I was spending £700 a month: How I beat my late-night shopping addiction

Targeted social media advertising and seamless online checkout features are contributing to a rise in compulsive shopping among young adults, with research indicating younger women are particularly vulnerable. According to a global study, approximately seven percent of adults experience shopping addiction, defined as an uncontrollable urge to spend despite severe financial consequences.

Industry data highlights the prevalence of impulse buying among younger demographics. Research conducted by challenger bank Vanquis found that Generation Z consumers make more impulse purchases than any other age group, followed closely by millennials. Addiction treatment provider Ukat Group reported that 90 percent of individuals seeking treatment for spending addictions at its UK centers are women. Mental health advocates, including the charity Money and Mental Health, attribute the trend to online platform designs that use pop-up alerts, targeted influencer advertising, and alternative payment methods like Buy Now Pay Later to minimize spending friction.

For affected individuals, compulsive buying can cause significant financial instability. Ella Hewitt, a 24-year-old from Liverpool, said her spending reached up to £700 a month on fast fashion items she often never wore, preventing her from moving out of her family home while working as a school human resources assistant.

"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," Hewitt said, noting that social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram frequently encouraged her purchases.

To regain control, Hewitt introduced practical behavioral changes, including a 30-day waiting period for online wish list items and a rule to only buy items she could afford to purchase three times over. She also used an imaginary daily budget to satisfy the psychological urge to shop without spending money. Hewitt reduced her overall spending by roughly 60 percent and now works as an ethical fashion influencer.

Dish Patel, a 23-year-old financial planner from London, experienced similar issues as a student, maxing out a £2,500 overdraft on clothing, skincare, and food. Patel described a repetitive cycle driven by short-lived gratification.

"The feeling you get when you open your new parcels is always amazing until the dopamine hit dies down and the cycle repeats," Patel said.

Patel curbed her spending habits by deleting retail applications, removing Apple Pay from her phone, leaving bank cards at home, and committing to deposit an equivalent amount into savings whenever she made a non-essential purchase.

Experts and treatment organizations identify common indicators of compulsive shopping, such as immediate mood elevation followed by guilt, hiding spending from loved ones, and accumulating unused items. Financial guidance organizations including Citizens Advice, StepChange, Christians Against Poverty, and National Debtline offer support for consumers struggling with debt caused by impulse buying. Recommended preventative measures include deleting saved card details, establishing compulsory cooling-off periods before transactions, and substituting shopping with non-financial activities when responding to emotional triggers such as stress or boredom.