Don’t you like sitting on your couch and scrolling through online stores? How much money have you spent on the internet in the past month without realizing it? Can’t remember?

It happens to the best of us.

During the pandemic we have seen an increase in the rise of online shopping, people have been able to entertain themselves during lockdown by ordering items from the comfort of their homes. Online shopping has been around since the late 70s thanks to televised e-commerce but has grown in popularity over the past decade as the advancements in technology these days are truly remarkable.

Shopping online benefits many people who may not have the time and ability to go out and purchase items in person. It provides a sense of accessibility for people with disabilities who may have difficulty leaving their homes. Being able to have everything you might need on your doorstep within days allows people to focus on their daily lives rather than having to worry about setting aside time for shopping. Online shopping has also evolved to allow people to choose to pay extra to receive “next day delivery” and in some cases “same day delivery”, this saves people who might need something last minute.

While that all sounds good, online shopping and next day delivery also have their own downsides. Next day delivery could potentially lead to people becoming compulsive shoppers, as it means they can have anything that isn’t even a necessity. It can also lead to overspending, as people may be more inclined to spend their money without thinking. Online shopping has also led people to buy a lot of fast fashion clothes. These usually end up in landfills and can be harmful to the environment. Compulsive shoppers tend to hoard a lot of fast fashion clothes that go out of style very quickly, these end up being tossed out without a second thought to make way for newer, trendier items.

Compulsive online shopping can lead to many inconveniences. You can combat them by refraining from splurging online and instead considering alternatives such as charity shopping, garage sales. But if you really can’t get away from the thrill of shopping online, you can shop on second-hand websites like Depop and Vinted. You may also consider reselling your own unwanted items to prevent them from going to waste.