I was spending £700 a month: How I beat my late-night shopping addiction
Ella Hewitt shares her personal journey of overcoming a late-night shopping addiction fueled by social media trends and dopamine-seeking behavior. She offers practical strategies, such as the 30-day rule, to help others manage impulsive spending habits.
Why it matters
It addresses the rising issue of consumerism and digital addiction in the age of social media-driven fast fashion.
Image source, Ella Hewitt Image caption, Ella says she would spend her wages "as soon as they hit my account"
You may well have been there. It's late, you're scrolling on your phone and suddenly feel a strong urge to buy something - only to wake up the next day and regret it.
But what happens when those impulse buys become a habit rather than a one-off?
One global study suggests 7% of adults , external experience shopping addiction , external - an uncontrollable urge to spend despite the financial consequences - and younger women are more susceptible.
Ella Hewitt, from Liverpool, says her shopping addiction got so bad in 2021 that she was spending up to £700 a month on fast fashion she couldn't afford and sometimes never even wore.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in