The last couple of days have been interesting. I decided a couple of days ago to start decluttering my online life, or more accurately, my email inbox. There were over 2300 emails in it, most of which just needed deleting.
In the process of deleting the old emails, (I've got them down to just 74 so far) I decided to do a bit of research into my online shopping history over the last few years and made a note of each online order I'd placed, as I deleted the emails pertaining to them. It was quite an eye opener.
Why do it? Well, it was useful in order to see what a habit I'd formed with regard to online shopping and I'm hoping I can use the information to help me reduce my online spending in the future.
The information I gleaned also showed how my online shopping habits have changed over the last six years, and how the online shops I've frequented have changed over this time too, which was interesting in itself.
I started off buying online using eBay mostly and a handful of other sites, but over the last few years the amount of sites has increased to include over 30, which is quite shocking when I think about it. Although many involved just one off purchases, some I have shopped at on multiple occasions.
Without giving any figures here, (I'm way too embarrassed to do that) my online shopping habit seems to have peaked back in 2015 and the number of orders placed in the last year has reduced in number to almost half of 2015's total. I think this might have been due to my spending less time on line since starting to volunteer in the CS.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, being armed with this information should hopefully help me to monitor my online spending in the future, and hopefully reduce it substantially. Perhaps I'll be able to get more of a balance between on and off line spending, whilst reducing both. It will be interesting to see if that happens this year and I'm recording any orders as I make them.
In addition, I haven't yet actually considered the cost of my online shopping habit. That is a job for another day, when I'm feeling a bit more brave and have the time to trawl through my credit card statements to get a feel for the exact numbers involved. There may be a few more shocks to come and another post too.
So far the only online shopping I do is with a pattern company and Amazon. I am afraid that I could become addicted to the ease of online shopping so try to stay away from those sites as much as is possible.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
You do the right thing Jackie. It is just too convenient sometimes that it's so easy to just shop way too much online.
DeleteA time consuming but useful exercise.
ReplyDeleteYes it was, but I'm pleased I did it. At least I can see where my money is going!!!
DeleteIt is always a shock to see hard figures whether a bank statement or even the long supermarket till receipt! When I run my computer Money report for the month or even worse the year it is frightening the amount of money we get through and it is like a drippy tap leaking a bit here and a bit there. I hardly ever buy online because any parcels end up 4 miles away at the sorting office as I am never in to receive them and we get a red card through the door to go and collect. Another reason is perhaps I like to touch and feel things I am about to buy - this doesn't mean I don't spend though - put me in John Lewis for a day and I could spend a fortune.
ReplyDeleteI think because OH works from home getting parcels delivered isn't usually a problem for us, but I agree that it is frightening when you see how much you consume in a year written down on paper, especially when you think that you are minimising your possessions!!!!
DeleteIt's so easy to get into this kind of behaviour, things become routine and it's easy to justify why a purchase is essential or spending to save etc. It's a shock but a really worthwhile exercise.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it really highlights the extent to which something has become a negative habit and helps you be more mindful of your spending. I just can't believe it's taken me this long to do it.
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