How To Tell If You Are A Compulsive Shopper

Do you tend to “shop ‘till you drop” only realizing in the end that you have once again exceeded your credit card limit? Unfortunately, that means you are a shopping addict.

You have a problem and so stressed out at work that you felt like window shopping? Does it feel like shopping can make you feel any better? Generally, shopping and spending compulsively only makes you feel worse.

It is quite similar to other addictive behaviors and characteristics of problem drinkers, gamblers and overeating addicts.

Holidays can trigger feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness and compulsive shopping and spending can be a seasonal cure.

It can also occur when a person feels angry. Shopping and spending cannot buy love, boost self-esteem, nor can it heal wounds, regrets, stress, and the problems of daily living.

The increased financial debt one has obtained from compulsive shopping undeniably makes these feelings worse.

How to tell if you are a compulsive shopper?

• When shopaholics feel “out-of-sorts” they shop for a “pick-me-up.”

• They get high or “rush” when they go out and buy just like a drug or alcohol addict.

• Often buy things you do not need.

• Those who are not compulsive the rest of the year indulge on a shopping spree during Christmas or holiday seasons.

• Shopping addicts go on binges all year long becomes compulsive about buying specific items, such as shoes, collector’s items or clothing; others will buy anything.

• People with compulsive disorders often have racks of clothes and possessions with price tags still attached to it an indication it has never been used.

• The intention of buying one or two items end up with bags and bags of purchases.

• Shopaholics have this emotional black-out where they don’t even recall buying such items.

• They hide the things they buy when their family and friends start to complain about their purchases.

• Bills don’t get paid and their credit rating suffers and since they are often in denial about their problems, collection agencies attempts to get what is owed, may have legal, social and relationship problems.

• Takes on an extra job to pay for bills, an attempt to hide their problems.

So, how do we know or say that one is compulsively spending and shopping? It’s like living an extravagant life now. Extravagance or profligacy is characterized by excessive buying of unnecessary things. True, once in a while we do need to reward ourselves.

However, when we buy things that are beyond our fiscal resources we resort to burying ourselves in debts and loans to justify our buying or shopping urges, well stop and think first. Got the hint? Mentally ask yourself if the item you are purchasing is worth it before the craving of buying or shopping takes over you.

And why not use an online payment processor that has low transactions fees? At least, your purchases are kept to a minimum.