We’ve all gotten carried away in stores and bought more things than we needed, right? Going for just one thing and taking ten more is something that seems inevitable on some occasions, but the truth is that we must try to keep our heads in the right place and think clearly when spending money on a product or good. 
Sometimes, compulsive purchases are a response to the panic that leads to a crisis, be it economic, social or health. But, what is the psychological explanation that you should know about this way of acquiring goods or products? In this article we tell you everything you need to know about these purchases.
What is a compulsive purchase?
- The person who suffers from Compulsive Shopping Disorder is characterized by buying more than they need, buying excessively and generally useless objects that are of no use to them. For example, if she already has two red skirts, a shopaholic will continue to spend money on red skirts even though they are exactly the same or even though she has many more at home.
- Feelings of anxiety and depression are only eased by compulsive buying. However, after making that purchase, the feeling of guilt appears and, of course, a great economic crisis, family discussions… And a long list of personal problems can appear.
- On a small scale, a compulsive purchase can occur at a specific moment in our lives, such as sales or periods of crisis. Despite the fact that we have already bought a good or a product, we have the need to continue buying that good or that product. But what is the reason for this behavior? Why do we tend to buy the same thing over and over again?
Why do people buy a specific product during certain periods?
- Let’s take as an example the toilet paper in supermarkets in times of coronavirus, or hand soaps and even packets of rice or macaroni. Why was everyone buying the same products? The psychologist Beatriz Madrid told us in an interview on the subject that it is “a kind of control measure.” That is to say, it seems that by buying certain products we can have the feeling that we are controlling everything, that things “are where they have to be”.
- Another factor to take into account in times of crisis is that people, seeing others buying a specific good, go for the same thing, causing a chain reaction driven by fear. The fear that something will run out, the fear that others have that product and we don’t, makes us use all our efforts to acquire it. Although there is no need to have it, and although it will never end.
- Social networks or the media also have an influence in this regard. If a person is constantly seeing how the rest of the population is buying a single product (whether it is an item of clothing, a supermarket item or a consumer product), they will have the need to run for it. Because? Because he is seeing how others have that need and, when in doubt, they prefer to cover that possible need that they may have later, as the rest of society is having.
What should we do when faced with compulsive purchases?
In these situations, how should we act? What do we have to take into account? In this article we give you some basic recommendations:
Keep calm
The first of the recommendations is to be completely calm, take a deep breath and prevent anxiety or stress from appearing. We should not think that the world is going to end because people buy the same product many times. And, of course, we should not buy if we do not need that good or that product. Simply staying calm will help you avoid those impulse purchases that can be so damaging to our mental health.
Buy wisely and judiciously
What do you need to buy? This is a question that you should always ask yourself, but even more so in certain times such as crises or sales that we talked about before. You must take into account what your basic needs are that you need to cover with certain products when you go shopping.
Bring a list of what you need
In relation to the previous point, that of buying wisely and judiciously, we have a trick that will help you carry it out: make a list. In it you can write down everything you need at a certain time, helping you structure your head, your pantry, your closet or everything you want to fill with a purchase. Stick to the list you’ve written when you’re in a mall, store, or supermarket, and you’ll be able to stick to all the recommendations.
Don’t spend more than we have
It seems like a basic and very obvious rule, but many people who suffer from CBT (Compulsive Shopping Disorder) venture to spend more money than they have, as we saw at the beginning of the article. We must not go overboard with money, but buy according to our economy and our needs.
No need to buy everything at once
You do not have to destroy everything once you go shopping, you should not take everything you want at that moment, because the person behind you may run out of those products that you do not really need. Buy only what you must and make a weekly purchase if it is a supermarket.
Do I really need it?
When you go to a store on sale, or when you go shopping at the supermarket, ask yourself the following question: do I really need it? The answer in your head may be yes at first, but after thinking about it many times, you will realize that you have found the solution to compulsive purchases.