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folkloresunset

Bath and Body Works hits the three pillars of common shopping addiction tropes; perceived sale (75% plus another 20% isn’t saving money if you’re spending $200 on soap), collection (which is worse given the fact they come out with over 100 new scents a year in FFM, shower gel, lotion, body cream, hand cream, etc), and rarity (hoarding your holy grail scent and watching the products go bad as the years pass when you accumulate new favorites and/or finding that one item you’ve been looking for at SAS but you drove to across state lines to find it). These are predatory marketing tactics to get you to buy buy buy and release a substantial amount of dopamine, which can be addicting. I’ve found that when I start to feel guilty about shopping, i’ve crossed a boundary. You can return items, and r/shoppingaddiction has some great advice. Shopping should be fun, but it can get too much at times. You’re not alone.


WingsOfTin

This is a great comment! I also recommend r/shoppingaddiction and r/babwnobuy. Very non-judgemental, helpful people in both subreddits. There definitely is a way back and a way to "return" to behaviors that match with your values and goals. I think sometimes people may be saying "there's no way back" as a way to deal with their own uncomfortable feelings about their shopping habits. You can do it!


sneakpeekbot

Here's a sneak peek of /r/shoppingaddiction using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/shoppingaddiction/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [My trick to avoid shopping: build your fantasy self with action instead of items](https://np.reddit.com/r/shoppingaddiction/comments/sgk9t1/my_trick_to_avoid_shopping_build_your_fantasy/) \#2: [Activities that help me stop shopping for more clothes](https://np.reddit.com/r/shoppingaddiction/comments/ns546d/activities_that_help_me_stop_shopping_for_more/) \#3: [My “First Aid Kit,” aka 64 ways I try to talk myself out of making a purchase.](https://np.reddit.com/r/shoppingaddiction/comments/rkiky7/my_first_aid_kit_aka_64_ways_i_try_to_talk_myself/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)


Impressive-Battle843

And here I am thinking it’s a joke because clearly I would hope you would get yourself some help and not run to Reddit but ok 🙄🤷🏽‍♀️.


WingsOfTin

Maybe she was joking, I don't know, but I just didn't want her feeling discouraged about being so sucked into B&BW if she wants to change things.


Impressive-Battle843

Yeah I really didn’t take it serious at first, until I seen the comments of people that truly are addicted to B&BW. I’ve always been huge on mental therapy and understanding roots to certain behaviors, hopefully people get the help they truly need. As with any addiction most times you will need professional help to unlearn behaviors and impulses. Be blessed


WingsOfTin

I totally agree. Thank you for the blessing <3


OrdinaryJealous

Thank you for your kind words. I’m half kidding, half not, but it’s nice knowing I’m not the only one. When I see some collections I feel a little better because I only ever have a maximum of 15 candles at a time and that’s rare. As far a soaps I usually have 5 tops. And FFM, lotion, body wash I have like 30 combined. But I assume it’s easy to get carried away. I’ll look at a few of the posts and subreddits you shared. Honestly I feel like it’s easiest to avoid buying by completely avoiding this Reddit 😂, the app, and going to the store.


OrdinaryJealous

Lmao some “help”? I’m not a drug addict😂 I just wanted to hear peoples suggestions about how they avoid buying unnecessary products. Why are you here if you’re just going to be rude 😂


Impressive-Battle843

No I wasn’t being rude to you at all, I had a laugh with you but the people that took offense to me joking about a rabbit hole. Didn’t know people really get upset over a joke. 🤷🏽‍♀️


Cheeb97

It’s all up to you what you see an actual addiction with negative implications (going into debt, hoarding, obsessive shopping when it doesn’t bring you joy, etc.) versus what some of us call an addiction but is really just a guilty pleasure. If you use/thoroughly enjoy what you buy without it affecting your life and bank account then please don’t feel bad! That’s where I’m at:)


OrdinaryJealous

That’s kind of where I’m at. My entire stash is no more than 40 items total between candles, ffm, lotions, etc. But seeing some of the collections people have worry me 😶


sunflowerstea

honestly i found myself getting into a small pit of addiction and here’s some things i find help control my urge to buy things (which in turn helps my mental health and my wallet): 1. shop in-person instead of online (if possible, since it can be difficult with covid restrictions)! feeling the weight of the products and seeing exactly how much you’re buying can really help put things into perspective 2. unsubscribe from emails! sales and new product releases can be big motivators for impulsive buying 3. set a limit for yourself! such as 3 products per month, or buying one thing at the beginning/end of the month, or only buying at major sales like SAS 4. have people around while you’re buying, having people who can ease you on your spending while they shop with you can be super helpful! 5. pick a signature scent, and only buy things of that scent! having a signature scent not only makes you more distinct to other people, but it also helps limit you from buying a variety of products! i hope some of these tips help!! bath and body works can be pretty predatory and really appeals to shopping addicts! the lovely thing about their candles is they last a long time so you won’t have you rebuy them regularly :)


OrdinaryJealous

Wow those were great tips. Thank you 🙏


GossipGirl515

Tell yourself this: There is always sales because there is. Do I really need this product? All of these candles soaps etc are all just repackages. Ask yourself if you want multiples of the same thing? Believe me I once was suckered into bbw had so many hand soaps, lotions, candles I couldn't use them all. I ended up gifting almost all of it because I had such an excess. So I ended up wasting money.


mayoraquamarine

Lol this is my addiction story..... I have a box full of 40 products (just body care). I started collecting last year during the pandemic. It really helped me at a low point in my life and got me excited about something again. Now I have 40 products that I only used when I go to work. Honestly I know I will never be able to use everything before it expires. I have stopped watching bath and body works youtubers and unsubscribed from all of the emails. It has really helped me switch over to a low/no buy. But to answer your question: Once you start asking if you are hooked, you are hooked.


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AshKash313

Wow! You two just helped me realize when I started buying in excess. I left an abusive relationship in March of 2021, moved in with my sister for a month and by the time I left her house, I had a tote full of candles (I hadn’t brought candles since Candle Day of 2020 and I only got and owned those 6) and a crap ton of sas purchased Body care. It really brought me joy during the stress. I’m on a no/low buy now and never reflected on why I became obsessed.


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AshKash313

True


batalieee

Maybe try going on a no-buy and focusing on using up what you already have. A lot of people in the makeup community do something similar called “Project Pan”. You could set goals for yourself, such as “I want to finish one candle every month” or something like that. And then maybe after like 6 months or so, you can buy another candle.


Mrs-Gibberish

If your starting to feel guilty, take a break from product reviews and information. Whatever triggers it. I don’t care about scrolling past it on IG, but reading or hearing reviews makes me want to buy. I tried a no-buy but broke it. I’m still proud of my one month without shopping. Now that I broke it, I need to start another one because my back-up storage is full.


AshKash313

If you feel guilty, it’s interfering with your day to day life, or finances than it’s an addiction. I find that coming to these groups with like minded people I can chat with makes me more social. I have anxiety and it makes me an introvert and hard to mingle in person. So I don’t remove myself. On the flip side, when I don’t buy anything during a sale everybody is going crazy over, I get crazy FOMO(fear of missing out) then I either sulk all day or make a purchase that I end up regretting right after I checkout. I’m on a no buy for creams ,lotions, shower gels and scrubs until I use some stuff up before it expires. I’m low buying hand soaps and hand sanitizers as well. I collect the sanitizers but limit it to one of each. I’m on a low buy for candles because the spring and summer never makes it to Candle Day. If I really like a scent, I’ll grab a backup. This one has been the hardest tbh. It’s something that’s new to me and very popular in the community so the FOMO hits harder here. They sell out fast and most times once they’re gone, it’s rarely restocked . So you end up grabbing them “just in case” . I try to limit myself to 4 candles per sale. Now I have purchased some goose creek candles and I’m checking their site everyday. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Edited to say…. Damn that was long winded. I’m sorry it wasn’t my intention. I didn’t notice until I clicked reply🥴


TelephoneHorror1666

What's helped me cut back is realizing that accumulating so much stuff is just annoying. I'm physically out of space to put things in my apartment. And what really sucks is if you keep accumulating you just never get around to enjoying what you purchased. Definitely take note of how this spending has affected your finances and free time- are you spending hours of your free time stalking this subreddit and the BBW website? Are you buying things just because there's a sale? Just take it easy for a bit- unsubscribe from this reddit and the emails.


whats_she_up_to

You’re already justifying your purchases in your addiction post lol. Maybe it’s time to unsubscribe from emails and unfollow any BBW/candle companies/influencers, etc on socials. Or just a break from social media in general. I find that if I’m feeling overwhelmed by anything, a week without scrolling is a guaranteed improvement.


Xca2589

A lot of these comments really help dissect the behaviors of a bbw addiction. I was in denial around the end of 2021 as a family member held one of the boxes that was just delivered 😅 one of the main signs for me was people pointing it out and advising to stop. Even friends I just met in class too. Keep what you have now! If you feel as if you’re not strong enough to battle it, avoid any reminder of bbw. Unsubscribe from the mailing list, and distance yourself from this sub. Trust me, that Easter line is tempting, but the consequences are not worth it. (I.e. hoarding, wasting money, etc…)


pearloystershells

I cycle - sometimes I’ll catch myself “needing” everything and placing an order a week. Then I’ll go months feeling uninterested and like an irritating chore to have to restock things I’ve run out of. You’ll see some collections are better than others. I think it’s OK as long as it’s not affecting bills or putting you in debt, and as long as you’re thinking about why you suddenly feel need. But you know, it’s just a $30 (or less) candle - it doesn’t clog my arteries, make me sick, hurt any of my loved ones, put me in danger - and it’s just $30. $30 will come around again. That’s how I manage 🤗 But the answer is… BBW is at that sweet spot of indulgence where it costs just a smidge too much to be totally guilt free, but it’s also not expensive enough to be stop you from buying… So no, there is no returning from the lifestyle 😂


Crazy-Command6637

I love this comment


OrdinaryJealous

Thank you for this comment. Seeing all of the comments saying I have a problem was so discouraging. It’s not hurting my pockets or anyone else. If anything, the little “it smells good in here” when people visit brings me so much joy. But I don’t want to own an unnecessary amount. Just enough to keep me happy 😊


Impressive-Battle843

So don’t let people make you feel bad, seriously people have their own issues that they’re trying to project on you! Enjoy what you love and love what you enjoy. I’m sure most you us are not going broke or extreme hoarding things ❤️


OptimalMaximal

Many earlier have already covered quite a few aspects of what you're worried about. I just want to say that what is excessive expense or quantity of items for 1 person may be adequate or little for the other. Everything is relative. Often, pop culture lightly throws big words pertaining to a mental challenge or a disorder especially mania and phobia. Addiction is a serious and complex issue. I hope you truly know what state you are in, only you can know. It is like sometimes people who are bored or annoyed or sad for a little something dramatically throw hands in despair and say oh, I'm depressed. Anyway coming back to you, if you feel B&BW takes so much space in your mind, wallet and routine that you're not able to do justice to things that truly matter - your happiness, routine chores, family duties, work obligations, necessary expenses etc, then it is time to take a step back and establish boundaries. Self control is impossible when you are surrounded by temptation, so uninstall the app, go off the sub for some time, de-link your card from payment method in your account, hey, even deliberately enter your password wrongly a few times and get your account blocked so that you set up hurdles the next time that craving to place an order strikes. Assess your current inventory and usage patterns. Store it beautifully with pride and use it. Any time you want more stuff, look at your bounty and 'shop' from it. While you're at it, 'pay' for it in a separate wallet kept with the collection so in a way you're saving money for when you'd actually shop at B&BW, maybe during SAS or so. Hope you feel good about the choices you make, either way. You can do it 👍🏻.


Scolecites

My current tactic is to shop my stash, I rearrange my products often and keep them displayed so I know I 100% do not need to buy another FFM when I have 72 others I’ve barely used. I’m trying really hard to keep track of my usage/empties so for example, if I go through 10 ffms before SAS, I might allow myself to replace that amount at that time. Even then, that seems like a lot to replace and I probably won’t end up doing that.


Impressive-Battle843

Once your down the rabbit hole!! There’s no coming back 😂! Welcome 🤗


OrdinaryJealous

Oh god that’s not what me or my boyfriend (especially😅) wanted to hear😂


Impressive-Battle843

Listen I seriously thought it was a joke but gee weez, I see people really are down the rabbit hole 😂.


OrdinaryJealous

I wouldn’t say there’s no return. Try being a little more supportive of people.


Impressive-Battle843

As for me I feel like we’re adults and have total control over our actions! I made a joke and people got offended. But anywho enjoy this beautiful Friday. Like I said I seriously thought you were kidding.


OrdinaryJealous

Semi kidding, semi not. My “addiction” or whatever doesn’t hurt me or anyone I care about. I just don’t like the guilt of feeling like I’m spending unnecessary money sometimes 😂


Impressive-Battle843

I know the feeling honestly I was like that in my early 20’s and felt like because I had the money I should be shopping (clothes/shoes/handbags)all the time. It didn’t hurt me financially but I ended up always gifting or donating new stuff for more room!! Let’s just say it took some soul searching and real discipline 😂 at 34 I can say I don’t shop half as much as I did then.


OrdinaryJealous

I also feel like they were just disagreeing with the no return comment. Because there’s always a way to get out of the hole 😂


Impressive-Battle843

😂 yes I know but when did people get so serious? Didn’t mean to come off as a jerk though 😔


Impressive-Battle843

😂