The Sunday Mail
Consumer Watch with Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba
Life can be stressful.
Happiness does not last forever and sadness in surely part of life.
Some people find it easier to deal with sadness through retail therapy.
However, it often degenerates into an addiction.
Everything that we do in life should be done in moderation. In some instances, seeking the services of a real therapist might be ideal, rather than pointlessly waste money shopping for goods that might not improve their condition.
The following helps to find a balance when the shopping bug hits:
Know your budget and stick to it
Retail therapy is often associated with overspending and getting into debt. However, this is not the case when one has financial literacy skills, which help budget for eventualities that may require retail therapy.
This helps to avoid falling into debt.
Those who normally resort to retail therapy can be better served by keeping some savings that could help on a rainy day.
Shop for things you actually need
Impulse shopping is hazardous when it is done often and inconsistently. Most consumers tend to purchase items that they really do not need.
Shopping for unnecessary items is a waste of both time and money.
It is always advisable to draw up a shopping list before visiting the shop.
Some customers may argue that routine shopping is not satisfying. Well, my advice is they can try out shopping in a different shop.
Shop away stress and sadness
Retail therapy is not always about spending money, but one can just window-shop in order to get a fix.
Window shopping can be an ideal substitute of the actual buying.
So, when a consumer is feeling low, shopping through the window can bring some sunshine into their day.
Simply checking out new things and doing price comparisons may be enough retail therapy for a customer going through stressful situations.
That window-shopping experience will help them to distress.
Take time before going shopping
Emotional shopping can make other consumers buy more than they require. Just like in any life situation, decisions should not be made at the heat of the moment.
Distinguish your concerns
Some stressful situations are transitory. For example, anxiety about end-of-semester results are temporary and can be treated by going out for a nice movie to calm the nerves. However, going for shopping after a messy or nasty divorce may not really solve the issue at hand.
Thus, when consumers are aware of which problems require retail therapy and professional therapy it will help them to use their money wisely.
Constant domestic fights may require counselling and not retail therapy.
Know when to seek help
Grief, depression, anger, dissatisfaction and some form of anxiety cannot be healed by retail therapy.
Retail therapy can only work as a coping measure and cannot eradicate deep-rooted problems a consumer may be facing.
Coping measures are not permanent, nor are they a prescription to solve mental health issues.
One can get some temporary relief during a difficult situation but still require a therapist to help them identify the cause of the problem and help them find a lasting solution.
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba is a marketing enthusiast with a strong passion for customer service. For comments and suggestions, she can be reached on [email protected] or on 0712 979 461
