Comments on: 12 Step Program: Shopping Addiction?

By: * How To Use A Credit Card For Protection

* How To Use A Credit Card For Protection — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:47:41 +0000

[...] is all a moot point if you are the kind of person who will wind up in a shopping rehab when you get a hold of a credit card. However, if used correctly, a credit card can actually save [...]

By: MyLifeROI

MyLifeROI — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:13:13 +0000

@Kelley,

Indeed. The addiction is a lot more mental than physical (unlike some drugs), but they will still need to go through some sort of “treatment” — whether its having a month straight of no spend days, or sticking to an envelope system, or something!

By: Kelley

Kelley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:59:42 +0000

I agree that people who shop get that “high” and that is what keeps them going back for more. But we also have to remember that then some individual go into a “low” period as well because they might have bought something or many things with out thinking. So after they think about what they have done that’s when that “low” might come into affect. So if a person is truely addicted to shopping then maybe it is necessary to go through with the same kind of treatments that you would use with other addictions.

By: For To Card Protection Use A How Credit | Inbudget Credit and Finance Advice

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:45:37 +0000

[...] is all a moot point if you are the kind of person who will wind up in a shopping rehab when you get a hold of a credit card. You can usually read through your card member agreement (that [...]

By: Charles J Gervasi

Charles J Gervasi — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:52:05 +0000

I like some products and services, but I can’t stand shopping. I can’t imagine how someone gets started. OTOH, I really like scotch, though, so I could see how someone gets started and then gets out of control. It’s funny how people get addicted to something like shopping that just seems completely boring.

By: Posts of the Week by StimulusResource.org

Posts of the Week by StimulusResource.org — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:40:51 +0000

[...] 12 Step Program: Shopping Addiction? MLR (My Life ROI) offers an overview of a twelve-step program for overcoming an addition to shopping. What I really like about this post are the twelve ways to spot a shopping addict. People are notoriously inept when it comes to self-evaluation; perhaps someone you love is a shopping addict. Is it time to plan an intervention? [...]

By: Posts of the Week - Consumerism Commentary, personal finance since 2003

Posts of the Week - Consumerism Commentary, personal finance since 2003 — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:02:04 +0000

By: Must Read Articles From Studenomics & Others | Financial Independence in Your 20s | Studenomics

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:26:01 +0000

[...] discusses the 12 step program for shopping addicts. Interesting article for young people that have problems with spending too much money on [...]

By: MyLifeROI

MyLifeROI — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:26:14 +0000

@MoneyEnergy,

I didn’t really mean all consumerism. I view a lot of consumerism as the battle between marketers and people. Some consumerism may fall into the boundaries of compulsion, though!

Your mention of gambling is a good one, though. Gambling is, as they say, “a tax on people who can’t do math.” But psychologically speaking, it’s hard to start and then stop when you are losing yet you see other people winning. “Why not me?” crosses your mind a lot.

And you are dead on about building habits. Habits are HUGE. If you want to do something regularly, try really really hard for at least a month to form a habit. Force yourself to do it if you have to. Once it’s a habit, it’s a lot easier (as the definition of habit implies ;]).

By: MyLifeROI

MyLifeROI — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:22:21 +0000

@Brad,

Not only do they “bear similarities,” a lot of them are chemically the same as other classified addictions.

One thing to note is that the studies are done on compulsive shoppers, not just people who “enjoy shopping.”

You may know someone who frequently buys the biggest and greatest items, but that doesn’t mean they are compulsive :)