Kill that instinct to shop

SO you’re browsing around the cosmetics department, when you catch a glimpse of your tired and stressed complexion in the mirror.

The next thing you know the salesperson has sold you €100 worth of skin brightening products.

Today’s fast paced and hectic lifestyle means that people are increasingly feeling stressed out and feeling under the weather. Often one way to try and perk ourselves up is to go on a shopping spree.

According to psychologists negative events in our lives trigger a chemical change in the body, making us crave a way to boost our mood.

So if we are down-in-the-dumps or having a bad day or just simply bored, we might naturally feel compelled to go splash some cash. 

But the thing is that spending doesn’t actually de-stress our lives. If we are already in a tight financial situation, then spending more than we can afford only adds more stress to our lives.

We might leave the shop with a smile on our face, satisfied with a brand new purchase, but once the buyer’s remorse kicks in, the smile soon disappears.

A shopping survey recently revealed that retail therapy gives a boost to shoppers’ moods.

But it also revealed that this little high doesn’t last, especially if you spend compulsively and get into a financial mess.

Instead, think of ways to boast your mood without busting your wallet.  A 20-minute walk can be as effective at relieving stress as a shopping spree, and it’s a lot cheaper.