We are all guilty of it. We stop in the middle of sidewalks on crowded streets to look in windows. We leave Thanksgiving dinner early to get in line for Black Friday. We scrape pennies together for rent, but own four pairs of expensive rain boots.
Or, maybe that’s just me and my shopping addiction.
After many conversations with my friends, I took to the internet to read up on shopping habits and addictions. It turns out, shopping habits like mine are more common among Americans than you might think — it’s not just a simple way to explain why we often have a larger wardrobe than we can even wear. According to a 2006 study from Stanford University, which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, about 6 percent of women and 5.5 percent of men have a compulsive buying disorder.
Researchers attributed this condition to a wide array of factors, from childhood poverty to a need to create stability in times of chaos. Unfortunately, this disorder has been studied and talked about very little in the decade since becoming an official diagnosable condition according to psychologists.
Elizabeth Marshall | Argonaut
Compulsive buying disorder is a condition that I personally have not been diagnosed with. Still, I have become increasingly intrigued by it. The statistics regarding the disorder have implications about how prevalent excessive shopping habits and disorders are in our society.
As college students, it can be difficult to stay focused and keep track of spending habits. Being constantly busy makes it difficult to sit down and take a hard look at monthly expenses. Looking at how much money you might have spent can be painful and downright scary.
That being said, here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned that have helped me become a more responsible shopper. Budget for things you want, even if you don’t need them — it would be unreasonable not to. This will ensure you don’t feel suffocated by your budget and go on a shopping rampage to alleviate that feeling.
Budget for the unexpected. You know you will say “yes” to Grub Truck maybe one or five more times than you originally budgeted for.
Make goals for your savings, and try to thoroughly identify what you’re saving for. Reward yourself if you make a savings goal — but not so much you spend all of your savings. It’s hard, but worth it.
Before you buy anything, especially clothing, inventory what you already have. Remind yourself that you already have eight striped shirts.
Stop looking for a purchase, and start looking for a purpose.
Elizabeth Marshall can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EJMarshall_