Impulsive or Compulsive: What Kind of Shopper Are You?

The recession has brought about a new frugal attitude and more consumers are stepping up to tighten the purse strings. But not all people are still inclined to save their cash for a rainy day or major emergency. Some who believe they were born to shop still are shopping to the detriment of their own financial future.

One of the wasteful spending habits of consumers occurs while shopping. There is a thin line between needs and wants and for some, there is simple no line to see at other than the one at the check out counter. If you have mounting debts and can’t understand why, you may want to consider what kind of shopper you are.

The Impulsive One
Impulse shopping is almost impossible to resist because the stores are working against the consumer. They have set up their displays and merchandise in such a way that many good shoppers still can’t resist the last item grab at the check out aisle. Seemingly innocent products suddenly become gotta-have-its. One goes in to the store for milk and comes out with a deck of cards, some hand sanitizer, and a candy bar.

Impulsive shopping all comes down to a shopper being cognizant of their wants and needs. The ‘needs’ category cover the basics in life like food, shelter, and clothing. The ‘wants’ are the items you just can seem to resist.

Beating the impulse shopping game means being aware of how you shop each time you go to the store. You can start by only running to the store when absolutely necessary and avoid the malls when you feel you have nothing else to do. Also, make every trip with a  specific list in your hand and be prepared to get only what is on the list. It may take some getting used to but impulsive shopping habits can be curbed. Once the reality of savings begins to see the light of day, many shoppers may find it easier to change their ways. Additional measures you can take to avoid the impulse is to shop only with cash and leave the credit cards at home. Making the decision to skip the impulses before even entering the store can make a world of difference in your success.

The Compulsive One
Compulsive shopping is a different scenario than impulsive tendencies in that it may be more psychologically hard to conquer. Compulsive shopping is an addiction and those who participate in the activity often use it as a form of self-medication. There is a high when the purchase is made and a low when the bill arrives. Instead of smoking dope, compulsive shopper’s drug of choice is spending.

If you feel you have racked up thousands in debt because you have little control over your shopping habits, it is important you seek professional help. Admitting you have a problem is the first step a compulsive shopper needs to take. Otherwise, spending can become totally out of control and debt will begin to take over. There is no shame is seeking counseling for compulsive shopping habits and the sooner you seek professional guidance, the faster you can leave your debts behind and get back on financial track.