It’s real, I never thought I would witness it for myself, but being a shopaholic is a real thing. Some of you read that and thought, “Big deal, just stop spending money” but what you don’t understand is the mental strength it takes to say no to an extra 40% off that top you’ve been eying for the past 3 months. If you’re anything like me, malls bring you the utmost happiness.
Here are 5 phases all shopaholics go through every time they fall into the trap.
Phase 1: The Anticipation
This occurs on the drive to the mall. For me, usually in rush hour traffic – which tends to make it a lot easier to think. You’re trying to convince yourself that you are not going to spend anything. You running in and out. Doing your returns, getting some money back in your pocket and leaving.
Phase 2: The Arrival
You walk into the mall, you feel the brisk breeze of people walking by you, smell the fresh leather as you walk by a Steve Madden store, hear the lively music as you see a Sephora across the hall. You are experiencing complete and utter happiness.
Phase 3: The Dive
As you approach the store you were planning to go to, you see it: four letters, red writing. “SALE”. Game over. They win. Your heart is racing, you start walking just a bit faster and you re-arrange your purse so you have both free hands and are ready to fight any crazy biddy who thinks she’s getting whatever it is that you want.
Phase 4: The Debate
Your arms are cramping from the pile of clothes you’re holding. You’re waiting to try everything on and you’re secretly hoping that some of it won’t look good so you don’t buy it. You’re trying to mentally find out what 40% of 29.99 is so you can prepare for how much damage is going to be done, and creating a mental budget.
Phase 5: Decision Time
Now you have everything in your hands that you’re getting ready to buy. You’re in the fitting room and have you decide what you’re going to get. You weren’t suppose to get anything, but somehow here you are. You’re battling the voices in your head with opposing views:
“Do I need this 14th pair of jeans?”
“No, but you don’t have any in that wash with those rips. They’re different.”
And eventually make the decision to drop everything and run before you change your mind.
As much as I can admit I literally love shopping, I’ve realized over the past few months that learning to manage your finances can be quite valuable. Shopping does still give me the most happiness, and in some ways you could even say it is therapeutic (retail therapy is also a thing). I’ll always love browsing through the beautiful bags and shoes and scarves but I have worked very hard to not overspend. I am by no means self-sufficient when it comes to fund$ but I want to be, so you have to start somewhere. If Rebecca Bloomwood can do it, so can you.
Featured image via Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
