Narcissistic Shopping Habit #2: The Supply Hunt
Number two, they use a shopping trip to go on a supply hunt. You may think you are just out getting eggs, detergent, or maybe a quick snack, but for a narcissist, this is a prime opportunity to hunt, flirt, charm, and scan the crowd just to boost their ego. They check people out, make inappropriate comments, or even disappear into another aisle for far too long. Sometimes they will lag behind, pretending to look at something else while actually watching you from a distance, waiting to see if you will confront them. Other times, they will speed walk ahead as if they do not know you, wanting to be seen single. They make it seem like you are the embarrassing one. I’ve seen narcissists strike up oddly long conversations with store employees just to get attention. Some even exchange numbers under the guise of networking or being friendly. They want you to see it as harmless socializing, but it’s not. It’s a constant need to prove that they can get anyone’s attention at command, even while you are standing right there. And when you question them—if you dare—they’ll say you are insecure, jealous, or controlling. “It’s not a big deal. You are reading too much into it.” But deep down, you know it was intentional because it always is with them.
Narcissistic Shopping Habit #3: Sabotaging Your Independence
Number three, they sabotage your shopping to punish you for having independence. This one is insidious. Let’s say you have gone shopping without them. You took some time for yourself, bought a few things you needed, and maybe even treated yourself to something small. When you get home, the energy instantly shifts. They look at your bags as if you brought home poison. They either go silent, become passive-aggressive, or start nitpicking everything. “That color doesn’t suit you. Why didn’t you tell me you were going? You always spend too much when I’m not around. Don’t you already have one like that?” The real issue is not the money or the item; it is the fact that you did something without them. You didn’t ask because you didn’t have to. You didn’t inform them. You exercised independence, and that is an injury to the narcissist’s ego. So they will punish you emotionally. In some cases, they will retaliate by spending recklessly themselves. They’ll go buy something ten times more expensive and flaunt it in front of you just to show who is in charge. Have you experienced something like that? Let me know in the comments.
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