Put your credit card in a safety deposit box at the bank.

Believe it or not that's what my SIL had to do because she was becoming on first name terms with the hosts at QVC. I don't think it's an actual disease but she had become "addicted" to shopping. She would get a high when she got something, so her source was cut off and she was miserable for about a week.

It takes 7 days to make or break a habit and it took that long to withdraw from shopping.

Pure willpower possibly? I had this issue once but I simply taught myself to think about how I shouldn't do it.

Usually if you are unable to stop shopping you are trying to fill a void. I suspect either boredom or anxiety. Exercise and reading can help quite a bit.

Freeze your credit card in a metal bowl of water; waiting for it to thaw will allow you time to consider if you really want to spend that money (but the card is still available for late night emergencies if you really need it, like a car breaking down. A metal bowl means you can't quick-thaw in the microwave).

When I get the urge to shop, I find I get a lot of the same satisfaction simply by putting the item in the cart or wish list, but not actually buying it. That might be worth a try too.

Sometimes all it takes is looking at the bigger picture. Think of one thing you really want. Is it to own your own house? Pay off a debt? Save for college for a youngster? Whatever it is you truly want, focus on that. Take a picture of what reminds you of those things you need, and wrap your card around that picture. Sometimes you just need to be reminded about what is truly important to you in life. . . Hope this helps. :)

I used to stop at a casino on the way home from work at least once or twice a month. Sometimes as often as once a week. I never lost huge money but I started to realize that over time if I could just have back all that money that I wasted, look what I could have bought. So I just started throwing whatever money I'd have been comfortable taking to the casino into a jar. After several months I had $1,000, which I used to buy a new tablet, a leather recliner and some tools I'd been wanting. After a while I no longer had to save back the money in a special place and spend it because I'd broken the habit. Seeing what I could actually buy with the money I hadn't spent gambling helped make that point.

So my advice is rather than buying a bunch of trinkets, think of something fairly major or significant you really want - something you might not feel you can afford - and every time you're tempted to order some small item, instead take that money and save it back for what you really want. Don't buy it until you've saved enough from not shopping online.

Great suggestions.

Before pushing the button to buy compare to what you already have. Is this gizmo better than the one you already have?

I obsessively shop and research before buying even the littlest things. It takes me weeks to buy anything. At least you won't be buying more than one new gizmo per obsessive shopping fugue. Case for my new iphone? Took a week and in the end bought the same case as the old phone but in a snazzy new pattern. Win-win I say. Needed the darn thing and sure got my shopping energy used up.

I stopped shopping when I started decluttering. When I buy something it's usually replacing something that doesn't work well.

Try going through your stuff and getting rid of duplicates and things you don't like or use to see if that helps curb the urge to shop. Your space will be calmer and much easier to keep neat and use. I'm sure your new earphones are awesome, treat them like the fine instruments they are by giving them a nice place to live.

I do the same thing as Toronto Veterinarian! I put the item in the cart, but never purchase it. I get the same satisfaction without spending the money :)

I'm guilty of buying online too, especially with ebay.

I've learned to look at my long terms goals (kitchen remodel/home paid off/retirement) and I ask myself if the product is more important than my goals. 9 times out of 10, they aren't and I pass them up.

I am a sucker for a good deal/sale item though. But I read a book a while back and it explained that just because something is an excellent value doesn't mean you truly need it. Maybe the next person walking but could actually benefit from it. So not buying just because it's a great deal has been hard but I've been able to say no many times. It does get easier.

Deleting your "saved" credit cards from online retailers will also help.

Wal-Mart on-line is having a Welcom10 promotion where they take 10% off your first 3 orders of "everyday essentials" - food, health, household, pet and office supplies. Shipping was free so it is/was a good way to buy the things you always buy at a discounted price.

Its certainly a waste if you are ending up financing the purchase. However, if you are buying a consumable at 75% off and you diligently pay the debt on time its a prudent move.

This kind of makes me wish I had a wallmart I could go to..

Since I'm housebound and don't have a car, I do all my shopping online, including groceries. My daughter drives me to my doctors appointments, and takes me out to lunch.

That putting them into the cart thing! Lol may have to try that.

Its really hard nowadays to order online or do online shopping because sometimes the product is not what you expected for, sometimes it has damages and sometimes the offers are just to catch your attention and buying them and having them would be worst because you'll get disappointed, but some of the products are good but not all so be careful on purchasing online.

This is a grammatical gem a half-year later.

Do you know the rate of interest that you're paying on your credit card(s) balances unpaid each billing period? Those issued by banks and some financial agencies usually run just under 20% annual rate, just over 20% for cash advances. The cards issued by stores, shopping centres etc. usually charge up near 30% annual rate on balances carried over next billing date.

ole joyful

Current rates here are 21% on bank-issued cards and 31% on store-issued cards, in 2023.

Most of the stuff we buy using the card isn't deductible for income tax.

If you owed $100.00 for a year at 21%, and they add the interest monthly, if your income tax rate is 25%, you have to earn a bit over $28.00, then pay more than $7.00 tax, to have the somewhat over $21.00 to pay the bank-issued "credit" (really "debt") card debt.

On store-issued card, it's about $42.00, paying over $10.00 income tax, to have the $31.00 to pay the "credit" (really "debt") card amount owing.

Pay the balances owing in full every billing period - earn from about 28%+ to 42%+ on part of your money!

If you're a newly-minted adult who was issued a "credit"/ ("debt") card, maybe without applying and have used it, lacking the funds to pay the full amount owing each billing period ... go borrow the funds needed to pay that amount in full from dad, at 5% (or even 10%). Pay the amount owed in full ... and don't buy stuff that you can't pay the full amount owed every billing period.

Isn't it wise to pay 5% - 10% to dad, to earn/avoid paying 28% - 42+% on some of your money??

ole joyful

Surprising - maybe amazing.

This thread, started by me, 21 years ago, most recently resurrected (again, by me) at least eleven months ago, sometime last year ... is now in tenth position on page 1!

How unfortunate that so few people seem to have much interest in "money saving tips")!!

Granted - I've done almost all of the yapping in this thread, but it seems too bad that there's so little interest in this topic.

ole joyful

" How unfortunate that so few people seem to have much interest in "money saving tips")!! "

The problem with giving someone money saving tips is that one size never fits all. If you don't know the other person, you don't know what their needs, priorities, or responsibilities are.

My apologies, folks - this thread was started about 9 years ago, as reported above, and I first entered the fray about 6 years ago, as it appears now - but I didn't start it, and that about 21 years ago, as I claimed in a post a couple of months ago.

I must plead guilty to a charge of being old and forgetful - but I doubt that my claim above is anywhere near being accurate!

ole joyful