awkward topics

PMS Makes Women Shop, Spend More

The latest in the slew of (obvious) women-shop-to-cheer-themselves-up scientific studies links PMS to increased spending. A new study of 443 women ages 18 to 50 shows that women spend more in the ten days leading up to their periods, known as the luteal phase. “Spending was less controlled, more impulsive and more excessive for women in the luteal phase,” Professor Karen Pine, who conducted the study, tells the Daily Mail. Findings show that the 153 women who were in the luteal phase at the time of the study had less control over their spending habits. Two-thirds of them said they made impulse purchases and 57 percent said they overspent by more than $35. “[Shopping] is also a socially sanctioned way to deal with emotional overload compared to turning to drink or drugs,” Professor Pine explains. Well, that explains why we don’t have this problem! (Kidding … Sort of.)

Scientists proved a long time ago that they don’t call it retail therapy for no reason, so this isn’t exactly earth-shattering research. Women get luteal, they shop more, they feel bad about it, they shop more, they get luteal again — it’s a vicious cycle. “Many women say shopping has become an emotional habit,” researcher Simonne Gnessen adds. “Instead of spending because they need the goods, they spend for the thrill that buying gives them.” So shopping is not about needing. Thank you for enlightening us, scientists.

How a woman’s ‘time of the month’ can be blamed for her desire to go shopping [Daily Mail]

PMS Makes Women Shop, Spend More