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The Daily Insight Hub

How do I get over my spending addiction?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on February 02, 2026

How to escape a shopping addiction

  1. Reflect on how you feel when you shop.
  2. Think about the time involved.
  3. Understand the phenomenon.
  4. Know thyself.
  5. Reflect on how you feel when you shop.
  6. Think about the time involved.
  7. Take control of the situation.
  8. Start writing things down.

Is there such a thing as credit card addiction?

Credit card addiction can stem from compulsive shopping and spending, and it is just as dangerous of an addiction as alcohol or drugs because it can be masking the emotional toll of depression, anxiety and/or loneliness.

How can I stop my credit card from being misused?

10 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Debt

  1. Build a Safety Net. Fanatic Studio / Getty Images.
  2. Stick to What You Can Afford.
  3. Avoid Unnecessary Balance Transfers.
  4. Always Pay on Time.
  5. Pay Your Full Balance Each Month.
  6. Know the Signs of Credit Card Debt.
  7. Avoid Cash Advances on Your Credit Card.
  8. Don’t Lend Out Your Credit Card.

How can you help someone with credit card debt?

Here are some choices that could provide the debt relief you seek.

  1. Borrow from Home Equity.
  2. Credit Card Balance Transfer.
  3. Debt Snowball.
  4. Speak with Your Credit Card Company.
  5. Talk with Nonprofit Debt Counseling Company.

What do you do if you have a spending problem?

  1. Understand Your Spending Triggers.
  2. Track Your Spending.
  3. Stick to Cash and Stop Relying on Credit Cards.
  4. Forget Your Credit Cards – Literally and Figuratively.
  5. Set Short Term Financial Goals.
  6. Learn How to Budget Money.
  7. Give Every Dollar a Job.

Can I leave a credit card unused?

An unused card with a high annual fee that you can’t afford is also generally safe to close, as is a newly opened account that you don’t use. Cancelling it will have less of a negative impact on your credit score than closing an older account.

What to do if you are a credit card addict?

Once you’ve rid yourself of those addictive credit cards, you need to go to work to get your debt under control. To do this, you will need to sit down and develop a debt management program. If the task seems overwhelming you might go to one of those nonprofit consumer credit counseling agencies for help.

What’s the best way to get over a money addiction?

You can literally cut up your credit card. You can find a less tempting commute to and from work. You can start using a different grocery store, one with less tempting selections. You can stop hanging out with friends who just encourage you to spend, then fill your social calendar with friends who aren’t all about the spending.

What’s the best way to stop using credit cards?

The way to stop is to follow the steps in the article above. If that doesn’t work, and if you sincerely want to overcome your addiction, close all your credit card accounts, cut up your cards and throw them away, and limit yourself to cash expenditures only. Let someone you trust dole out the cash to you on a predetermined schedule.

What are the symptoms of a spending addiction?

An individual who is suffering from a spending addiction pays whatever it takes to get whatever he/she wants. With the heavy use and ease of obtaining credit cards, an individual with this addiction believes that he/she can go on forever. There is a sense of control when spending money on everything that an individual desires.