Can’t stop spending

[sunnyliveshere]

I am currently in the middle of a very bad retail therapy habit and just keep spending on clothes and shoes. Latest purchase is a new pair of trainers that I won’t even admit the cost of.
I am going through a difficult time so head to spending to make myself feel better. I am a relatively high earner, my husband is a high earner and we have a lot of savings so I always justify my spending but then I feel so guilty about splurging on clothes. My husband does not spend at all which makes me feel worse.
Argh, help, need some tactics to stop spending!

This might help - get a notebook and then write down everything you spend as you spend it. It doesn’t matter how big or small the purchase. Write down whatever you’ve bought and then the cost of out in a column next to it. Commit to doing this thoroughly for a week.
It sounds insignificant but there’s something about the act of logging it all that activates a different awareness and relationship to the spending.
I found this helpful when I was worrying about getting to grips with my finances but didn’t want to think about them.
I also know that Debtors Anonymous (awful name - and it’s not just for debtors) have meetings that are about developing a comfortable relationship with money and spending. There are probably meetings online and even just experiencing one or two of them can be illuminating and supportive 🌸

Writing down everything (as PP said), noting cost and how much I used it. Considered what I still needed, bought that (work trousers, for example or swim wear), then set a date and had a no clothes/ accessory buy year.

That was a few years ago and it was easy and a good reset. I have overspent this year (common displacement activity for various reasons I can pinpoint) so I’ve just started another no buy since December. Black Friday was the last spending day.

I second the wardrobe app idea. I’ve been tracking my outfits since July and it’s interesting to see what gets worn a lot and what doesn’t. The app will also calculate “cost per wear” for each item and that really makes you stop and think.

Also I find just sorting through clothes and working out what you still want and what you can donate/sell is quite a good distraction from online shopping!

I’m interested in the wardrobe app! Any recommendations?

I use Stylebook

@candlesinthesnow thanks!

Would therapy help with the overspending? Better to spend money on working through your issues?

I have a real problem with this and urge you to seek therapy. It’s not about the shopping, and unless you find and tackle the root cause you will just move onto something else.

I have the same problem OP and no trauma to blame it on 😳

This is a really good suggestion @rhiannon1967 I have considered it before, but it seemed a rather laborious thing to do! It would be good for me though. I certainly don’t “need” anything else. Is there a particular app you find better than others?

A t shirt and a pair of runners is not the end of the world if you are actually wearing them and can afford it.

Set yourself a budget (%of weekly income) for clothes and spend it and enjoy it if it makes you happy.

But stick to it and no raiding the other account, when it’s gone, it’s gone.