So I seriously think I need to see someone re: my shopping addiction (long)

DesignerMama

Or I need to find a job that pays me to shop!

In the past few weeks, I have realized that I am completely at peace while shopping. It's this strange zen that is kind of freaking me out, now that I'm aware of it.

I had to stop into Target to get some basics on my way to pick up S from day care. I started browsing through the 75% off Christmas stuff, and I just got super happy. Since funds are tight right now, I did really good and only got S a $0.74 puppet, but I could have gone crazy. 20 minutes were gone before I even knew it, and I left really relaxed.

And I actually get a "high" when I make a purchase of something that is a really great deal. I had a gc for the Gap and went there yesterday for the 30% off sale. I ended up with $230 worth of stuff for $55, and then my gc made it pretty much free for me :-) I walked out of there on cloud nine. And then had to tell everyone I knew about my killer deals.?

Oh, and I don't even have to be spending my own money. I bought a ton of stuff for my sister to give as gifts because I was finding killer deals online, and I was just as happy.

I think I have it in check right now, but once the economy turns around and we have extra "fun money" I'm worried I'm going to fall back into my old too-much-shopping ways and I don't want that to happen.?

Are there actual programs for shopping addiction??Or jobs that will pay me to shop for others? ?

BubblyToes

You and me both.  It makes me happy.  Seriously.  Buying something new makes me happy. 

co18co

People joke about retail therapy all of the time, but it's a serious, true disorder.  All joking aside, if you think you're seriously getting a high from it, you might want to bring it up to you OB/GYN or family doctor. 

 I racked up a lot of debt back in the day because of that "zen" feeling I would get from shopping.  I was feeling void in other areas of my life, and shopping filled that gap.  Of course, the gap was insanely widened by paying off thousands of credit card debt with an entry-level job salary...

 

Just be careful!  Oh, and I did see someone, and went through both talk therapy and took antidepressants as part of my treatment.

 

I am still shoppy now, but DH keeps me in line, and I work a few hours per week entirely for my fun-money for frivolous things.
 

goodhartedmommy

I'm the exact same way. It honestly makes me so happy to buy things. It doesn't even matter what it is. I love grocery shopping, I love shopping for clothes, for cloth diapers, for slings, for diaper bags, for shoes, for things I'll never need or never be able to afford.

I talked to DH this morning and asked him to just change the pin number on our debit card, do whatever he has to do to keep me from having access to our money right now. It's not even the financial aspect of it, but shopping has kinda overtaken my life. Not kinda. It has. I'm obsesed with it. If I won the lottery, I could spend the millions of dollars in no time, seriously.  I want so bad to not love to shop. I'm hoping that lack of access to money will help a lot.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with the problem. 

Rebekah1021

I could have written this word for word. I know I have an addiction. I love to shop.

Kelly Madonna

Is all this because you've found slickdeals? Should I ban myself right now?