compulsive shopping

windycitycupcake
windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member
in Motivation and Support
so ever since i have cut junk food, fast food, candy, soda out of my diet i have been going out and compulsively shopping. since i cant buy food anymore, i have been spending all of my money on crazy things.

for example today i went out to buy some socks and came back with:

6 different flavors of gum
a new zebra print bag
2 types of powdered vitamin C mixes (13.00 each!)
a box of feria red hair dye
2 fly swatters
body butter, lip gloss
orange nail polish
some weird tupperware i'll never use

i literally went out for one thing and had bought all this stuff in like 5 minutes.

Anyone else have a problem similar to this (i call it compulsive overcompensation)

do you find yourself not really missing the food so much but missing the ritual of selecting and buying snacks and meals?

Replies

  • karenbobaren
    karenbobaren Posts: 127 Member
    I'm a compulsive eater and every once in a while I give into food, like this weekend, and if I hadn't just used up my savings for books this semester I probably would have spent it on clothes. I wish I could help but I'm seeking the same help you are.
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    I keep buying clothes, and using the excuse that I lost a whole person I deserve it LOL
  • lwagnitz
    lwagnitz Posts: 1,321 Member
    Totally me... but I've always been this way. I never really bought or buy unhealthy food for my house, but was eating out a lot and was inactive.

    But I totally know what you mean. The only way I DON'T impulse buy is if my husband is with me. It's my money, but he just makes me feel stupid... which it good, because it works lol.
  • lwagnitz
    lwagnitz Posts: 1,321 Member
    I keep buying clothes, and using the excuse that I lost a whole person I deserve it LOL
    HECK YEAH YOU DO! Shoot, when I reach my goal ... shopping spreeee!
  • vypeters
    vypeters Posts: 475 Member
    It's called a transfer addiction. Many of us were/are psychologically addicited to foods. That's why it gives us comfort even when we're not hungry. It's very easy to transfer that to another psychological addiction like gambling, shopping, etc.

    You might consider some counseling. It did me a world of good!
  • bowties_r_cool
    bowties_r_cool Posts: 66 Member
    I am the same way. I have always been a bit of a compulsive buyer but even more so when I cannot spend my money on food. thinking about explaining to my boyfriend what I bought has stopped me a bit, but I still buy things I know I shouldn't. :embarassed:
  • heytherestephy
    heytherestephy Posts: 356 Member
    i went to get a new gym bag and came back with the gym bag, running socks and a new pair of asics LOLOL i feel ya.
  • Pipsg1rl
    Pipsg1rl Posts: 1,414 Member
    Try and find something you want but need to save for. Last summer I went on a "clothing diet" and didn't purchase any clothes except for a few lingerie items I needed for a wedding (stupid bridesmaid gowns...)

    I have money that my husband and I call my "fun money." So I saved up the money I wasn't spending on small items and purchased a Nikon D3100. It's the best camera I've ever owned. :) Camera + accessories was pricey, but it was worth saving for.

    Also, I notice that shopping for food at say, WalMart or Target "allows" me to purchase things that aren't my intended purpose. (Nail polish, tank tops, etc). I do much better if I get groceries at a small HEB or Randalls. (The big HEB is awesome but has so much selection it's dangerous!!)

    It was hard not buying clothes. Now I'm trying to wean myself down to a 10pc wardrobe...."trying..." HA! Since last summer I've lost almost 20lbs. But I still don't shop as much as I used to.

    What is something kind of pricey you really want?
  • saragato
    saragato Posts: 1,154
    I do compulsive shopping, but it's a part of my mental disorder. I used to buy shirts a lot but it's been super hard not to now because I don't want to buy something and in a few months have it be too big. Granted I've bought a few shirts anyway, but I buy them sizes smaller than what I wear now and place that as incentive.

    Sometimes it just comes as the need to buy for the sake of it. You used to buy certain things and now you can't, so you buy other things you like, whether on a "one glance" level or not, to not so much feel better, but keep a routine. What I like to do is, if I see something and want it, I pick it up and carry it around the store as if I'm going to buy it. Usually within 10 minutes I'm putting it back because the impulse is gone and I'm wondering about spending the money, if I'll use it, do I honestly like it, etc.
  • windycitycupcake
    windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member

    Sometimes it just comes as the need to buy for the sake of it. You used to buy certain things and now you can't, so you buy other things you like, whether on a "one glance" level or not, to not so much feel better, but keep a routine. What I like to do is, if I see something and want it, I pick it up and carry it around the store as if I'm going to buy it. Usually within 10 minutes I'm putting it back because the impulse is gone and I'm wondering about spending the money, if I'll use it, do I honestly like it, etc.

    i do that too!
  • red_nine
    red_nine Posts: 8 Member
    You know with Halloween coming, I would save those items and integrate them into the most awesome costume. When life gives you lemons...
  • Rachelle_Ohh
    Rachelle_Ohh Posts: 146 Member
    Yes, I went to buy 1 STAMP today, ended up buying a whole book of stamps, cocoa butter, envelopes, 6 bottles of nail polish, headphones, chewable Spongebob vitamins, hot pink slippers, and some frozen yogurt.......I'm a mess.
  • happyfeetrebel1
    happyfeetrebel1 Posts: 1,005 Member
    I keep buying clothes, and using the excuse that I lost a whole person I deserve it LOL

    This is me! 100% me. I've dropped from a size 26 to between a 12/14. I buy and buy (and then I have guilt and return)

    Someone either needs to be my rich benefactor or hold me down to stop me :P
  • miriamwithcats
    miriamwithcats Posts: 1,120 Member
    I keep buying clothes, and using the excuse that I lost a whole person I deserve it LOL

    You do!
  • hazelnutgranola
    hazelnutgranola Posts: 3
    I definitely shop too much - sometimes it'll be clothes, sometimes it might even be food! But for now, I'm just going to keep loose change safely tucked away, so I wouldn't be tempted to spend them all! Sometimes, I don't even watch the adverts on television!
  • miriamwithcats
    miriamwithcats Posts: 1,120 Member
    It's called a transfer addiction. Many of us were/are psychologically addicited to foods. That's why it gives us comfort even when we're not hungry. It's very easy to transfer that to another psychological addiction like gambling, shopping, etc.

    You might consider some counseling. It did me a world of good!

    Many transfer it to an addiction to exercise, which is not a bad thing unless you go overboard and hurt yourself all the time!
  • miriamwithcats
    miriamwithcats Posts: 1,120 Member
    I do compulsive shopping, but it's a part of my mental disorder. I used to buy shirts a lot but it's been super hard not to now because I don't want to buy something and in a few months have it be too big. Granted I've bought a few shirts anyway, but I buy them sizes smaller than what I wear now and place that as incentive.

    Sometimes it just comes as the need to buy for the sake of it. You used to buy certain things and now you can't, so you buy other things you like, whether on a "one glance" level or not, to not so much feel better, but keep a routine. What I like to do is, if I see something and want it, I pick it up and carry it around the store as if I'm going to buy it. Usually within 10 minutes I'm putting it back because the impulse is gone and I'm wondering about spending the money, if I'll use it, do I honestly like it, etc.

    That is a great way to curb the impulse! Way to go!
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 906 Member
    "for example today i went out to buy some socks and came back with:

    6 different flavors of gum
    a new zebra print bag
    2 types of powdered vitamin C mixes (13.00 each!)
    a box of feria red hair dye
    2 fly swatters
    body butter, lip gloss
    orange nail polish
    some weird tupperware i'll never use "

    Where was this, the dollar store? :laugh:
  • bethfartman
    bethfartman Posts: 363 Member
    What about buying things like socks from Amazon? So you just type in 'socks', see only socks, and buy only socks? You can generally get them for cheaper even with shipping.
  • windycitycupcake
    windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member
    "for example today i went out to buy some socks and came back with:

    6 different flavors of gum
    a new zebra print bag
    2 types of powdered vitamin C mixes (13.00 each!)
    a box of feria red hair dye
    2 fly swatters
    body butter, lip gloss
    orange nail polish
    some weird tupperware i'll never use "

    Where was this, the dollar store? :laugh:


    haha no, at target
  • windycitycupcake
    windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member
    You know with Halloween coming, I would save those items and integrate them into the most awesome costume. When life gives you lemons...

    haha..i could be snooki??

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