I know it’s tempting to shop your heart out online while we’re quarantined, but pump your breaks and maintain a social distance from online shopping.

I’ve been hearing a lot of people say they are going to be shopping online to get some retail therapy in. Therapy is something that is designed to help us and put us in a better position than when we started the journey. Many people are not in a financial position to engage in retail therapy given the potential for disruption in income. Take actions that will set you up to thrive once this season is over.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a woman who enjoys shopping. I know how exciting it is to hit that submit order button. I am intimately familiar with the exhilarating feeling you get when the package arrives, but I am also a practical woman and I understand that it is better to have money set aside for a real emergency.

Don’t think you’re alone in this temptation. My weaknesses are bags, shoes, and blazers. I found myself on a very popular high street fashion website. A white top caught my attention. It was 45% off and looked incredible. Who can’t use another white top in their wardrobe right? Wrong... I can think of 3 white tops in different styles that I already own. I need to pull those out, use them to their fullest and save my coins.

Stay focused on your long-term financial goals. Take these steps to minimize your temptation:

Delete the messages from all retailers.
Block emails from retailers and unsubscribe from their mailing lists.
Avoid going “window shopping” online. Instead, find a good book to read or commit to learning something new during your “off time".

We know that this season will end, but are not sure when that will be. Set extra money aside for a rainy day. It’s pretty cloudy and it has started raining in some parts of the world. Just because an item is on sale, does not mean we should purchase it.

Back away from those shopping websites. Abandon those shopping carts.

Take a moment and identify what you do not have in your closet or home that you truly need. My guess is that list is very short. Do yourself a favor and use what you already own.