| If you need a shopping "fix" to get through the day | | | | Turn around the label you've given yourself. Reinvent |
| in the same way as others maybe take a cigarette | | | | yourself - celebrities do this all the time, so it's fine |
| or coffee break, then it's time to tackle your | | | | for you to do it as well. |
| compulsive spending addiction. | | | | Maybe call yourself a "discerning shopper" who only |
| If you're really brave, you could cut up all your credit | | | | buys the occasional true bargains and sees through |
| cards. But let's face it, if you were that organized | | | | the rest of the shopping temptations for what they |
| and efficient, you probably wouldn't be spending | | | | really are. Don't let this get to the stage of lecturing |
| money like it was going out of fashion anyway. | | | | others about their shopping habits though - you don't |
| So, back in the real world, how can you start to | | | | want to become a shopping evangelist! |
| change your addiction to shopping and spending | | | | The next trick is to keep yourself out of harm's way |
| money? | | | | as much as possible. Nowadays, that's more difficult |
| Boring as it sounds, step one is recognizing that you | | | | to do as there's 24 hour shopping to keep your |
| actually do have an addiction to shopping. | | | | addiction fuelled up if you want to. |
| Because until you realize you have a problem, it's | | | | Maybe allocate yourself some personal shopping time |
| very difficult to work on it and overcome it. | | | | and stick to it. Ideally with a budget that either you |
| Take a look around your home and your wardrobe. | | | | or a partner enforces, so that if you go over-budget |
| If it's full of things that have never been used or | | | | one week, you have to compensate by going |
| worn (maybe some items are even still wrapped in | | | | under-budget the following week. |
| the plastic they came in), then you may have a | | | | Remember, there's no one magic solution - it's |
| problem. Or someone you know may have a | | | | whatever works best for you personally. |
| shopping addiction. | | | | The other important thing is not to give up the first |
| Of course, recognizing the problem is only the first | | | | time you fail. |
| step. Sure, it's an important step, but next you need | | | | And unless you're superhuman, you're likely to fail |
| to do something about it. | | | | occasionally. |
| The next step is to stop beating yourself up about | | | | That's fine. The world didn't end just because you |
| your excessive spending. The only person who gets | | | | made a minor slip up. Just don't use the occasional |
| hurt is you and that's counter productive. | | | | failure to curb your compulsive spending as an |
| Also it's important not to label yourself. If you say | | | | excuse to give up completely. |
| something along the lines of "I'm a compulsive | | | | Also don't be afraid to seek help. A trusted friend is |
| shopper" or "I'm a shopaholic" then you're actually | | | | good for this or you can choose anonymous help like |
| giving yourself permission to continue with the habit. | | | | an MP3 hypnosis track. Again, whatever works best |
| Which is bad news. | | | | for you. |