Sad Shoppers Spend More Money
CNN said it, not me.
“This is a phenomenon that occurs without awareness,” Jennifer Lerner, a Harvard professor who studies emotion and decision making, said in a phone interview. “This is really different from the idea of retail therapy, where people are feeling negative and want to cheer themselves up by shopping. People have no idea this is going on.”
The researchers concluded sadness can trigger a chain of emotions leading to extravagant tendencies. Sadness leads people to become more focused on themselves, causing the person to feel that they and their possessions are worth little. That feeling increases willingness to pay more — presumably to feel better about themselves.
Is this true? Do you spend more money when you’re sad?
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Hi SM – I read this article yesterday too … about 5 years ago, I was really struggling with who I was, self-esteem, depression etc. I tried to assuage those feelings with new clothes and (yikes!) a new Saab. Pretty expensive therapy! After quitting my job and getting more appropriate talk therapy, plus a very supportive husband, I was able to turn things around. Now when I’m sad, I actually don’t have the energy to shop, and nothing really appeals to me anyway. Instead, I tend to hibernate, rest and take care of myself that way. Much cheaper!
I’m the same way. When I’m sad, I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything. I retreat into my cocoon and hide from the world. [-SM]
Oh yes! So very true. Remember my posts on my ESS (emotional shopper sysndrome)? Anytime I was down, shopping was my therapy. I would shop till I dropped. Bought things that I had no business buying. Usually, I would wind up returning the items the following day or week. This was back when I was a new single mother trying to adjust myself to being responsible for another human being. That was back when I didn’t know any other way to “comfort” myself.
Now that I am older and wiser, I find other means to work through my down times.
When I first moved to DC from the south, I got seasonal affective disorder and didn’t even realize it until I looked at my credit card bills. I saw my clothing and food purchases spike in the winter–buying when sad is definitely true for me.
My counselor suggested shopping as a form of therapy. Not extravagant shopping, but she said it gives a little boost.
I know two people who are chronic shoppers. One who is always, always “depressed”. Well, she has highs and lows. If someone is coming for a visit, she’s up for three days in a row with no sleep cleaning and prepping for visitors. Then she will plunge into depression once it’s over. Sleep for three or four days at a time.
She’s a caregiver. She cares for everyone but herself. You could be half way through fixing dinner and she will come out into the kitchen digging in the freezer saying, “Oh, we have french fries. We have fresh bread. There is fresh corn in the cupboard.” These suggestions are unsolicited and a little late but she does this repeatedly. She had three children and then had a forth at the age of forty because she’s the kind of person her needs to be needed. After the forth was grown, she went into foster care. She never really cared for the children aside from giving them shelter and, on occasion, fixing a meal. They mostly fended for themselves.
She is a germaphobe but has the dirtiest house I’ve ever been in, (Seriously, cobwebs everywhere. A brand new bathroom that has never been cleaned in 8 months – the shower is orange and dirty.) And, if things do get put away, they never go back in the same place twice.
All this to say, in my nonprofessional opinion, she’s OCD. AND she’s a chronic shopper. Buys things that people will never eat or use. I’ve known her for 10 years and there are three closets in that house full of brand new clothes with the tags still on that have been there for 10 years. Shoes too. Three of the same shoe. All in different colors. Food. She buys food like crazy. She went into a frenzy here a while back and was cleaning out the cupboards throwing out brand new unopened food. I’m like, “Wait. I know people who can use that stuff.”
With foster kids around (up to 6 or 7 at a time), she would go out and buy white or cream colored furniture. A leather cream couch and matching chair and stool. Both were destroyed in less than a year. But buying it gave her and instant, but not lasting high.
Oh my goodness, I used to shop when I was sad or mad. It really used to make me feel better. It did not matter what I shopped for, I just bought and bought. Luckily I haven’t done that in about 3 to 4 years.
i shop when i’m sad not stressed but unlike the article, i am aware of what i’m doing.
i also have to say that most of the purchases were made on the internet. it doesn’t help that the mall is between my place and work so i pass that mugg EVERYDAY
i have no specific thing that i buy, my purchases range from books to food to clothes to treats for my dog. SMH
i’ve vowed to do better though
Yep! I was sad last month and went waaayyy over budget. This month i feel better and I haven’t spent nearly as much money.