Shopping addiction - can't stop

[Curiousgirl]

Everymonth I come up with credit card bills which shock me. I have tried to control myself but I keep seeing things that I crave to buy. How can I stop? I think it's an addiction. I definitely need some saving, especially at this time of the world. Please help.

[Moochagoo]

all you need is a little plastic surgery
1) get a pair of scissors
2) bring out your credit cards
3) CUT THEM !!

[GmuTeke]

Here here, cut up those cards! I got into some trouble my freshman year with Credit card debt and it just showed me they're too much trouble than they're worth.

Other good ways are simply not going out to those places that you know you're going to be tempted to buy things (like a person with a gambling problem stays away from the track), or just get support from your friends, if shopping is a social experience, then have you and your friends do some other activity together.

[juniorgrrl]

We studied many possible reasons for shopping addictions/compulsive shopping in my Consumer Behavior class.

The theories basically say that people buy to feel good. Then the bills come in and they feel bad. So they buy more to get that "shopping high" and the cycle repeats itself.

My best advice: cut up your credit cards and deal cash only. Even better, use checks. You really have to think about it when you write out a check for something. Writing "fifty and..." or "one-hundred and..." really makes you realize what you're spending.

[The1calledTKE]

Give away or burn whatever you buy with the credit cards. That will make you think twice about going on a shopping spree again.

[maggieaxid]

Credit card debt is a horrible thing to get into. I graduated college in 2000 and had no idea how in debt i had become! I now pay half my pay check to credit card companies, and it will take me about 2 more years to be totally out of debt. CUT THOSE CARDS UP NOW! i only deal in cash, money orders and with a check card to keep track of things.

[ZTAngel]

As a marketing major, I have learned about why people become compulsive shoppers. It's fun to shop! I love doing it! The problem that people have is that they don't realize how much everything costs in the end. I'll take the grocery store for example. This was done by market researcher Ernest Ditcher (I love my major so I remember all these little facts...I'm such a dork ). While shopping at a grocery store, people throw anything they possibly need or want into their cart. They don't even think of the price...at that point, it's free to them. (that's why you never grocery shop on an empty stomach...I have some questionable stuff in my fridge that I'll never eat only bc I shopped while hungry) They don't realize that it has a cost until the check out line. So, my advice to you, if it's grocery shopping you're doing, bring a list and buy only what is on that list. You can even do that when it comes to clothes. If it's a shirt you need, go in and buy that shirt and NOTHING else. Bring friends with you who can drag you away when you start to melt over a cute $300 Kate Spade bag (this happened a month ago to me...I must say that I love my friends). My mom also taught me an important lesson while growing up. My dad always teased her about being cheap but some of her values were instilled on me. Spend only what you have. Credit cards are like the grocery store example I wrote about before. People keep putting things on the card cause it's as if the item is free. They don't realize the item has a price until the bill comes. Only put on your credit card what you can fully pay off at the end of the month. No paying only the minimum balance....that will get you in trouble. I wouldn't say cut up all your cards. Having credit cards is a GOOD thing. Without a credit history, you might not be able to purchase a home or you might have to put security deposits down on things that people with credit wouldn't have to. But, it is important to have GOOD credit. So, just make sure what you're putting on your cards can easily be paid off.

[bucutie02]

I definitely agree on cutting up your credit cards. While i would say to keep one for emergencies, you would really have to control yourself and really use it for emergencies only. During my freshman year in college, i got a credit card that my parents would pay for me, and it was to be used for emergencies only. Of course, everytime i would go into the gap i came out with something whether it was a shirt, jeans, or whatever. After that year my parents took the card away from me and that was the end of it. Now, i dont even want a credit card, they are trouble of you are a shopaholic and dont know how to use it wisely. I am much happier now because im not in debt and i keep an excellent record on my checking account.

Going grocery shopping on an empty stomach is such a bad thing! Everytime i go with my mom and im hungry she gets so mad at me because we get home with all this junk food we really dont need!

ZTAngel is right, most people just put food in their cart without looking at the price, luckily my mom taught me the right way to shop and look for the better prices. Granted some times you have to buy the more expensive item of the two because it tastes better- but for some things, it all tastes the same, why not get the cheaper one and save money!

By the way, I know you have a serious problem but on a fun note- you should read Confessions of a Shopaholic. Its a cute book, i just finished reading it!

[valkyrie]

Oh, girl, I hear you!

In theory, I agree that cutting up your credit cards may be a good idea. However, I really don't think that it will solve the problem. It's kind of like telling someone who's addicted to crack, "Well, stop buying crack" or "Hide your money so you can't buy crack." It sounds good, but really is not going to help if you *really* have a problem. Even if you cut them up, if you have a credit card bill and you know your expiration date, you can shop on line all day (believe me, I know!) -- what I'm saying is that if you REALLY are a shopping addict, you will be clever and find ways around it.

Apparently, there's even a name for shopping addiction -- oniomania. I don't know if it really qualifies as an "addiction" or whether it is more a result of depression. Here are a couple links you may want to check out:

http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/hints/shop.html

http://www.galaxyofhealth.com/nov00/shopping.html

I don't know how helpful any of this is, but you can find more stuff on the internet that may help. I think that if you are really, really bothered by your shopping and feel that your spending is out of control, counseling may be in order. That way, you can deal with the underlying issues that are making you shop. Cutting up your credit cards may be a quick fix, but I really think that unless you address *why* you're doing it, the problem will still be there and will end up manifesting itself in other ways. It's really not about money and not about getting rid of credit cards, IMHO.

Good luck!

[aephi alum]

You've realized you have a problem - so you've taken the first step.

Some suggestions:

Get a program like Quicken, or keep a detailed ledger if you're a paper person. EVERY TIME you charge something, WRITE IT DOWN and subtract that $ amount from your checking account balance. When your balance gets too close to zero, stop buying!

Pay down your credit card debt. As you pay off your debts, cancel the cards, or call the credit card issuer and ask them to lower your credit limit, so you can't run them up so high. (I'm assuming you have revolving debt. If you don't, lower your credit limit now.)

Every time you make a charge, set aside the money to cover it. You choose how to do it - set aside the physical cash if you need to, or write a check to the credit card company, or whatever.

Do a monthly budget. List how much $ you have coming in (paycheck) and going out (rent, food, car payments, tuition, etc - things you must pay). Then see what's left. Save some, spend some; but don't spend more than you have.

Stay away from places, like the mall, web sites, etc. where you find you spend a lot of money.

And find something else to occupy your time with. Instead of going to the mall, go to the gym. Hang out with your friends. Whatever keeps you from spending wantonly.

HTH