Thinking about the shopping/purchasing coping mechanism, my mom, and the adage, “money does not buy happiness,” along with my own experiences overcoming habitual purchases. There is a positive feedback mechanism present in shopping purchases that is rational. For me, that drug is hope. Perhaps that reflection resonates with others too.
For me, money buys quality. I absolutely hate when a product I’m using is underperforming because I didn’t save up for another month to get a better version. Sure, for some things, it just isn’t worth it. Stuff you replace often, for example. But for electronics? I never cheap out. Because I’d rather not have anything than have a low quality tool.