Tips for Managing Unhealthy Spending Sprees

Those with ADD and Bipolarism are particularly susceptible to spending sprees during high-energy episodes, when the drive of the personality trait overcomes the logic of the calmer mind. But unhealthy spending sprees can happen to any of us, especially during times of high stress. It often starts benignly. You purchase something you have been holding off from buying. Then, you decide it’s time to fulfill another desire if you can find it on sale. Before you know it your shopping around and buying much more than you set out to. Sometimes it can run into hundreds or even thousands. 

So what can you do to prevent a spending spree or at least curb one that has begun? Here are a few tips to help you manage the spending spree monster. 

For Severe Spending Problems

For those with severe problems that have bankrupted them, outside help is needed. Organizations like the Budget and Financial Management Assistance (BFMA) can help by paying your bills on your behalf and sending you an allowance that you may use for spending. Some with bipolarism would be unable to function without such services. 

Others have a trusted friend or relative who is there to help them recognize a spending spree as it begins and take control of the finances until the mania passes. It’s important to arrange this with a non-judgmental and empathetic individual who knows you well enough to tell the difference between a trip to the store and the onset of a manic episode. Sometimes, the spouse of the bipolar individual will handle the finances 100% of the time.

For the Average Over-Spender

But even in otherwise healthy individuals, unhealthy spending can happen. The stress of budgeting, worrying about the future and the simple act of using your will to stop your desire to buy eventually may cause you to weaken. One purchase decision can lead to another and another until you’ve undone all your careful savings habits. The pure pleasure of getting what you want after you have deprived yourself often keeps the spending going. It’s very much like the pleasure of eating cake when you have been on a diet. And some of the same things that help dieters can help you control your spending spree. 

Try Diet Tricks

For instance, set aside a small amount of cash specifically for spending on things you know you don’t need, but want anyway. Make a list of all the things falling into this category for you, but don’t use it as a real shopping list. Use it as a visual meditation. Picture yourself having these things in your life…all aspects of it. Imaging the maintenance and repair costs, what you will do with it when you get bored with it. Many times, just visualizing yourself bored with the toy you’ve been wanting makes the desire vanish in an instant.

Manage Your Emotions, Not Your Will

Take time to analyze your thoughts and behaviors. The truth is that your purchase decisions are based on emotion and backed up by logic, now matter how twisted your reasoning must be to make your feel less guilty. The only way to control your spending is not to use will power, but instead to change the way you feel about buying and about “stuff.” Hoarders are victims of overspending who simply can’t let go of the things they have paid for. Begin to develop a healthy disdain for clutter and you will find yourself wanting space rather than things to fill the space with. It will be easier to resist buying a product that will produce more clutter. 

Delay Tactics

Another way to manage your desire to spend is to pick one item on your list of desires. Make it the most expensive, extravagant and unnecessary object you can think of. Then start saving for it instead of everything else on the list. By the time you’ve saved enough to pay for it, you may not want it anymore. 

Minimize the Damage

You don’t have to give up spending altogether, but you should think about limiting yourself to the dollar store or charity shop. Even then, you might go overboard, but at least you’ll spend much less than you would elsewhere. When I am in times of high stress, I take out $20 and head over to the dollar store. I come back with the same value in useless crap. I feel better, then give the junk away. Shopping desire solved, no clutter, minimal damage.

Remember that unhealthy spending sprees happen to just about everyone. Times of high stress make overspending more likely. Make sure you have an outlet for this pressure, whether it be exercise, therapy, a glass of wine with a friend or even just a mini-spree. You’ll get through it healthier and with more money in the bank.