my main priority for a while), I don't use credit cards and avoid ATM's (most charge a convenience fee), as soon as I get my paycheck, I take 100$ from it and put into savings. Also, I follow the general rule that if I can't pay for something in cash, I can't afford it. I learned all these tips and everything from various sources, mainly Youtube though.

Also, pic related is what I did when I started and it helped a lot.

>>56856
that's quite the turnaround, good job!!

>>56856
Thank you for the inspiration, anon. I hope to get where you are in the next few years. It just feels like I'm drowning in debt (none of it school related,) and I'm so shit at managing my life. If you have any other tips, they would be greatly appreciated…

>>56856
This is rad anon, thank you.

>tfw got a massive tax return and started going back to work regularly after depression

I just paid off my entire Paypal credit of $850, my Target redcard bill, and I'm all caught up with my monthly bills. Not too long ago I also paid off the last of a $2k medical bill too.
I don't know if anyone else uses Paypal but their damned "hurr 6 months no interest" is a really dangerous trap to fall into, I bought so much shit because of that. But hey, at least the interest wasn't collected on my actual credit card had I made the purchases with that instead I guess. Beware.

Now all I have to do is tackle a $3.2k credit card debt and all I'll have left is my student loan to worry about. Ah hah…ha, ha, ha. Fuck. But it's progress!

>my addiction is buying lolita shit
>spend like $300 a month MINIMUM more like $500+
Doesn't seem like much but I only make $10 an hour before taxes.

Animu shit mostly, manga, games, blu-rays, figures.

The problem is I buy them to help with depression, then I'm too depressed to play/watch/read them.

Figures are nice, but after awhile I feel guilty for having them. Shopping helps me feel alive though, I love just adding to my Amazon wishlist and Etsy favorites. But on top of weeb shit, I want clothes, makeup, housewares, everything.

Can you buy happiness?

>Legitimately have a problem where I spend money out of stress
>Blew through a trust fund of $200K through a mix of this and family asking for money all the time (began spending MORE just to get rid of it)
>Now at 25K
>Freaking out because i haven't been working because i've been working nonstop since i was 15
>stressed
>Keeps happening
>help

Staying at home more has been helping so as long as i stay off amazon or other sites where i already have my card saved i'm fine.

Luckily my husband might be getting a good enough job to support us both so i don't have to get a shitty job while i wait for my art to get more exposure/find an art related job in general
His only stipulation is that I take on the chores in exchange (except for taking out the garbage and walking his dog) so i'm really fucking hopeful this works out.

Plus housework is easy if you keep up on it so i'll have lots of time to study and get better at my art.

Here's hoping

>>59702
Your husband is an absolute saint, you better keep a good house

>>56308
There are hobbies where you can learn stuff and what you're buying is knowledge and not solid things

I just get so overwhelmed. I follow some cows and I'm just really into the same aesthetics as they are. Then I get this burning itch like I need to have what they have, or I won't feel as cute or satisfied.. or I'm missing out on something. Whether its clothes, plushies, makeup (cute packaging a must), the best tech, whatever. Its just really satisfying to be like "Oh yeah I have this. I have that. I'm just like them." Then they post something new and the process repeats. I mean I try to stick to things that I find myself liking for a long time. It helps with stress, and it kind of feels like something to be proud of. I don't like to brag about my possessions, its more like, I am excited if other people have the same things to talk about together. Like oh this product is amazing, it makes me feel confident blah blah blah etc etc.

I just feel prettier or whatever. Like maybe people will find me interesting and alluring or it becomes a conversation starter. And materialistic things don't perish. And I do prefer to find things at a good deal if possible, no doubt. It feels more rewarding or exciting getting something seemingly expensive or overpriced for cheap.

I used to be a camgirl so I had clients gift me stuff or I just used that as a side source of income while I go to work. And I have a wonderful fiance who is very generous to me.

I guess I'm just the opposite. I had a stingy father, my mother wasn't stingy but she spent money either on food and then herself. So, I only got money through hard work and I appreciate every last penny. Every time I see something I'd like to buy, I ask myself if I really, really need it. Also, not buying on impulse but waiting a few days and seeing if I still feel the same towards the product or service works wonders. A lot of times I realize that I'm glad that I didn't purchase that.

On the other hand, when I do buy things, I always make sure that they are of good quality and I seldom try to go for the cheapest option, that and informing myself with all the reviews available online.

Maybe some of these methods might help you too? Unfortunately, I wish I could feel not guilty about buying things that aren't a necessity. While, not a shopping addict, now that I have money to spare, it's silly that I forbid myself even a simple pleasure. I'd like to make an appointment for a facial massage, but in my mind, it's pointless so I don't.

>>59702
Your life sounds extremely unstressful except for the part where you wasted a tonne of money you didn't have to earn

>>57084
How the fuck do you afford it? Do you live at home or what? I guess it's your money but have fun never having any savings or a retirement account.

I have a slight addiction. I can control it and am generally a saver when it comes to my money but sometimes I get bouts of just browsing for anything and everything or "upgrading" items I already have. For me, it's about wasting time and escaping reality while I listen to music. I like looking at pretty, cool, or rare items that suit my tastes and I end up getting delusions like "this will make my life better if I buy this" or "I'll seem more appealing if I own this" when in reality no one gives a fuck except me.

When I'm shopping, I spend weeks looking for the perfect item that I want to buy before I just blow my cash and then when I'm choosing between a few similar items that I want (for example similar shades of makeup or perfumes with similar notes), it takes me even more weeks to decide which one I'm going to choose.

>>69258
>I follow some cows and I'm just really into the same aesthetics as they are. Then I get this burning itch like I need to have what they have, or I won't feel as cute or satisfied.. or I'm missing out on something. Whether its clothes, plushies, makeup (cute packaging a must), the best tech, whatever. Its just really satisfying to be like "Oh yeah I have this. I have that. I'm just like them."

I don't understand why some farmers want to be like the cows

>>94545
I don’t think op means she wants to be a cow (life choices or personality). She means she has their aesthetic or style.

>>94545
>>94545
I don't understand why dumbass farmers like you necro a thread without contributing anything to it.

—

Does anyone buy clothes often then resell them? I always get giddy when I buy new clothes. Sometimes its really hard to part with old clothes (that are still in style). It helps curve my clothing spending habits by selling a few old things to buy new clothes. It feels more refreshing. I'm addicted to looking at clothes on depop. I could spend an hour or two of my day just scrolling. I sell mostly on there too. There's more J-fashion sellers on there now. I like anime merch but it gets expensive. Sometimes I regret buying anime merch since I may outgrow a series and move on to something else. Now that it's Halloween season, I'm trying to fight the urge to buy a bunch of random halloween decor I don't need. Its fun decorating, but all that shit hoards up just for to display two months of the year. Does anyone just have boxes of collectables they don't have space for? I need to stop buying random Disney stuff from Japan. I keep telling myself that if an item is exclusive, I'll never get the chance to have it again. Then they release something cooler, and I hate myself for it lol.

>>94552
…anon, >>94444 posted yesterday you retard.

>>94552
Dumbass spotted.

>>94553
>>94567
Why do I get the feeling this is the same anon white knighting themselves and spamming the thread with insults because they’re butt hurt. No1curr. Add something to the thread or gtfo.

I have always loved shopping, this year I stopped buying random things so I can save for holidays instead! I think it'd be nicer to buy something unique overseas and have a memory attached to it.

I also saw this video and learned more on fast fashion, it really opened my eyes. I stopped wanting to buy more items from Zara and H&M. I find it helps also to just play games like Covet fashion, Love Nikki, Imvu and I got back on Gaia online recently if you really love shopping haha. I spend a lot of my time on challenges in Covet also searching for cute things for my av on Gaia instead of online shopping.

>>94572
they're trying to tell you no one necroed the thread because it was active a day before. sorry you're an idiot.

>>94722
I do this too! I find I recycle through clothes less when I buy a more unique piece overseas or have a memory with it. It stops me from impulse buying clothes as well that I wear a few times then get bored of. Love Nikki is really cute. I wish I could easily find some pieces from the game online.

>>94553
>>94726
>>94567

can you all shut the fuck up??? you're all dumb asses and you're spamming the thread. nobody gives a shit.

>>94746

Yeah, it does help for sure. I don't play anymore (took too much space/battery on my phone so many updates as well) but the clothes are definitely cute!

Hopefully this is the latest thread on the topic…

I wanted to recommend all anons struggling with the issue book in pic related. You can get it for free on libgen and it's super helpful if you commit to it. It's sort of like going through therapy by yourself. You have to do the exercises and take your time. The book not only helps you stop overshopping, but also find out wtf is wrong with you. I am not finished with it yet (to be honest, I have not even reached the halfway point…) but I am already really glad that I have found it! It's especially great if you like writing, as you will have to write down answers to many questions about your shopping habits.

I thought I would share it since I had issues finding a good self-help book on shopping addiction before someone recommended this one to me. If you are struggling with compulsive shopping, please give it a shot. It costs nothing and might help you a lot.

>>124132
thanks so much anon, i'm going to look into this! i have been going crazy with spending on stuff i don't need or use so hopefully this will point me in the right direction.

I keep buying useless stuff when I'm bored even though I'm broke. My cat died.

anyways. The farmhands have been deleting my posts for a while now.

______________________

>>75904
nice comeback. man /m/ and /g/ are truly fucked.

>>75897
funny that you call me a radfem when i just point out the lolis and the ddlg shit

>>75910
>gang bang doujins
totally not a male. this couldn't be more obvious

if only y'all could delete scat and gore as fast as my posts loll

my ban's reason was: lose some weight
why are anachans mocked when the farmhands call anyone 'hamchan' btw?
and isn't calling someone hamplanet infighting? or it's ok to insult someone you've never seen because they don't support blatant pedophilia?

Online shopping addiction book anon >>124132 updating here with another solution to the problem that I found and that seems to work for me! Which doesn't mean that the book wasn't helpful. In fact, one of the exercises in it may allow you to determine if what I will describe may help you out. As a bad shopping habit is an everyday struggle, no book will completely eradicate the problem unless you find a way to stop the pattern.
My therapist suggested to me that setting up daily limits on my bank account and cards may be a good solution, but it didn't speak to me. At first I thought I did not like it because I am often responsible for groceries, vet bills etc. so I was worried that blocking large payments will be a problem. Later on I realized that in my case, having access to money isn't as much of a problem as an access to websites which allow me to see more things that I will want to buy. I don't spend large sums of money on a whim. Whenever I buy something that is kinda ridiculously expensive, I have thought about it for months. My main problem is spending relatively small amounts of cash on more things that is healthy. Those sums add up, and I end up feeling like shit. I have recognized that my thought pattern that leads to overshopping goes like this:
>Suddenly remember something that I wanted in the past or learn about existence of an interesting item on the internet
>Start to wonder how much it costs, if it's still available and if I can get it
>Do a research on Ebay, bookdepository, etc.
>I find the item for a reasonable (or not) price.
>Somewhere between steps (usually two or three) my mind becomes obsessed with buying the thing. It literally feels inflamed. My head starts hurting like hell (I get a migraine).
>I get no peace until I make the purchase
So in my case the key is to break the pattern of researching what and for how much I could buy.
The solution that works for me:
>install an app/software on all my devices (computers, smartphone) that allows blocking access to select sites
After research, I decided to go with Blocksite since it's the only relatively affordable app that synchs between android (blocks apps and pages) as well as windows browsers. It allows setting up a password that stops you from accessing blocked websites or even settings (you can block new sites on computer without entering it). There is also an extra challenge mode if you are into that (we will get to that). FYI, you can use it for free but then you are limited in how many websites (and possibly apps) you can block. It's much cheaper than Freedom (the other alternative), and you can buy a yearly subscription for 80% off (it's around 12-13$ USD)
>block every website/app that came to my mind that could trigger me
The worst offenders were ebay, aliexpress, bookdepository and some local shopping powerhouses. It may seem counterintuitive, but if it was possible, I downloaded app versions of the stores for the sole purpose of blocking them. This may seem like a pointless waste of space, but it stops me from cheating and downloading the app to look at crap to buy. Very important - I also blocked a built-in web browser on my phone that blocksite doesn't support. I imagine for some people there may be temptation to download some crap browser just to circumvent the restriction and buy some shit, but luckily I do not feel the need to do that. YMMV though. A lot of shopping addiction recovery guides recommend freezing your credit card in a block of ice or keeping your cc details away from your computer. Personally those methods don't work for me, but they do for some. If you have a lot of space on your phone, I would recommend downloading the most popular browsers and blocking them just in case. Or maybe setting some kind of parental control so that you cannot install apps easily? IDK if that is an option though
>ask my bf to set up a password on Blocksite so I cannot access the forbidden websites w/out his ok
Whenever I actually need to do something related to shopping, I ask my bf to unblock the internet for me. I tell him why I need that (I requested him to ask me himself in case I ever end up being in a weird manic state that I cannot control and try to cheat. I absolutely cannot lie), I do whatever business and block everything again. This is a very helpful step for me, but it requires you to have a trusted person nearby that can help you out with this. It can be a family member, a friend that you live with, a partner, whatever. That probably goes without saying, but make sure that the person isn't abusive though (as far as you can) so they will not use it against you in any way. If you don't have anyone like this, you can set up a password yourself plus an extra challenge to solve so that it gives you some time to cool down and rethink your purchase. Again, this absolutely would not work for me, but may work for you.
>write down shopping ideas that bother me and come back to them later
Because my BF doesn't have an access to his phone during work, I'm forced to let retarded thoughts about looking for crap to buy go. If they keep popping in my head (ie it's something I've wanted for a long time or something that is actually useful to me), I write them down so I will not forget and come back to that once my bf comes home. This is extremely helpful if you get non-specfic cravings related to something that you like. Luna's shopping binges are a great example of that: >>>/pt/828550 and >>>/pt/829169. In those posts you can see that she bought (or ebegged for, same difference) a lot of Kurumi crap. She probably wanted to buy SOMETHING that expresses her love of the character and ended up buying more than one item, because she couldn't decide, they were all so cheap and cute, (insert another excuse) etc. If you are blocked from shopping sites, there is a high chance you will be able to sit out the craving. If you still want something with Kurumi a day, week, month (up to you) later, you can buy something with a clear head and no guilt.
>enjoy internet time without impulsive/compulsive window shopping
The cool thing is that ever since I blocked shopping websites, my cravings became much less frequent. I have been using this method for a month, so it may be too early to make a definitive judgment. So far, it's working for me.
TLDR get an app that blocks access to shopping sites on your devices, ask a trusted person to set up a password (or do it yourself), write down stuff that you want to buy and come back to it later. I hope this novel of a post will be helpful to someone!

I had a bad shopping addiction, I don’t have living expenses so most of my money went to clothes.

I’ve toned down a lot naturally but I used to spend like ~500-2k a month on clothing.

My coping mechanism is buying and returning. I have a designer shoe problem and I recently relapsed and bought some Prada shoes that I loved. I did the same with Chanel sling backs.

I hide my debit card and get a new one every 5-6 months.

I also have turned a new leaf on consumerism and really only keep things I really like. I think I spend like ~150-500 a month now on clothes.

I think I’ll treat myself if I stay good

Glad this thread was bumped cause my spending has been excessive recently. Usually I buy reasonably priced clothes and it doesn't hit my wallet too hard, but when I feel fat (gained weight recently) I start buying expensive accessories instead to make myself feel better. Like, I've spent nearly $1000 on bags this week, I keep looking at jewelry too. Accessories aren't affected by your size and don't make you look fat so I guess that's my rationale but damn it's pathetic. I did get some good deals though kek and I am significantly upgrading the quality of my current bags so I keep justifying it to myself.

Also, does anyone else photoshop collages of stuff they buy online and then regularly stare at it until everything arrives in the post? I got the idea from /cgl/ shopping threads years ago.

>>177238
>>177239
Anons I'm super jealous, of course not of the addiction, but that yall can afford to buy so many things. Perks of being a poorfag is not buying anything kek. Also how/why do you get a new debit card every 5-6 months? Do you guys have space for all your clothes/items you buy? Do you end up selling them? Shopping addiction is really interesting to me.

I’m lucky that the only things I want to buy are old ass vintage analog items from the 20th century. Tapes, videos, records, etc. It’s usually dirt cheap at thrift stores and garage sales. If I had more expensive tastes my finances would be fucked. But videotapes are like $2-$5 each, so I’d have to go absolutely hog wild purchasing like 50+ in a month before it would even begin to affect my budget. I can buy myself one thing a week, or so, and not even feel it.

>>177240

I lose things easily. I have a small local bank and my mother is friends with the tellers. Usually they would give fees but they don’t charge me. It didn’t help my addiction having a small bank because my PayPal was linked to my bank account rather than my card so any purchases on after hours or on weekends wouldn’t get processed until the day after or Monday. I don’t know if that’s normal actually…

No idea where this came from. None of my siblings are bad with their money. My brother is financially independent and sister is still in university. My parents are serious workaholics (my dad works 50-60 hrs a week and has a side hustle doing contracting and fixing cars around our town) and taught us all the values of working hard. We were all violently spoiled.

I have a closet in my room (very small), clothes stored in my fathers shed, and my brothers room (huge). I’m the only child living at home right now. I recently moved back but I used to come home a lot and switch out my clothes. Stuff in my dads shed usually gets donated.

I don’t have a definite style and don’t have an attachment to most of my clothing. I don’t wear a lot of what I own other than a lot of athleisure. I used to be active in the some subreddits and post my hauls and closet.

I have a severe attachment to shoes though, I love them dearly. I had a pair of UGGs I got for my birthday when I was a freshman in high school and my sisters dogs ruined them and I mourned it. They were the oldest shoes I owned. Almost 10. I think I have ~30 shoes. I don’t have a lot because i buy a nice pair of a style I like and nurture it.

My parents are aware of my awful spending habits and have intervened a few times. I used to let them handle my finances. My paychecks would go to them and they would just give me money from it when I asked for it. Evidently they just would give me their money so I could save my own. I have a savings account only because I let them handle it for a few years and there’s a nice amount in it.

I don’t have any interest to sell anything because it sounds genuinely taxing. I’d rather donate it because you can just dump it than having to go back and see how much a certain items value is.

Anyways this month I only spent 40 on a set from some Instagram store and 110 on a bag. Pic related.

>>177240
>Do you guys have space for all your clothes/items you buy?
I hate clutter and don't hoard so I clean my wardrobe out really often. There's a spare room next to mine and it's always full of bags of stuff I need to throw out.
>Do you end up selling them?
Never, selling stuff on ebay or w/e always seemed like way more effort than it's worth. My clothes wouldn't bring in much money.

Anyway I can afford it because I've been working full time for a decade while living at home, and I usually save money pretty well. It's just these occasional phases when I go overboard with shopping. Since my last post I bought a pair of earrings, a bracelet and a watch.

>>177257
gross, don't you ever get tired of the buy-get bored-throw in the garbage-buy more cycle? like maybe if you have entire bags' worth of stuff that fill up a room you need to reassess your spending habits since it's clearly more than just occasional, maybe save up and buy a house or travel more idk

>>177258
This is a thread for shopping addiction, clearly I know it's an issue? But either way, I exaggerated. It's not literally a room full of bags, and it's mostly a result of Marie Kondo-ing things I've accumulated over many years. These days I'm being careful to buy fewer, better quality items that I will use for longer but also happen to be more expensive, hence my concerns about overspending.

I already own property which I rent out and I travel overseas every year. Shopping doesn't really impact my finances too much.

>>177258
>you need to reassess your spending habits
>shopping addiction general
gtfo

>>177254
>any purchases on after hours or on weekends wouldn’t get processed until the day after or Monday. I don’t know if that’s normal actually
Banks will always post your weekend transactions on Monday's date, totally normal. And that bag is really cute

>>177254
Thats a super cute bag. Is it heavy? My sis gave me a karl lager bag and its super heavy and kinda clunky. Oh so its a lost your card replace situation, I thought it was open a new credit card every couple months thing.
>>177257
Do you guys have certain brands you only buy from or specific fast fashion companies? I think its nice that you both have stable jobs and can support the shopping, assuming it doesn't get out of hand. Honestly, I'm hoping I get a nice comfy job so I can shop all the things I've always wanted, but want to be able to curb myself so it doesn't spiral out of control.

Anyone else here a major klepto? I used to have a huge shopping addiction, but now I get really paranoid about my account dipping below x amount of dollars. I started shoplifting a few years ago and switch between impulsive buying and impulsive stealing. Everyday I think about going to the mall and stealing as much as possible, building wishlists online, etc. I always have to have something coming in the mail, I get unnerved when I don’t have any tracking to check. I’m trying not to spend any money or steal, but that is all that excites me

>>201277
It's a shopping addiction thread, not stealing addiction. From an employee whose job is jeopardized whenever someone steals: fuck you.

>>201299
I've worked at shops too and theft is factored into yearly targets anon, stop being retarded.

If your job fires people because there's too much theft, they are just using it as an excuse because they could always hire security or add anti-theft tags, more cctv etc etc.

You know that as much as anyone else here

>>201306
What is this pathetic shit and how was it relevant as a reply to that anon.

I'm addicted to buying coins and banknotes. There's so much variety of stuff to buy in terms of countries, time periods, varieties and errors, etc. Plus I like the feeling of owning historical items if they're old like 100+ years. I spend a HUGE chunk of my days looking at stuff on ebay. I want to block ebay but I get FOMO.

I have a really bad, mostly secret shopping addiction. I buy almost entirely designer clothing (I'm really stingy when it comes to eating out or vacations), and I spend a categorically retarded amount of money on it. I've successfully put off doing the math for a couple of years, but I finally got the courage yesterday and it's in the six figures…

Even thinking about that makes me feel weak and sweaty. I'm so fucking stupid, I could have paid for a house with that money. For someone reason I get fixated on one brand or one collection at a time, and I get autistic about getting individual pieces that I obsess over. I don't have any debt or family obligations (have been estranged since high school), and I make enough to cover my spending and not that much more.

I've tried to quit before, but it's never lasted for more than a week or so. It's hard when I'm like a magpie and need to have any shiny object that catches my attention, and films/television are filled with people wearing picturesque clothing. My bf knows about my problem, but no one else does and I'd be mortified if anyone found out I was this retarded. Idk what to do and am open to any advice.

I'm getting more and more depressed for some reason and I want to spend money to treat myself to whatever but I also promised myself I would stop buying things I won't use so I'm spending too much money on food delivery. Sometimes I think about the amount of money on things I bought when I started getting my own money and wasn't poor anymore and I get embarrassed and frustrated, I spent money on makeup I didn't even use or that weren't even my shade, the few things I used just disappeared from my room and I have no idea where I can find them anymore, I have such a hard time finding clothes my size that when I found some clothes that fit me I used to buy them and not wear them because they were either too basic or too ugly anyway, and there are so many books and video games I sold after not liking them that I got like 200 or 300€ back from that even though I sold them for very cheap last year. I'd say even if I'm doing better with spending money responsibly now it's not going to last very long.

I am doing a shopping free month, aiming for a year. I want to focus on hobbies instead of overspending on fashion. So far i have made it through a week. It kind of gives me a kick to not shop now, to look at my bank account and see that the money is still there.