15 Techniques To Kick Your Online Shopping Habit for Good

We’re always looking for ways to get ahead financially so we can live our best lives, and that includes addressing sometimes sensitive issues. Specifically, if you feel your control over your online shopping habits is slipping, know you’re not alone.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to reign in your spending and regain control of your wallet. Here are 15 ways to help break your online shopping habit for good.

Harmful habits thrive in solitude, which is why we often hide them from loved ones. But if you ask someone you trust for assistance, they can help.

Check-in with them as much as you need, whether it’s daily or weekly. Tell them the truth, and listen to them when they offer heartfelt advice.

Recognize the triggers that make you want to spend, like boredom, stress, or unpleasant emotions. That can help you identify the void you’re trying to fill with retail therapy.

If you’re not sure what your triggers are, journal about your feelings and look for patterns that emerge.

Marketing emails target consumers and tempt you to spend money when you don’t need to, turning your inbox into a place of temptation.

Click that unsubscribe button, and the out-of-sight, out-of-mind principle kicks in. You won’t buy it if you don’t see it.

Protect your personal email by creating a designated shopping email account. That keeps the latter from cluttering up the former.

That way you can also set up rules for when you check your shopping email, eliminating tempting triggers.

While many apps promise discounts if you download them, they also make it super easy to spend money — especially if you store payment info in them.

Delete the trap that gets you to purchase with one click. Having to take extra steps to checkout means you think twice before you buy.

Everyone makes occasional impulse buys, but if you make too many, you’ll deplete your finances and end up with stuff you don’t need.

Set a rule to wait for 24 to 48 hours after adding items to your shopping cart. With time, you’ll likely realize you can pass on many items.

Everyone benefits from a budget that helps track your spending and stay aware of your limits.

Create your budget, and more importantly, stick to it. Pay only with cash if needed —that way, you won’t spend money you don’t have.

Browser extensions are your friend. Use them to block access to your favorite sites during certain hours — or altogether.

If you don’t trust yourself, have your accountability partner do the blocking for you. In time, you may realize you don’t miss it as much as you thought.

Social media platforms are filled with ads that are targeted specifically to you via algorithms making scrolling an endless source of temptation.

You may find that avoiding or even limiting your exposure pays off in dividends. Don’t forget to unfollow influencers or accounts that encourage shopping as well.

There are more wholesome ways to get that dopamine hit — and they don’t come with the inevitable guilt of overspending.

Maybe it’s time to finally start that yoga practice or pick up that book you keep meaning to finish.

A surefire way to stop shopping online is to only buy things with cold, hard cash.

It will make it harder to spend money as you’ll have to shop brick-and-mortar, and if you absolutely need to make an online purchase, tap your accountability partner.

Nine times out of 10, there’s something you need more than that clearance sweater or new fragrance you just found on sale.

Take the time to draft a wish list of what you really need. The next time you want to spend, if it’s not on the list, you’ll know deep down you don’t need it.

Sure, buying something online is fun, but having a robust retirement savings account is a far more important goal in life. Make that your mantra when you feel tempted.

A bucket list vacation is another worthy goal to prioritize over whatever the deal of the day may be.

Even before Marie Kondo inspired all of us to ask ourselves what sparks joy, decluttering can be a great motivator — and a powerful reminder of our abundance.

Why buy more clothes if your closet is overflowing? When you really see what you have, it makes an impact.

If your shopping habit feels out of control, talk to a therapist who can help you restore your peace. There are many who specialize in this particular addiction and can offer compassionate support.

These excellent professionals have helped many before you overcome this hardship, even in some of the most extreme cases.

It’s not impossible to get out of debt, even if you’ve developed an online shopping habit that’s isolating you and making you feel guilt, shame, and panic.

Unmanagable online shopping habits can be treated with time, therapy, and a lot of hard work.