Compulsive spending disorder is a serious problem that can lead to financial and emotional problems. That’s why visiting a rehabilitation centre for a dedicated compulsive spending treatment plan can be quite helpful. Learn about this plan and how it will cure the disorder in our post.
Online shopping is a pretty common sight in today’s world due to the ease of digital payments.
For instance, there were over 270 million online shoppers in India as of 2024. However, for some of these people, online shopping isn’t just a way to purchase clothes and essentials quickly.
This uncontrollable behaviour is known as compulsive spending disorder, which results in people spending money without a cap and leading to financial losses.
This often leads to emotions like guilt later on. So, if you or a loved one has been suffering from this issue, you can visit a rehabilitation centre for a dedicated compulsive spending treatment plan.
But what does this plan involve, and how can you get rid of your compulsions? Let’s study that below.
Steps For Controlling Compulsive Spending
Here are the steps to follow to bring compulsive spending under control:
Step 1: Recognise the Signs and Triggers
The first step of the compulsive spending treatment plan involves recognising the root of your problem.
Several emotional and psychological triggers lead to compulsive spending. These triggers involve stress, loneliness, boredom, and low self-esteem. People often resort to shopping as a way to deal with the inadequacies caused by these feelings.
For example, say someone is suffering from extreme stress or anxiety. In such cases, they resort to the temporary high or euphoria caused by shopping. However, a contrarian consequence of this high is that they experience guilt afterwards.
Another trigger is low self-esteem. People with low self-esteem tend to shop as a way of self-validation and also to earn approval from others. They are also more materialistic.
That’s because they realise or feel that they could have saved that money for an emergency or need later.
Visiting a de addiction centre in Mumbai or anywhere else in India will help the patients understand the root causes behind their compulsion. This understanding helps them consciously resist these impulses later.
Step 2: Track Every Rupee You Spend
The next part of a compulsive spending treatment plan involves understanding and tracking your spending. Patients are generally advised to use online applications like MyMoney or Money Manager Expense and Budget, for example.
These applications let you add your budget, log your daily expenses, and also view where your money is going. They display this data through visually appealing pie charts. So, patients are advised to check their expenses on a daily or weekly basis, or as applicable.
This monitoring helps them decide and understand which of their expenses are necessary and which are not.
Take a look at the infographic below for a better idea.
Infographic 1: Simple Daily Expense Tracker Example
Step 3: Set Realistic Budgets and Boundaries
You should know that tracking your spending is not enough. That’s because you could spend all your money like that without realising. To avoid this scenario, patients are advised to create a budget.
Having a budget helps you actually categorise your spending into three main categories, namely, needs, wants, and savings. You should divide your budget with the help of the 50-30-20 rule. It basically means that:
- 50% of your money should go to your needs
- 30% of your money should go to your wants
- 20% of your money should go to your savings
This rule is a popular one, though you can modify it as per your financial situation. For instance, you can dedicate 30% of your money to your savings, and 20% of your money to your wants.
Consider getting in touch with a financial advisor during your compulsive spending treatment plan, if the therapists allow it. The advisor will be able to advise you better after examining your finances.
If your therapists don’t allow it, you should try cash-based spending and remove saved cards from e-commerce sites. These measures will help you slow down.
Step 4: Replace Spending With Healthy Coping Mechanisms
One of the other things that the therapists will do is replace your compulsion with healthy habits. They will do this with the help of Habit Reversal Training, which involves replacing unhealthy habits with desirable ones.
The therapists will first help you become aware of those moments you’re compelled to spend, and then help you recognise them. After that, they will suggest remedial measures to compete with the compulsion to spend.
For instance, you may be told to keep your phone away from your hands or doodle something. These behaviours, when repeated over time, will gradually replace the compulsion to spend.
Finally, they will also involve your family members and guide them on how to motivate you to keep up the anti-compulsive behaviour.
Step 5: Post-Treatment Steps
You should not assume that your compulsive spending treatment ends after your plan does. If you have been undergoing therapies at de addiction centres in Mumbai or anywhere else in India, you will be glad to know that most facilities offer support groups, relapse prevention plans, and timely follow-ups.
Joining the support group after your treatment will help you be surrounded by people who know what you’re going through. They will help keep you on track with your recovery. You can also do the same for them, if or when they reach out.
By engaging in these groups or following the relapse prevention plans, you will continue to recover even after the treatment ends.
The Final Word: Regaining Balance and Financial Freedom
Controlling spending is not just about financial restraint, but also a journey of self-awareness. You will be able to use the discipline you get from this treatment in other areas of your life as well.
These include eating, exercising, and other things. Apart from that, you can also explore the other treatments available at the rehab centre, like mindfulness and art, for example. By exploring these treatments, you will enjoy a holistic approach to healing.
Ready to Live a Better Quality of Life?
Reach out to wellness experts at a reputed rehab centre near you in Mumbai or your state to regain your emotional and financial balance today!
