‘I Didn’t Survive 9.9’: How to Deal with Post-Shopping Regret

The big 9.9 sale in the Philippines just ended and we’re feeling a bit… weird. Who else just realized that they added something to their cart which they shouldn’t have, and now can’t help but sulk over their lost money?

Ladies and zoomers, that is a classic case of post-shopping regret (more popularly known as “buyer’s remorse”) and boy do we have some tips for you!

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1. Admit that you have a problem.

Okay, we may be exaggerating here. But the important thing is recognizing that you did something bad that may affect your financial situation for the foreseeable future. You may have gone over your set shopping budget or just didn’t think through your purchases before you checked out.

But by admitting to yourself that you messed up, you’ve already proven yourself a stronger person than others who just laugh off their post-shopping regret and do it again the next time.

2. Pinpoint where it went wrong.

This piece of advice might seem too much like real therapy right now, but trust us. If you know the source of how the shopping sites “scammed” you into buying something you didn’t really want, then you’ll know how to stop it in the future.

Is it because you panicked that the item was going to run out of stock? Were you trying to fill your cart with items just so you could get a “higher discount”? Did seeing a super low-priced item in a flash sale make you think that purchasing it was a good idea?

Whatever the reason is, make sure you keep note of it in your mind. Remember that knowledge is power; they won’t fool you next time!

3. Find a use for the items you bought.

This refers to the products you ordered which you didn’t necessarily want in the first place. During the 10.10 sale last year, I made a choice of buying a ring light and then instantly regretted it afterwards.

But lo and behold, I couldn’t imagine my life without it right now. The ring light ended up becoming a good personal investment with video calls being the norm and my need to be seen with good lighting in Zoom. It was also handy for some photoshoots I did, having photography as a hobby.

I’m sure there is a reason why you thought of purchasing those things in the first place. And just like in my situation, you might even be surprised with how much they can do!

If staring at your newly-bought items bring you anger and guilt, you can try and force yourself to use them. For example, if your new shirt ends up looking nothing like the one in the photos on the website, just keep wearing it in the house where nobody can see you.

Maybe you can even wear it for a unique IG photoshoot or a self-mocking TikTok video. If you’re gonna wallow in post-shopping regret, at least get some clout out of it.

4. Stop thinking of the what if’s.

What’s done is done. When the option to cancel your order is gone, you’ve basically left your fate in the hands of the shipping gods. Reality sinks in a few moments after you’ve been able to process how much you really spent for something you didn’t want in the first place.

But… it’s all a matter of perspective.

While you can keep contemplating about how much money you just lost or how you should not have pressed “Add to Cart” in the first place, you can take a more proactive approach. Think of what the items in question can do for you.

And like what we discussed in Tip #2, you can always see this as a learning opportunity so you’d know how to hold yourself back the next time an e-commerce website offers free shipping coupons.

5. Read the good reviews.

The time between the moment you placed your order and the moment it gets to your doorstep is the worst. The post-shopping regret is probably sinking in now that you have the opportunity to truly think over your purchase decisions.

Without the giant blinking sale signs and the cool product shots, you’ve come to realize that you duped yourself. But a good way to counter that line of thinking is to read all the 4-star and 5-star reviews for the items you bought. When you read through customers’ testimonials and product experiences, you’ll come to realize that your worry is probably for naught.

This also applies to products you buy in retail.

After you take out your brand new shoes from the box, you may suddenly realize that they didn’t look as good as they did in the store. But when you research more about them, you’ll probably learn all these benefits and features you didn’t know before you had purchased them.

More often than not, a quick Google search will help reassure you of your shopping choices.

6. Re-gift.

It sounds horrible, but everyone’s mother does it, so why shouldn’t you? If you’re just not convinced that the thing you bought is useful, then the worst thing you could do is store it in an attic where it will never be heard of again.

Instead, you can hit two birds with one stone by giving away the product to someone you care about. One, you’ll be getting rid of the product that you can’t bear to look at. Two, you’ll be saving money if you choose to give it as someone’s birthday or Christmas present instead.

Of course, not all products are “regiftable” like makeup and skincare products. But the worst thing you can do is let them go to waste. At least let somebody benefit from your poor decision-making!

7. Prepare better.

Once you’ve gotten past your post-shopping regret, promise yourself that you won’t give into temptation next time. Impulse purchases are a big no-no during these big sales especially if you’re following a budget.

The best way to counter this problem is to prepare. Days before the sale, you have to know what you’re buying. That way, you won’t just open up a shopping app and buy everything on sight.

Make sure you have your eyes on the prize!

It’s easy to get frazzled and overwhelmed when there are coupons, flash deals, and big discounts happening all at once. By learning from your mistakes and preparing yourself for what’s to come, you will turn out to be a better shopper!

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Do you have any post-shopping regret stories yourself? Share them with us in the comments below! If you loved this article, then you’ll probably love the advice we have for you here.

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