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.
“I didn’t grow up with much money, so when I got a job I would spend my wages as soon as they hit my account,” says the 24-year-old.
“That dopamine hit kept me shopping and in the world of social media there is just so much encouragement to do that.”
She says she would often make purchases on TikTok or Instagram when she was “tired” or “bored”, lured by the latest trends on her feeds.
