Student Question: I’ve recently noticed that I enjoy buying things. On the positive side, I don’t overspend on food — but on the negative side, I tend to buy a lot of everyday household items: shampoo, body wash, tissues, that sort of thing. When there’s a sale, I want to stock up even more.
This is especially true when I’m in a good mood — after landing a job, or after solving some major problem. The urge becomes particularly strong then. Subconsciously, I feel like I’m rewarding myself through shopping. I’m not sure whether this counts as some kind of psychological issue.
Does Master Chi have any advice for reducing this tendency?
Master Chi’s Response: The things you’re buying aren’t expensive, and they don’t meaningfully affect your life — so there’s no need to overthink it. Once your home is full, you’ll naturally stop buying.
Life has many genuinely important problems to focus on — work, health, learning, relationships. Direct your attention there first. Paying too much mind to small matters like this is a classic case of dropping the watermelon to pick up sesame seeds.