by Victor M. Parachin The Urge to Splurge


I really feel comfortable and satisfied when I buy anything new, be it an outfit, pair of shoes, bag or accessory. I can’t last a single month without buying one clothes item, outfit, or accessory. Because of my frequent visits to the stores, most of the salesmen know me and wel- come me warmly. I remember every corner and item in my favorite stores. But all of this has destroyed my budget. —Nawara Fattahova, Kuwait


I am a shopper. I love shopping and I’m good at it. My life was out of control—my apart- ment was bursting at the seams and yet I couldn’t find anything I needed. The more I earned, the more I spent. Shopping was such a stress release for me. —Neradine Tisaj, Australia


I have a problem. I think I am addicted to shopping and it is getting me into trouble. I am living off my credit cards because there is no money left at the end of the month. I am thou- sands of dollars in debt and that doesn’t include my mortgage, car payment, and student loans. I have a closet full of clothes that still have the tags on, but I can’t seem to stop. How do I dig my way out of this? —Canadian woman writing an advice columnist


T


HESE THREE EXAMPLES from Kuwait, Australia, and Canada reveal the depth and magnitude of shopping


addiction. It cuts across all racial, gender, ethnic, and economic groupings. Though it is more prevalent among women, it is also common in men. Dr. Astrid Mueller, a German health professional who studies shopping addiction, says: “Women go out and buy pretty things for themselves or for others such as clothes, shoes, jewelry, food, and things for the home. Men go out and buy their own version of ‘pretty things’ which tend to be things for the car, sporting equipment, power tools, and household gadgets; most of them are packed away in a storage closet or in the garden shed and never used.”


If you are one of the many people who have the urge to splurge, here are guide- lines to help you change.


Recognize the Signs and Symptoms Shopping addiction is defined as an overpowering urge to go out and buy


16 EVANGEL | October 2010


things, regardless of whether they are actually needed or even wanted. Shopping is a problem when . . .


• There is spending over budget. A non-addict will say, “I like this, but I can’t afford it.” An addict will not respect this boundary.


• The buying is compulsive. A shopping addict will go out to buy one blouse but come home with several in different colors. • It’s a chronic condition. The shop- ping addiction is a cycle which is repeated over and over. It’s more than just a once- a-year Christmas shopping spree but extends over the rest of the year as well. • Purchases are hidden. Financial infidelity begins to take place as the shop- per doesn’t want their significant other to know what they’ve bought, how much they’ve bought, and what they’ve spent.


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