Shopping sprees

 So, with the changing of seasons, new school year I started buying some things. At first it was just maybe a few sweaters for the winter, shoes, maybe some beauty products... and i noticed that for just a little over a week I actually renewed my closet and beauty products  My friends started calling me a  total shopaholic  and at some point i thought i might be one. So i studied up on it, and i found some things. I'm writing this because i am sure lots of the girls who read this blog have this problem, when they have a  bit more money they go crazy in the store. And since this blog is all about affordable ways to be fabulous, I thought it would be a good idea to do this article. So here we go.....

 Contrary to popular belief, shopping is not a random, thoughtless act, nor is it emotional — instead the urge to spend is brought on by a primitive area of the brain that makes us seek new experiences. Not only does this help explain why people go on shopping sprees, but it also explains why consumers routinely fall for "new" products. British researchers, using brain scans to measure blood flow, found that a part of the brain known as the ventral stratum was more active when people selected unusual objects. This area releases neurotransmitters like dopamine  which process rewards in the brain.

 It is this age-old reward mechanism of the brain that has scientists believing humans have been giving in to the desire to sample the unknown for generations — so much so, scientists even believe it provides us with an evolutionary advantage. "Seeking new and unfamiliar experiences is a fundamental behavioural tendency in humans and animals. It makes sense to try new options as they may prove advantageous in the long run," says Bianca Wittman from the Welcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at the University College, London.

 Before you start charging up your credit card, it's important to know that there are also risks involved in adventurous spending. In today's competitive world, big spenders can be easily swayed by big brands and mass marketing hype.

On top of the fact that shoppers may be tricked into buying goods they don't really need by clever advertising campaigns and masterful branding, some may also fall victim to common vices, like gambling, in the search of adventure.

"In humans, increased novelty-seeking may play a role in gambling and drug addiction," says Nathaniel Daw from New York University, "both of which are mediated by malfunctions in dopamine release."

What could you do to stop going over the top when you go shopping?...

1. Write lists. Write down the things you really do need a few days before you go shopping, or the day before. And just before you leave, review it, you will most likely put off a few things that you realize are not that important.
2. Before you buy anything, ask yourself ''Do i really need this''... And if you don't find the answer convincing, don't buy it, and be honest with yourself with this one. Trust me it will save  you a lot of money, I've been doing it for a few days, and it helps, I calculated i saved myself about 60$, just for 3 days.
3. Set a limit. When you go shopping take only the money you won't regret spending. Like if you have 200$, take only 100$ or 80$, depending on what you will buy.
4. Always use cash. It's easy to lose track on what you spend when you use a credit card. With cash, you will see how it fades away from your wallet, and the guilt will make you think twice before you buy some expensive bag or boots.
5. Give your wallet to a friend. My best friend is a total maniac, so when we go out, she gives me her wallet, and when she wants to buy something she uses step number two, and before i give her her wallet, she needs to come up with a convincing reason of why she needs it.
6. Go trough your closet. Look in the back, you'll be surprised with all the cool stuff you have in there and just forgot about. It will give you the same rush as shopping, it will save you money, and bonus, if you're  a teen, your mum will be happy you finally cleaned that place. 

So these are my tips on how to overcome the urges you get when you enter a mall. Good luck!!!