This topic lies near and dear to my heart. Whenever I am feeling emotional, the one thing I lean on is retail therapy. A new dress, shirt, basically a new anything always has the ability to lift my spirit and put a smile on my face. Recently I came to the realization that my retail therapy habits were only causing a financial burden on my life.
As I was going through the stack of mail yesterday I came across my credit card statement for the month. My heart immediately sank since I knew I went overboard this month. Opening it in the slowest, most anxiety-filled manner possible, I saw that I owed $550 dollars. I was shocked! I thought “overboard” was going to be at most $250. I sat and tried to think of everything I bought in the last month, and, to be frank, I couldn’t remember much.
I was a victim of retail therapy. Although in the moment it made me feel better, the item I bought was irrelevant and just contributed to a bigger, more serious problem. There are so many other things I could have done with that money that would have brought me happiness. I could have traveled, paid off student loan debt, saved money; the list can go on and on.
What I am trying to say here, is don’t fall for that temporary fix. Learn from my mistakes. When you are feeling under the weather, do something productive. Go out and make yourself a better person on the inside, not on the outside. I know that sounds like a cliché, but I promise you that you’ll be much happier working towards the person you want to be internally rather buying unnecessary physical items.
*Tara’s Very Own Service Announcement*
If you also feel like you have been victimized by retail therapy, head straight to ionManage in your iontuition account and create a budget. You must do this as soon as possible so that your habit doesn’t get out of hand.
As Blogger and budget aficionado Blogger Tara K. helps college students across the country enhance their knowledge about money management, college costs, and everyday life. She is constantly looking for new ideas to transform into great advice for you. Pursuing a journalism major, Tara K. has a passion for the art of inquiry, which is conveyed through her writing.