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by Daydreamer on May 28th, 2005

Daydreamer

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Why do some people buy things which they don't need or have any use for? Is this what you call a "shopaholic"?

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  • by Jodie44 on June 1st, 2005

    Jodie44

    This will probably answer your questions - it's taken from an article by Christy Best, a Professional Organizer.

    The following link will take you to the complete article. I also included it at the end of this answer, for convenience:

    http://www.clutterbug.net/articles/addictiveshopperbug.shtml


    "We all get bitten by the shopping bug now and then. We just have to have the lastest fashion or coolest new electronic gadget. Our material-based society encourages us to open our wallet and empty it in the mall. It's a difficult pressure to resist. Some people simply can't.

    Recently I've had a streak of clients whom I would classify as compulsive shoppers. They shop to feel good, not because they need more stuff. Their homes are littered with unopened packages and multiples of the same item. What's worse, many of these people really can't afford to buy the things they're buying. Some of my clients are drowning in debt, yet continue to shop until they drop.

    I see this evidenced all the time in my work. I see rooms full of electronic equipment and software still sitting in their boxes. I've seen garages stacked with unopened purchases. I helped one client remove the clothes off her bedroom floor-- it took four hours. Who can wear that many clothes, and how could that time be better spent? Compulsive shopping manifests itself in the kitchen as well. One woman I know had an entire pantry full of canned green beans.

    Then, when people become buried underneath a mountain of stuff, they go out and buy mass quantities of organizing tools, plastic bins and filing cabinets and closet organizing components and the like. Or they hire me. So the irony here is they're spending even more money to get a handle on the stuff that put them into debt to begin with. And interestingly enough, some of these people aren't connecting the dots. They don't make the connection that their shopping habit has dissolved their home into disarray and buried them in debt.

    So how do you know if you're addicted to shopping? If you can say yes to most of the following questions, you could be a compulsive shopper:

    Do you buy things simply because it feels to good to buy them?
    Do you buy things just because they're on sale?
    Do you make purchases based on packaging?
    Do you own new items that are still in their boxes?
    Do you buy clothing and shoes you never wear?
    Do you buy duplicates of items because you can't find the originals?
    Do you buy things for your familyfriends, knowing they're unneeded?
    Has shopping sunk you into debt?

    Compulsive shopping is a real psychological condition that should be treated by a professional therapist. If you think you might be a shop-a-holic, please seek out therapy. However, here are some simple tips that I think everyone should follow on every shopping trip, be it a quickie to the corner convenience store or a trek to the mall:

    Don't shop when you're feeling anxious, depressed or powerless.
    If you're shopping for pleasure or to pass time, find another activity.
    Leave your credit cards and checkbook at home.

    {Christy lists several other good, practical suggestions and elaborates on all, including the three above.}

    Remember that by buying lots of stuff, you're not only depleting your own financial resources to feed the corporate monster (and make someone else rich), but you're depleting the Earth's resources as well. If you think of it in those terms, it might be easier to leave stuff on the shelf.

    Most importantly, keep in mind that stuff cannot possibly make us happy. Quite the contrary, I have found. Too much stuff bogs down our minds, space and time, while simplicity frees us up to pursue the worthwhile things in life, be it family, career, athletic or creative endeavors, or simply getting lost in a good book. Keep it simple, and enjoy life.

    All the Best,

    Christy Best
    Professional Organizer
    Member NAPO
    Founder, Clutterbug.net LLC"


    The full article is well worth the read, especially if you find this is a problem area for you or someone you know:

    http://www.clutterbug.net/articles/addictiveshopperbug.shtml

    Comments

    • great answer!

      Answers101

      by Answers101 on March 15th, 2006

    • They're in debt, but still have enough money for a Professional Organizer? At least they have their priorities straight...

      go_to_hellas

      by go_to_hellas on March 20th, 2006

    • People (like myself)should read this! This is good information! Think twice before you buy!

      Keith_J439

      by Keith_J439 on December 29th, 2011

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