The Difference Between Impulsive and Compulsive Shopping

Why Some People Feel Driven to Make Purchases

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Updated on September 08, 2024

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Woman holding up dress in mirror in store — Dan Dalton / Getty Images

Who doesn't love a great sale? Hitting the shops, looking for a bargain, and buying aesthetically pleasing items may be considered benign "retail therapy" by some. For others, however, shopping can turn into a problem.

Impulsive buying and compulsive shopping are both shopping behaviors that can lead to feelings of regret and financial difficulties. While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same, and important distinctions exist between them.

This article discusses the definitions of impulsive and compulsive shopping and the signs of each behavior. It also covers what causes these problems and the steps people can take to manage their shopping.

What Is Impulsive Shopping?

Impulsive shopping involves buying items that a person was not planning to purchase. It often happens unexpectedly and in the heat of the moment, inspired by a "can't miss" sale or suddenly coming across covetable items that are too tempting to pass up.

Sometimes, these impulsive purchases can be pretty harmless if they are within a person's budget. Unfortunately, impulsive buying can also result in costly spending sprees that can wreak havoc on their finances.

Signs of Impulsive Shopping

Impulsive shopping is something that happens to most people on occasion. Some signs of impulse shopping:

Spending more money than intended
Going into stores (including online stores) that often trigger impulsive buys
Feelings of instant gratification after unplanned purchases
Frequently returning impulse purchases due to regret

Research suggests that impulsive shopping increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feelings of stress and anxiety combined with more time at home may have contributed. This demonstrates how people often use shopping to cope with emotions, relieve distress, and improve mood.

What Is Compulsive Shopping?

Unlike impulsive buying, compulsive buying behavior (CBB) involves more than just shopping and spending more than intended on a whim. It involves a compulsive need to buy items, many of which are not necessary or needed. People who engage in compulsive shopping do so to improve their mood, self-image, social approval, and stress levels.

Compulsive shopping often produces powerful feelings of shame, guilt, and remorse. People who shop compulsively are also prone to financial, legal, and relationship problems because of overspending.

While not recognized as a distinct condition in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5-TR), the tool healthcare providers utilize to diagnose mental health conditions, many experts believe that compulsive shopping is a form of behavioral addiction.

While estimates vary, some research indicates that between 5% and 8% of the U.S. population may engage in compulsive buying behavior. It often begins in the late teens or early twenties and may affect more women than men.

It is relatively common for people who have CBB to also experience mood, anxiety, substance use, and personality disorders.

Signs of Compulsive Shopping

Because shopping is an activity that everyone must do to some extent, it can be difficult to tell when shopping has crossed the line into compulsive buying. Many people love to shop and even spend more than they should, but this does not necessarily mean that they engage in compulsive shopping behavior.

Some of the critical signs of compulsive shopping include:

Buying things that are not needed, sometimes in multiples
Spending more than a person can afford
Declining financial health or high amounts of credit card debt
Distressed relationships due to spending or shopping too much
Hiding shopping or the amount spent
Losing control during shopping sprees
Shopping to relieve feelings of emotional distress
Shopping to avoid feeling guilty about a previous shopping spree
Hoarding due to excess purchases without time or space to manage the purchases

Causes of Impulsive and Compulsive Shopping

Impulsive buying and compulsive shopping often stem from the pleasurable feelings that people get when they make purchases, planned or unplanned. It feels great to purchase something you need or desire, especially if you find a bargain.

Additionally, the act of shopping releases endorphins and dopamine in the brain, creating pleasurable sensations. This can cause people to feel compelled to engage in the same behaviors to re-experience those feelings.

Some reasons people make impulsive or compulsive purchases:

They feel a need to purchase items that are on sale, and the deal is just "too good to pass up."
They collect certain items and feel they must complete each collection to feel satisfied.
They shop to help relieve feelings of emotional distress.
They shop to maintain a self-image of a certain style (for example, to appear as a sophisticated person with impeccable taste or someone who is trendy and needs to dress in the latest fashion).
They may feel the need to have extra items on hand (for example, you can never have too much toilet paper).
They are always on the hunt for certain "trophy" items that they feel they must own to be happy.

Recap

Impulsive shopping often stems from momentary temptation, while compulsive shopping is caused by an ongoing need to seek pleasure and relieve feelings of distress—an urge that needs to be satisfied.

Impulsive vs. Compulsive Shopping

The critical distinction between impulsive purchases and compulsive buying behavior lies in the intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, or reason, for making purchases. While impulse buying is largely unplanned and happens in reaction to an external trigger—such as seeing a desired item in a shop—compulsive shopping is more complex and involves planning.

A person who engages in compulsive shopping will plan the shopping experience as a way to avoid or relieve uncomfortable internal feelings, such as anxiety. There are four stages to a compulsive buying behavior:

Anticipation - In this stage, a person becomes preoccupied with thoughts and urges toward buying something
Preparation - In this stage, a person starts to think about where they will make their purchase, what source of finances they will use (cash, bank card, specific credit card, etc.), and even what they will wear if they go out into the market.
Shopping - This stage involves the actual experience of shopping, which can produce feelings of pleasure and excitement
Spending - After the purchase is made and the money is spent, people often feel a sense of guilt, disappointment, or let down

Compulsive shopping is also more likely to lead to negative consequences than impulse shopping. Such effects may include financial difficulties, arguments with family members, and work-related problems.

People who engage in compulsive buying behavior are also more likely to fall into a pattern of addictive behavior. They shop more and more in an attempt to stave off stress and anxiety. This is how a shopping addiction develops.

How to Reduce Impulsive and Compulsive Shopping

Everyone experiences impulse buying from time to time. Compulsive shopping can be more serious and may require the help of a therapist to manage the underlying emotions that contribute to the behavior.

If you feel your shopping behavior is causing problems in your life, you can use some self-help strategies to get it under control.

Pay attention to your spending habits: Track your budget so you can see where your money goes each month. If you notice that you are overspending on specific items or engaging in too much impulsive shopping, you can take steps to change your spending habits.
Set a budget: Create a budget and plan how much you want to spend on different expenses. Sometimes, it is easier to control impulsive buying if you give yourself leeway to spend a small amount of "fun money" on more frivolous or impulsive purchases.
Pay with cash: Using credit cards makes it easier to overspend. Instead, use cash or a debit card to see precisely how your purchases affect your bank account.
Minimize temptation: Avoid going to certain stores if you know you are more likely to overspend in those shops. If you need to shop there, have a plan, set a strict budget, and bring a friend who can help keep you accountable.
Make yourself wait: If you have an urge to make an unplanned purchase, tell yourself that you have to wait a certain amount of time before you can go through with buying the item. Find ways to distract yourself in the meantime. You may find that the urge to buy the item starts to fade when you give yourself time to think about whether you need the item or not.

While there is no cure for compulsive shopping, many people who engage in this behavior can regain a sense of control and improve their finances and relationships. Maintaining progress is essential since shopping is part of everyday life and cannot be avoided. Because the temptation is always present, people need to develop coping skills that help them manage their urge to shop excessively.

Healthy Coping Skills

Dealing with compulsive shopping often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving professional therapy, medication when indicated, and peer support. A combination of cognitive behavior therapy and antidepressants has the best outcomes. Talking to a financial advisor may also be beneficial.

Recap

Actions such as setting a budget, paying with cash, and instituting a waiting period are tactics that can help reduce impulsive spending. People experiencing compulsive spending would also benefit from talking to a healthcare provider and financial advisor.

Final Thoughts

Being able to recognize the differences between impulsive and compulsive shopping is essential. While most people make impulsive buys sometimes, regular compulsive shopping is a sign of a more serious issue.

While dealing with shopping issues can be challenging, there are steps that you can take. If you need help, talking to a healthcare provider and consulting with a financial expert can help get your life and finances back on track.

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8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada.

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