7 Ways Being Stressed Can Cause You to Spend More

Do you ever feel stressed? If you do, you are not alone.

Most people do at least occasionally and some people more often than others. Stress is a normal part of life and can come from many different situations. But have you ever thought about some of the side effects of stress on your life?

For example, there are at least 7 ways being stressed can cause you to spend more.

1. Shopping

You’ve probably heard of retail therapy. It’s a type of coping mechanism you may turn to when you are stressed. To put it another way, you shop in order to feel better.

The problem is that you buy more than you need or things you don’t need at all to temporarily feel better. But the problem is that it can become an endless cycle or even an addiction. Both of these problems can rack up thousands of dollars of debt and be hard to end.

2. Gambling

Another way you may try to deal with stress it to gamble. It can distract you from the real problem and, like shopping, gambling can also turn into an addiction. Once you lose on a few large bets, however, you could find you’ve spent money that should have gone toward other bills. In addition, you can find yourself in serious financial hot water.

3. Smoking

Are you a stress smoker? If you answer yes to that question, you are getting hit in the wallet at least twice. First, you are paying for the high cost of the cigarettes themselves, which are not cheap. Second, you are paying for medical bills related to smoking that will further increase the costs of this bad habit.

4. Health Care

This leads us to health care. Stress can affect you financially by causing you to need more medical care.

For instance, you may suffer from heart problems, migraines, or being overweight among many other problems, as a result of not coping well with stress. Each of these medical problems increase the amount of health care you receive as well as increasing how much you spend to combat them.

5. Eating out

Stressed people don’t always have the time or energy to cook. This leads you to eat more restaurant meals, take out, and prepackaged foods. As a result, convenience eating can take a huge chunk out of your budget.

6. Alcohol

Alcohol is another expensive way you may try to deal with stress. Unfortunately, it can also add unnecessary spending to your budget as you try to drink away stress and problems.

7. Trips to the Salon

Have you ever gone to a salon to get a pedicure, manicure, or massage whey you are stressed? If so, be careful not to make a habit of it. These items are costly and can cut into your budget causing you to spend more. Instead, do your own pedicures and manicures whenever possible to save a bundle while still relieving some stress.

As I said before, it’s normal for everyone to feel stress from time to time. But don’t let these being stressed cause you to spend more.

How do you deal with stress without spending more?

Written By

Sydney White

Sydney White is a Texas-born stay at home mom who enjoys spending time with her family, bargain hunting and, hiking.