A New Shopping Habit That’s Making Me Wealthy

Back in high school, boredom sent us to the mall.

We’d roam in little packs, ducking in and out of stores, pulling outfits off racks like we owned them. In the dressing rooms, we’d spin in front of the mirror, swapping tops, debating whether the skirt was totally bitchin’ or grody (I was an 80’s So Cal kid).

The fun was pretending we were rich and could afford to buy everything. We’d imagine walking out with the whole lot - like we were starring in our own teen movie makeover scene. And then - right at the last minute - we’d leave it all behind and ditch our shopping cart.

There was a strange little rush in that final act. All the pretending, all the trying-on, all the imagining… and then walking away like it was nothing.

It wasn’t some enlightened act of self-control. We just didn’t have money. Teens didn’t carry debit cards, there was no tap-to-pay, and my parents were cash-only when it came to shopping. Unless I begged for some pocket money, I had no spending power. Leaving the cart wasn’t a financial strategy - it was the only option when the coins in your pocket could barely buy an Auntie Anne’s pretzel at the food court.

Fast-forward to now. The thrill of wandering has been replaced by the quick flick of a thumb. I can scroll from the couch and visit twenty stores without moving more than two fingers on my right hand. And this time, the cart isn’t pretend - it’s one click and sometimes hours away from my front door.

That convenience is a trap. A full Amazon cart doesn’t disappear when you walk away. It sits there like a needy ex, reminding you that you could wake up tomorrow to a cardboard box of bubble-wrapped, cushioned-packed happiness if you just click “Buy Now.”

For a while, I was sucked in.

Temu! Shein! Amazon! BOGO! Flash sale! Free shipping if I just added one more thing. I wasn’t shopping because I needed anything - I was shopping because it gave me something fun to do. The high would hit as soon as, “Thank you for your order” flashed on the screen.

Two years ago, I had what I now call The Temu Incident. Over thirty items in one haul - high heels, dresses, random accessories that looked charming online. The moment I ripped open the bags, the thrill vanished. I was left with a pile of chemically-smelling polyester that fit my cat better than it fit me and a $0.26 hair clip that broke during shipping.

One afternoon, I stood in my closet and took it all in. Shelves of things I didn’t like, didn’t fit right, and some that I didn’t even remember buying. It didn’t look like a wardrobe. I deleted shopping apps, unsubscribed from marketing texts, and stopped “just browsing” online. The habit faded, but something in me still wanted the thrill of acquiring something.

Why “Spend Less” Doesn’t Always Work

I’d tried the classic advice. Experts like Dave Ramsey will tell you to just “spend less.” Tighten the belt. Cut up the cards. Shop only for what you need.

But if shopping has turned into a full-blown habit - or even an addiction - that’s like telling an alcoholic to “just drink less.” On paper, it’s simple. In real life, it’s like trying to hold your breath forever.

For some of us, the problem isn’t just the money leaving our bank accounts. It’s the hit of excitement, the dopamine rush, the tiny moment of control in an otherwise chaotic day. That’s why willpower alone feels like swimming against the tide.

And while therapy or addiction recovery programs can help, not everyone has the money or access to get that kind of support. Sometimes it’s easier to redirect the behavior into something that won’t wreck your finances - or your self-respect - while you work on the deeper stuff.

I didn’t want another shirt or gadget. I wanted something that would last. Something that would feel as good in ten years as it did the day I got it.

That’s when I started looking at gold and silver.

Not Just for Pirates and Billionaires

Like most people, I used to picture precious metals as pirate loot or something locked in a billionaire’s vault. I didn’t realize how ordinary and accessible they really are.

Gold and silver are finite - you can’t make more just because you feel like it. They’re physical, solid in your hand. They’ve been valued across every culture for thousands of years.

History is littered with stories of how metals have outlasted empires and currencies. Gold coins traveled the Silk Road in the 8th century, moving between merchants, warriors, and kings. In the American West, silver was so trusted that miners would trade it directly for supplies, no paper money needed. In ancient Egypt, gold wasn’t just a symbol of wealth, it was considered the flesh of the gods, immortal and untarnished.

Even in modern times, when economies wobble, metals hold their ground. The 2008 financial crisis sent stock markets crashing, but gold prices surged as people looked for something that felt safe.

Unlike clothes, gadgets, or even some investments, gold and silver don’t evaporate in value the second you bring them home. They don’t depend on a company’s earnings report, a country’s stability, and the government can’t just print more gold. They endure, untouched by trends, headlines, or politics.

(Disclosure: This is not investment advice - just what I’ve learned while building my own stack.)

Begin Your Stack for the Price of Dinner

The best part? You don’t need to be rich to start. For the price of a nice dinner out, you can walk away with an ounce of silver. Skip a few impulse buys and you can add a 1 gram gold round to your collection.

And here’s the thing, you don’t have to buy bars or coins. Precious metals can be wearable too. A gold chain, a silver cuff, or a pair of earrings can serve double duty: holding their intrinsic value while letting you enjoy them every day. Unlike a designer handbag that loses half its value the moment you carry it out of the store, well-made jewelry often holds its worth, or even appreciates over time, while giving you the pleasure of wearing your investment.

If you go the jewelry route, treat it like an asset, not just an accessory. Look for high-purity gold (22k or 24k) or sterling/fine silver, and always check the weight so you know how it compares to the current market price. Skip plated pieces - they have almost no resale value - and stick to timeless designs that won’t lose appeal. Keep receipts or appraisals for anything substantial, so if you ever decide to sell, you can prove both its purity and weight.

My first time buying precious metals, I walked into Desert Diamond Jewelers on Eastern and 215. My husband had known owners Bill and his wife Andreia for over 25 years. Their teenage son also works at the shop, making this truly a family operated business.

Bill placed a ten-ounce silver slab in my palm. It was heavier than I expected, cool and smooth against my skin. I tilted it under the light, watching the fine grooves catch and glint. For the first time in years, I was spending money without the creeping feeling that I’d regret it later.

The Ritual of Stacking

Now, once a month, I make the same trip.

It’s become a quiet ritual. There’s no rush of notifications, no tracking number to obsess over. Just the steady satisfaction of knowing that with every visit, I’m building instead of leaking wealth.

The shift has been bigger than I expected. When I see an $80 coat, I think about how that’s two ounces of silver. The coat will wear out. The silver will still be here - and most likely increase in value. That simple mental shift has cut my impulse buying to a fraction of what it used to be. 

Money Is Your Life Energy

Wealth, I’ve learned, isn’t just about what sits in a bank account. It’s about being intentional with money that was traded for my life energy. And it’s about protecting it from the slow leak of rising prices.

Five years ago, $100 in my bank account would buy what $84 buys today. The $100 dress in my closet is now worth maybe $10 on eBay. But $100 in silver from five years ago? Today it’s worth nearly $140.

I’ve swapped the instant buzz of cardboard boxes on my porch for the slow satisfaction of a little pile of stability and growing wealth in my safe. The thrill is still there, but now it carries weight…literally.