Shopaholics Anonymous (sort of!)

bellsbells · 7 September 2007 at 7:20PM

I find going to car boot sales to be a really good way of satisfying a shopping urge. I set myself a budget of a couple of quid in loose change and have a good wander around. Some weeks I come back empty handed but occasionally I find myself something nice. I then also have the satisfaction of having found a real bargin!

Spendaholic_Chick · 7 September 2007 at 10:07PM

Just seen an advert on tv for tomorrows 'The Times' newspaper - you get a free Paul McKenna CD'Overcoming Emotional Spending' :T

iwanttobreakfree · 8 September 2007 at 9:19AM

oh i might have that it sounds good. well i bought 2 dresses last night - dont know if i am keeping them though - theyre gorgeous but they look stupid on me - my body confidence is at the floor at the moment

and I desperately need an appropriate wedding outfit asap! What can i do?

In_Search_Of_Me · 8 September 2007 at 9:46AM

I can TOTALLY relate to this! Have been a very bad DFW with my CC lately and need to get back to where I was before...problem recently was that I lost 4 1/2 stone so went from a 24 to a 12 skirt! Great but not on the budget! Also just had to buy winterish clothes and must get back to the NEED rather than WANT things. I know with me it used to be boredom but now because I have to buy clothes and for the first time in over a decade from any shop (rather than just evans & M&S!) its REALLY hard to resist! Time to get back into a routine, leave the CC at home and get back in control! Great thread!
Beauty lotions are a waste & from my experience probably come from my urge to be beautiful & buying into the if you have this you will be beautiful messages that advertisers are so good at!! Loosing 4 1/2 stone made me feel more beautiful that any lotion ever did!!

(Land_of)_Maz · 8 September 2007 at 1:27PM

Can i join this thread please!!!

I do have a major compulsion to shop and i don't really care where or what i'm after. I do frequent charity shops and car boots, won't buy anything from a store unless it's in the sale. I really have cheap tastes!! But as previous poster said, things don't wash well/last long if they are cheap.

I'm a size 18/20 so there is less choice than there would be if i were a size 12, which ironically i'm glad about! It's the only reason to be thankful for not being skinny!

I have to steer clear of Ebay. i found i was buying stuff and it wasn't any good, and rather than re-selling it, it just builds up in the wardrobe! And by the time you pay postage, it's often not a bargain anyway!

Recently i've started to be harder on myself and have taken stuff back/returned it if i don't absolutely love it. Is returning stuff just kidding myself on.... i'm undecided!?

mumma_ib · 8 September 2007 at 2:14PM

Its great to know there are lots of us around, my thing isn't so much clothes as I have daughters to supply me with cast off (some still with price tags on) this morning I have just be given a newish pair of boots and a skirt and a jumper (another outfit) I'm a lucky mumma. I do think the only way is to stay clear of the shops, went to asda yesterday can't resist the bargins, but was very good, only had cash (previous bankrupt and can't get a debit card anywhere, but thats good for me). Am just going to buy The Times as it has the Paul McKenna cd in it about emotional spending (so I've been told by other people on this site) I'll let you know what it's like and if it helps. This is the first time i have replied on this site so hope its ok.

In_Search_Of_Me · 8 September 2007 at 3:59PM

you carry on mumma! Most are a friendy bunch here! Problem with "bargains" as places ike asda, ikea etc is that they really are NOT bargain 'cos you just dont need them in the first place! I have found that having a hobby & my time structured & that when I was being a good DFW I stayed on track..when I stop checking in, posting etec thats when I get into trouble! Like any addiction it's individual & will take us all time to crack it but with the support here I know we can all do it!

mumma_ib · 8 September 2007 at 4:35PM

Thanks fishface-69 I think I will carry on and anytime I feel like spending will join the crowd and have a chat, good idea. Have just listened to Paul McKenna cd from the Times, its ok i think will have to listen a few more times, and get the hang of it, he tells you to listen for a week everyday, so will give it a try and see what happens, won't buy the book though (there probably will be one) as there are articles this week in the times about it. Look for ward to chating again.

sonee2405 · 8 September 2007 at 5:08PM

I am a shopoholic!! I am awful and hopeless.
I am in debt all my store cards have been cut up and i still owe money on them but i can't stop spending.I have so many bags that some still have tags on them and i foregt when and why i actually bought them.My room is full of bags, makeup,perfume giftsets, perfume,shoes sandals and cardigans.I am addicted to shopping -i hate online and catalogue shopping it has to be real shops.If i see something i dream about it until i own it and then i may not use it after all.Last month I went mad in monsoon and river island-I managed to buy 5 bags from river island and at least 12 from monsoon, 6 pairs of sandals and lots of jewellery which i really don't need.I have unworn and only worn once stuff in my wardrobe.I have tried setting limits/budgets but nothing works- it doesn't help that when shopping I have to spend on munchies and sweets too, I buy millie cookies, ice cream stop for a coffee or a sandwich and it all adds up.I can go to lush to buy 1 bathbomb and ened up buying a couple of items and spending £15ish easily but then my bathroom and bedroom are overflowing with toiletries which i have never used( addicted to boots i have an advantage card!).I don't know what to do - i don't actually need anything it's just turned into a hobby for me.Oh suggested i find a differnet hobby so i decided on making cards and scrapbooks which led to me spending lots in stationary shops!I really need to sort myself out.

Primrose · 8 September 2007 at 5:49PM

Perhaps it would help you to understand why you feel you NEED to go shopping, probably for things for things which are not essential. Does it come from a feeling of insecurity, and that spending money on yourself makes you feel better about your life? Could you bear to chop up your credit card? You say you pay them off in full so why not pay them off in full now, and resolve that in future you will pay the amount you spend every month into a savings account. But if you still feel the need to go shopping, why not give yourself a "virtual spending allowance" every month? You can still go shopping, but ONLY WINDOW SHOPPING. Keep a list of the things you might buy by this method and at the end of the month ask yourself "Did I really NEED any of them? Then congratulate yourself how much you have saved by not buying them. And if you can pay that amount into a savings account you might find that as the weeks go by, the desperate urge to spend on unnnecessary things might slowly fade away as you see your savings account build up. And preferably pay your savings into a long notice account so that you won't be tempted to draw it out again on impulse and start spending again.