Auntie SparkNotes: Confessions of a Shopaholic

This week's letter comes from a girl with excellent taste in clothes:

Dear Auntie Sparknotes,
I used to be great at saving money and not splurging. But all of a sudden, I've been spending money way more than usual. Over the summer I've probably spent more than three hundred dollars of my savings. And right before my birthday! Whenever I'm on the computer, I end up at the website for Delia's or PacSun or some other store and before I know it I've spent another fifty bucks. It's getting ridiculous.
What do I need to do to stop myself from becoming a raging shopaholic?
Thanks,
theofficefan

Hooo, boy. If there’s one thing Auntie SparkNotes can completely understand, it’s the strange and inescapable allure of the Delia’s website. That siren song of cute, affordable fashion has claimed many a victim (and if you don’t believe me, let me just add that I am totally wearing these pants right now.)

Internet shopping can be convenient and fun, but the problem, as you’ve found, is that it’s easy to lose control. You’re operating without any of the natural checks that would ordinarily keep you from overspending—you know, things like the cost and hassle of driving to the mall, or the sight of your hard-earned cash disappearing into the cash register manned by that surly salesgirl, or the realization that your shopping bag weighs as much as a five-year-old child with a thyroid problem. So your first order of business is to step away from the computer. NOW.

...Oh no, wait. Um... come back for a second, I’m not done. In the meantime, if you feel a case of cybershopping coming on, please distract yourself by watching this.

Now: Getting the online fashion vortex out of sight—and therefore, out of mind—is an important first step, but it’s not the main event. You need to figure out why you keep shopping, and then address that. Ready? Here we go.

Possibility #1: This would be the obvious explanation, in which you’re shopping because you're actually in need of new clothes. If you’re on the verge of running around naked (or if there’s a gaping hole in your wardrobe because you’ve grown too tall for all your jeans), take stock of what you’ve already bought and see whether your wardrobe is complete enough to take a break from the clothes-buying. If not, make a specific list of what you still need—try to keep it at three things max—and head to an actual, physical store to get them.

Possibility #2: You’re shopping because you dig fashion, even if it’s superfluous. Hey, that’s cool—so do I. But if you’re a budding fashionista, now is the time to learn the delights of secondhand and vintage buying. Next time you’re feeling the urge, head to your local consignment shop, yard sale, flea, or church rummage (again, an actual, physical place of commerce.) Bring $10 in cash, and vow to spend it ONLY on something really great—you get the fun of the hunt, without the giant price tag or self-loathing.

Possibility #3: You’re shopping because you’re bored/listless/unhappy, and spending money makes you feel (briefly) better. This is the territory of the actual shopaholic, people who like the rush that comes from buying something shiny and new. If you’re lying about your spending, feeling guilty, and not even wearing the stuff you buy, this is your problem, and you’ll need to tackle it right away. Put a certain percentage of your paychecks into savings as soon as you get them, stop shopping online, switch to a cash-only basis, and don’t buy on impulse— if you really want something, make yourself wait at least two weeks to drop the dough. These steps should be enough to put you (and your savings) back on track, but if your problem persists, you’ll want to talk to your parents.

Got any tips for our letter-writer? Got a question of your own? Leave it in the comments, or email Auntie SparkNotes at advice@sparknotes.com.