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What is a Shopaholic? by Nikki Willhite Simply put, a shopaholic is a person that shops for pleasure. There is no consideration of money or need. It is the experience that is pleasurable, often on many levels. Some people love to go into the retail stores, look at the displays and merchandise, smell the leather handbags and perfume, and touch and feel the items in the store. There is also the social interaction with the people in the store, or who work in the store, and the special attention received as a customer. However, there are other reasons people feel the need to shop. My husband, an insurance adjuster, goes into people's homes all the time where he sees clothing in closets with the tags still on, and unopened boxes lined up in hallways from home shopping networks. The people who buy things in this way are not enjoying the retail experience. Apparently they don't even enjoy opening up the boxes, and I doubt the postman bringing them to the door is all that pleasurable. There are many reasons that motivate people to do what I call "recreational shopping." The emotions can range from sadness to happiness. When you have had a bad day, or someone is mean to you, that can be a trigger to go shopping. If you are in a really happy mood, you may throw caution aside and head for the mall for more fun. My own personal theory for what creates a shopaholic is that many people feel the need to buy things because they define themselves by their personal possessions. It is a way to boost self-esteem. I believe this is also exhibited by people who although they are thousands of dollars in debt, continue to get their nails done each week. Their need to feel important and receive personal attention outweighs the financial harm they are doing to themselves and their families. This isn't an article on where you should get your self-esteem.  There are many different ways people get their self-esteem- such as work, travel, education and talents. However, when  lack of self-esteem leads to lack of control over money, it can be devastating to families. So how do you cure a shopaholic? You don't. You can't cure someone else. The desire has to come from within the person with the problem. If that person is you, there is help available. You can go to counseling, or join support groups. You can read self-help books. Or, as I have heard some professional counselors say, you can just make the decision to "grow up." The best cure of any abnormal behavior is not to get addicted in the first place. If you find yourself heading for the mall for no apparent reason, or spending time on one of the television shopping shows, turn the car around or turn off the television. You never become addicted to gambling if you never make that first bet. You never become a smoker if you never try that first cigarette. Think ahead, and don't allow yourself to fall into the snare of the enticing, over advertised, alluring world of consumerism and the resulting misery. It just isn't worth it!   About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

 

 

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