{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"If shopping is your go-to when you’re feeling down, you aren’t the only one. And experts say you can do it guilt-free. Just add retail therapy to your ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/money/budget-template-7mgFGborQ8rxsGrssC3HC6"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"budget","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"What is the meaning of retail therapy?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"It’s when you go shopping to improve your mood or reduce ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/well/best-podcasts-mental-health-1SlsaVwx0XE5Cyd1hhS3CS"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"stress","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Which a ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130402005600/en/Ebates-Survey-51.8-Americans-Engage-Retail-Therapy%E2%80%94"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"TNS Global study","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" found that 52% of Americans do. And ICYMI: The pandemic didn’t slow down spending. Shoppers just shifted to browsing online retailers for a mood boost. P.S. E-commerce sales increased by $244.2 billion in 2020, which brought total sales to $815.5 billion.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Why is retail therapy a thing?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"“People may be hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, and spending money changes how they feel,” Carrie Friedberg told us. She’s a certified financial behavior specialist — aka the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.sfmoneycoach.com/meet-carrie"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"$F Money Coach","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". She says we do it for the rush. And, based on a 2014 Journal of Consumer Psychology study, there’s some ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://health.clevelandclinic.org/retail-therapy-shopping-compulsion/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"science behind retail therapy","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", too. “Literally, their brain chemistry gets altered and there’s a dopamine high,” Friedberg says.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Is there a realistic way to fit retail therapy into my budget?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Not only is it possible, but many experts —including Friedberg — recommend it. Otherwise, you’re at risk of ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/money/overspending-3RZBV56YCIWurwg07xgRgX"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"overspending","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". When it comes to budgeting, retail therapy should be listed under “wants.” And, yes it’s a good idea to include wants in your budget. Read: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/money/50-20-30-budget-5577Pl1MLXhjEE05ZJ8zjh-post"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"50/20/30","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". Because balance. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"How do I know if I’m going overboard on retail therapy?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Friedberg says there are a few signs you’ve let your retail therapy get out of hand. One major sign is if you can’t afford to pay your entire ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/money/how-to-pay-off-credit-card-debt-fsa9LWOFz8gQQoGaadReJ-post"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"credit card","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" balance each month. Or if you have lots of items you never use. Think: Is your closet filled with shirts that still have the tags on them? If so, Friedberg suggests creating a retail therapy support team with friends and family. And if that doesn’t help, it might be time to hire a money coach. Because ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.theskimm.com/money/overspending-3RZBV56YCIWurwg07xgRgX"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"curbing your spending","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" can be tough to do alone. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"theSkimm","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Retail therapy isn’t all bad. Take it from the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.sfmoneycoach.com/meet-carrie"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"underline"}],"value":"$F Money Coach","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". But it has to be done right — aka in moderation. And it isn’t easy. So don’t feel bad about building a retail therapy support team. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}