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10 tips: Stop shopping

By LAURA T. COFFEY, Times Correspondent
Published April 15, 2007

"Shop 'til you drop." "Shopaholic." Those are just funny expressions, right? In some cases, they're anything but. Compulsive shopping can range from an occasionally budget-busting diversion to a drop-dead-serious addiction. If you or someone you care about might have a problem in this area, consider these tips:

1.Understand the phenomenon. A compulsive-buying addiction can lead people to hide or lie about their purchases, max out numerous credit cards, live on the edge financially and stockpile items that never get used and that often still have the price tags attached. Recognize that variations of this addiction affect people from every income level.

2. Know thyself. If you love, love, love to shop, ask yourself: Why? Is it the thrill of the hunt? The appeal of beating the system by finding great sales? A penchant for a certain kind of item, such as shoes, clothing or electronics? Answering yes to any of these questions doesn't necessarily mean you have a problem, but if you suspect your spending might be out of control, it's important to examine what's happening.

3. Reflect on how you feel when you shop. Do certain emotional triggers frequently prompt you to shop? For instance, do you buy stuff when you're depressed, anxious, angry or lonely, with an eye toward cheering yourself up?

4. Think about the time involved. A wake-up call can be had by thinking about the amount of time spent visiting certain kinds of stores, cruising for deals online and studying the catalogs that arrive in the mail. Are there other things you'd rather be doing and accomplishing?

5. Take control of the situation. If you're worried about how your spending habit is affecting your life - and your credit rating - start spending only what you have by paying for everything with cash, checks and your debit card.

6. Start writing things down. Another eye-opening way to get a grip is to keep a log of what you spend along with the feelings associated with the purchases.

7. Steer clear of unnecessary temptations. If you know you have a problem, try to avoid discount warehouses, malls and shopping districts. If you can't avoid them, make lists and stick to them, and only let yourself window shop when stores are closed.

8. Find healthy alternatives. When you feel overwhelmed by the urge to shop, go for a walk or do some other form of exercise. This can take your mind off the urge until it passes.

9. Expand your possibilities. Instead of using all that time to shop, you could volunteer in your community, go back to school, read lots of great books, get in shape or tackle any number of goals you have for your life.

10. Get professional help. If you feel your spending is so out of control that you can't wrestle with the problem alone, seek out counseling or try attending a Debtors Anonymous meeting. To find meeting times and locations in Florida, visit www.daflorida.org. If you don't have Internet access, you can call the headquarters of Debtors Anonymous at 781 453-2743.

Sources: MSN Money (moneycentral.msn.com); Indiana University's Department of Applied Health Science (www.indiana.edu/~engs/hints/shop.html); Debtors Anonymous (www.debtors anonymous.org); 4therapy.com (www.4therapy.com).

[Last modified April 14, 2007, 17:06:44]