I was recently asked by a friend, “What’s your best advice to avoid online shopping?”
My answer, probably blunter than expected, was simply, “Close the computer and walk away.”
And that is the truth. If you close the computer and walk away, or put down the phone, you won’t be able to online shop.
Of course, that step is easier said than done.
This week, and the entire coming month, we will be bombarded with countless online messages to buy stuff we don’t need. They will all be strategically placed, crowd-tested, crafted by professionals, and designed to part you with your money.
But this year, probably more than ever, we need to take the step of resisting their appeal.
Online shopping is unique. And the temptation to buy can often be more seductive than shopping in-person in stores.
Consider this: online stores are always open, it’s easier to find individual items, the transaction can be finished in a matter of seconds, often times we don’t even need to pull out a payment card because our computer already has the information stored.
Making it even worse, we often find ourselves shopping at our weakest moments. For example, when we are tired, stressed, bored, rushed, or even inebriated. The thought enters our mind of something we’d like to own, and 30 seconds later it can be purchased and out for delivery.
76% of us shop online. And with the temptation available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, finding the strength to shut the computer, put away the phone, and walk away is not an easy task.
For that reason, it can be helpful to not just put down the phone, but to do so with purpose. Choosing a different activity other than staring at a retail store through a screen helps us put space, time, and energy between the temptation to buy and the actual purchase.
This week, when you feel the impulse to buy something online, close the computer and choose one activity from this list instead.
Ten things we could do instead of online shopping:
1. Go for a walk.
2. Read a chapter of a book.
3. Bake muffins.
4. Take a shower.
5. Play a board game with your kids.
6. Clean the kitchen.
7. Cross an item off your to-do list.
8. Call a family member or friend.
9. Sit quietly with a cup of coffee.
10. Go to bed.
Maybe you’ll find it most helpful to return to the same exercise over and over again this week and month. Maybe you’ll find it helpful to slowly work through each idea one at a time over the coming month.
Or maybe, most likely, this list will spark new ideas for your own life of pursuits and activities this holiday season more worthy of your time and energy than buying physical possessions.
Judy says
Always up for #9! ❤️
I am not one for online shopping. When I DO shop I like to see and feel what I am purchasing. Cash and gas cards are always good gifts 😉
Judy says
Another good one—-
SAY A PRAYER
Victoria Whyte says
Amen!
Adrienne says
Thank you for this article as a reminder not to buy in to the commercialism this year.
Sofie says
Thank you for this list. Helpful in so many ways!
Rolayne Swenson says
Really needed this. Just deleted my items to buy. Thank you so much!
John P. Weiss says
As an artist, one approach I recommend is to make your own artful gifts. Instead of online items, create photos, paintings, poems, knitting, or whatever your passion is, and give them as gifts. They’ll be more memorable, and probably more cherished.
Irinel says
As an artist my self, I love this approach. I’ve always encouraged this in my child and it worked. All these self made gifts are so much more valuable because they come from the heart.
Kathleen Lennon says
Volunteer at a soup kitchen, food pantry. You become keenly aware of the many needs of others and grateful for what you already have.
Want to shop, shop for food items for others.
Judy says
Great idea!
Beth Schuster says
Can you give some ideas for escaping the whole “gift-giving=Happy Christmas” trap?
I would love to change how I approach the holidays but I’m concerned about it being misunderstood or even causing offense.
margrieta says
take someone to see a movie, go visit a museum together, bake a cake for someone or cook a full dinner for someone. Buy your gift in a thrift shop
Sibylle says
The easiest way for our family was my asking people what gift they really wanted.
In many cases, people said „nothing really“ – so we got into talking and agreed on ‚no gifts‘.
An even easier way is telling people pro-actively that you don‘t want material gifts. Ask them specifically for experiences, time together, or nothing at all, just a calm and festive December without frenzied shopping.
Ashley says
Yes! This is a great idea. I come from a materialistic family and it’s hard for some of them to understand that my kids and I would rather have experiences vs material objects. My kids (and I honestly) have very limited interest in new shiny things. It fades quickly and then there’s too much in our small home and that’s stressful! As I get older and my siblings expand their family I truly want nothing more than for us all to get together and have fun. Another idea that we do is that everyone can buy or do something for the kids but the rest pick a person from a hat at Thanksgiving and that’s only one we focus our gift/experiences/favors on. My childless siblings have given us free overnight babysitting and it’s worth gold!
Gretchen OConnor says
Re: Buffalo… walking in the snow is awesome! As is snow shoeing, skiing, cross country skiing, building snowmen/forts, sledding… Outside movement options are endless and beautiful in the snow!
Meg says
I live in the South and would love to experience that much snow at least once. What little we do get in Alabama always entices me to get out and take a walk!
Neita says
This year Buffalo is getting over 6 feet of snow …
Tina Marie says
Thanks for the Buffalo shout out! Definitely doing many things on this list this weekend! Great time to organize & get ready for holiday decorations.
Judy Bird says
Take your credit card information out of ALL of your usual on line shopping sites. The physical act of having to find the card and input the information each and every transaction gives you time to think about your purchase. It retrained my thoughts about need v wants and avoids impulse purchases as well.
Donna says
Truth.
Rakel says
Excellent advise.
I took all my cards info off everything.
I had the habit of scrolling mindlessly thru my phone in the late evenings laying on my couch,,just clicking all sorts of things in my carts..and before I could think about what I was doing, I had already made the purchase.
Now I don’t , since my card is not in reaching distance and I am way to lazy to get it.
Rachel Gehr says
Appreciate this today. Shopping online can be trancelike and the time drifts away. Even without spending money, time is spent scrolling, comparing etc. If I want to zone out and peruse online stores – fountain pens and notebooks are my go-tos – sometimes I’ll set a timer. Might seem weird, but I can enjoy scrolling a bit and move on. It’s fun, but the more time I spend in front in enticing things, the it seems I “need” them.