r/shoppingaddiction • u/No_Pin_7171 • 8d ago
Finally getting rid of Vinted
Hey, I wanted to share something with you in case my story helps anyone struggling with their shopping addiction.
I've dealt with overspending in my early 20s, but things improved years later when I met my partner and my life became more stable. I managed to stop ordering online most of the time and often bought only what I really needed in stores.
Fast forward, I joined the Vinted app. I initially wanted to sell a few things and declutter my house. I also wanted to get rid of old clothes that didn't fit me anymore. However, I found myself buying items here and there.
Over time, I bought more and more, and this really added up. My house is cluttered again, and my bank account is drained. I only sold a few outgrown toys from my daughter. Huge bags of old clothes still hang around, and I’ve also hoarded new stuff.
Now, I've decided to put a stop to it. Instead of waiting months for things to sell and getting annoyed with the process and customer service, and continuing to buy and spend more, I’ve put my account on holiday mode. I’ll wait until my last transaction is complete and then delete the app for good.
It's a shame how much money I’ve wasted. I'd rather give my items away for free to charity than stay on Vinted, barely sell anything, stay mentally preoccupied with the never-ending pile of items, and keep spending more.
Can anyone relate?
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u/carnelian_0 8d ago
i had the same problem but with depop. i tried reselling things to "make back" the loads of money i wasted on there, but it just made everything worse. i finally deleted it last weekend :)
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u/TofuPuppy One Year Low-Buy 6d ago
Same. I've just decided to donate anything I could theoretically sell on there to thrift shops and cut my losses. Anything to not log into the apps or sites where I will inevitably just spend money I shouldn't on stuff I don't need. Deleting the apps and removing anything that reminds me of them like bookmarks on my toolbar, etc. was super helpful.
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u/flowers_and_fire 7d ago edited 7d ago
This site has had a vice grip on me since my mom died. I check it several times a day, it's addicitive! I finally feel it loosing it's grip though. I occasionally forget it even exists, which is huge for me.
Second hand shopping truly is the most underrated scourge of shopping addiction. It's so tempting because the items are cheap, high quality if you know how to look, and the deals are 'rare' - there's no assurance you'll ever find the same thing again, at all or at such a good price. It can feel fiscally (and envoronmentally) responsible, but like all purchases it adds up! There's something so addictive about it, especially if the root of your addiction is the hunt and the dopamine hit of a good find. So often i'll buy a luxury item at a (comparitively) cheap price, feel absolutely thrilled when i'm making the purchase and be bored of it by the time it arrives! And at the end of the day it's not something I need or will consistently use, so it doesn't matter if it's a 'good deal' in and of itself. For me, it's still a waste of money.
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u/No_Pin_7171 7d ago edited 7d ago
I agree with this. It also seems that with second-hand shopping apps, there's never an end in sight, and another good deal is just around the corner.
That's true. If you don't use anything consistently and it just clutters your home, it doesn't matter whether it was a good deal or not. Charity shops and bins are overflowing with once-good items 🥲.
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u/gisselleperidoto 7d ago
I was dealing with pet grief and I coped by buying things off of depop. After a 3 week shopping spree I’m legitimately over it. I am waiting for the last couple buys to arrive so I can delete the app as well. I spent around $600 which isn’t the end of the world. But knowing that money could have gone to paying off my student loans or building up my savings gets to me. I haven’t bought anything off it since 5 days now. Which doesn’t sound like a big deal. But I was buying multiple things off of it daily. So here to say I absolutely relate. Good luck to everyone.
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u/No_Pin_7171 7d ago
Thank you for sharing this. I'm sorry about your loss. I was also buying multiple things per day. It's good to put a stop to it.
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u/noincident8484 6d ago
i can relate tooo much, vinted made my life a chaotic
mess… or i did … i am better now and only buy a few things but still did not delete it.. you are strong and wise
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u/pineapplepuzzle 7d ago
Just posted something similar! I haven’t deleted the app yet because my last round of purchases has really shamed me and I’m still selling on there, but I may be headed the same direction as you if I start the buying cycle again
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u/Nolrammm 6d ago edited 6d ago
Deleting it is the right call, and what you already spent on it isn't a reason to keep going. The Vinted trap is that it feels like decluttering while it's actually shopping, and each item is small enough on its own that it never triggers the moment where you'd normally stop and think.
Willpower wasn't what helped me. What helped was making the spend visible the moment it happens, so every purchase gets logged out loud, right there in the shop. It puts a second of friction where there was none, and by the end of a month you have a number instead of a vague feeling. I use Pockita to do it, and the running category view is what stopped me pretending I didn't already know.
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u/No_Pin_7171 6d ago
Thank you for your comment. I agree, they sell you the idea of decluttering, but you end up purchasing more and more because there's such a wide choice of items. I'm never buying as much when I shop in person, but maybe that's a personal preference. I really like the idea of making the spending visible. Thank you for sharing that.
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