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In a culture driven by consumption, competition, and status, it’s not surprising that shopping is a favorite American pastime. For most, shopping means a quick trip to the mall to buy new clothes for work or to find a few presents for loved ones around the holidays. For others, shopping is much more than an errand or a pastime; it’s a destructive compulsion that can bring about financial ruin. A shopping addiction can ravage the addict’s life, relationships, and finances. If you live with a shopaholic and share expenses, your relationship and your finances are very much in jeopardy. In this post, we’ll tell you how to recognize the signs of a shopping addiction and give you tips on how to overcome it.
Red Flags
If you see any of the following signs in yourself or the personal you live with, you might have a shopping addiction.
- Consistently going over budget. Do you or the person you live with spend beyond your means on a regular basis? A normal person will recognize the boundaries of a budget and resist making a purchase when the money isn’t there. Shopaholics, on the other hand, cannot resist the impulse to buy, even when they’re penniless.
- Compulsivity. If the person you live with seems to be unable to fight the urge to buy, he/she is exhibiting compulsive buying. For instance, he or she might go to the mall for a new pair of shoes and come back with 12.
- The problem is chronic. To qualify as a shopping addict, the person has to demonstrate the behavior for more than just a few months of the year or just during the holidays. It must be a recurring, chronic problem.
- The guilt cycle. Once buyer’s remorse sets in, a compulsive shopper might return some of the purchase items out of guilt. But now the shopaholic feels guilty and possibly depressed, which may trigger yet another shopping spree to get that rush of euphoria back.
- Keeping secrets. Shopaholics may try to hide the problem by concealing purchases from the people they live with or might maintain secret credit card accounts so significant others don’t realize the extent of the problem.
- Damaged relationships. Impaired relationships may ensue for several reasons. One, the shopaholic spends a great deal of time away from home shopping. Two, shopaholics often conceal excessive debt with deception. And, finally, the person may physically or emotionally begin to isolate from others as they become preoccupied with shopping.
Preventing Shopping Binges
Here are some ways shopaholics can:
- Pay for purchases only by check, cash, or debit card
- Make a shopping list and stick to it
- Avoid shopping trips when feeling sad, lonely, angry, or guilty
- Walk or do some other form of exercise when the urge to shop strikes
- If you feel that your addiction has gotten out of control, seek professional help from a counselor or a group like Debtors Anonymous
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