Remember shopping in 1999?
If you wanted a new outfit, shoes, or random stuff you didn't need, you actually had to leave your house, get dressed (ugh), drive somewhere, and physically shop. Exhausting, right?
Fast forward to today - online shopping is basically the Wild West of impulsive decisions. In fact, impulse buying accounts for up to 40% of all online purchases. You're minding your own business, scrolling through social media or checking email, and suddenly you're served deals, steals, and irresistible items you didn't even know existed. (Hello, pink rhinestone cowboy boots - clearly a wardrobe essential!)
Thanks to dopamine hits from instant gratification, we've all become masters at convincing ourselves we're practically making money by spending it - what my husband affectionately calls "Tara Math." It's gotten so bad, I've legit forgotten about some of my late-night purchases until they showed up at my door.
This is where emotional intelligence kicks in. Impulse control isn't just about curbing spending; it's a critical form of self-regulation and self-awareness. Recognizing the difference between a want and a need.
To conquer this impulsive shopping spiral, I invented the Chill Cart:
Load Up the Cart: Fill your online cart to your heart’s content. Zero guilt. Total fun.
Let It Chill: Take a 24-hour timeout. Allow your excitement and dopamine to calm down.
Revisit & Evaluate: Use your enhanced self-awareness to assess. If you still love it, can afford it, and actually need it (no, Tara, not everything is "essential"), hit checkout. If not, delete, delete, delete!
Feeling extra dangerous? Just fill up the cart and delete. It's highly satisfying.
The Chill Cart has saved me money, closet space, and lots of buyer’s remorse. Plus, now my husband can't tease me (as much) about my "savings."
Your Turn: What's currently chilling in your Chill Cart? Reply and tell me your best "Tara Math" moments!
