1Recognize When You Have a Shopping Addiction

It is fairly easy to detect when your spending is out of control but the hardest part is acknowledging that it is actually a problem you need to address.

If you think you have become a compulsive spender ask yourself some these questions:

• Are you constantly glued to the home shopping network?
• Do you shop when you are feeling down or empty?
• Is your home filled with items that you never use or still have the price tag on?
• Do you receive a package delivery multiple times a week?
• Do you have a massive credit card bill?
• Do you buy something simply because it is on sale and not because you need it?
• Are you easily convinced that you need an item and then you buy it on impulse?
• Do you appear to be in a cycle of being excited about the purchase and then experience anxiety and depression once the reality of the expense sets in?
• Do you hide things you purchased or fight with your family over money?
• Do you turn to unhealthy habits to cope with debt?

If you can answer yes to a lot of these questions then your spending habits are out of control.

2Understand the Advertisers Mind

The first step is to understand how the minds of advertisers work.  This will allow you to turn the tables on the techniques they use to get you to spend money.

Quite simply, advertisers know what buttons to push to get you to buy something.

They take advantage of:

• Impulse buying
• Societal pressures
• Messages that material things will:
  • Make you happy
  • Raise your social status
  • Reduce your feelings about your shortcomings inside
  • Sooth your emotional issues

By exploiting your weaknesses they are making their profits. Understanding this in itself can help you to avoid being taken advantage of by advertisers.

3How to Get Control of a Shopping Addiction

In addition to understanding the psychology being used by the advertisers, there are many things you can do on your own to gain control over your shopping addiction.

It is very easy to shop from the comfort of your home especially during the winter or other type of undesirable weather.

Product marketers know this so they make it very easy for you to spend money by offering speed dial services, online shopping, and pressuring you by showing how many items were sold and how many they have left.

They also prey upon people who may feel lonely by making you feel like you are part of the “shopping” family, offering easy pay plans, and spending time providing you with reasons why you need their product.

If you constantly watch home shopping channels it takes its toll on your mental processes with subliminal messages that coerce you to make a purchase.

If you are a compulsive spender it is likely your home is filled with items you will never use. Consider getting rid of stuff by holding a yard sale, donating to charity, or setting up a store on eBay. If you clear the clutter out of your sight it will help you to clear your mind and get a fresh start with changing your spending habits.

Credit card offers prey on people that they know are compulsive spenders and then they make a mint on the high interest they charge you.

They know if you are a compulsive spender you will max out the card and just make the minimum payment which means money in their pocket.

Credit cards may make you feel like you have money when in reality you are spending money you do not have and then some.

Do yourself a favor and cut up the credit cards. Instead you can settle for a debit card which only allows you to spend whatever is in your account without the high credit card bill and interest.

Acknowledge Your Problem:

Although it may be difficult, you must admit you have a problem and seek professional help if you can't change your habits on your own.

Compulsive spending is rooted in your emotions and obviously something is making you unhappy or depressed.

Part of getting control of your spending habits is dealing with the root of the problem.

Try to find out what is bothering you and talk to a professional who can help you overcome your thinking and behaviors.

A qualified professional can also recommend a good support group where you can obtain the support of others with the same problem.

Keep track of the time of day you usually shop and then plan to do something else during that time frame.

If you shop when you are feeling lonely or depressed create a plan for doing something else to overcome your feelings.

If you spend a lot of time online because you are bored, get involved with some community activities or something productive that will help you to feel more fulfilled.

Seek out a professional financial consultant who can help you get your finances back in order. Consider working with a credit counselor to help you learn how to manage your money better. If you have maxed out your credit cards you can also seek the assistance of a debt relief service that can negotiate lower payments so you can gradually get control of your life again.

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Compulsive spending is a real issue and one that is not easy to overcome. However if you are determined to change your ways, you can do it.

Try to stay positive, be patient with yourself, remind yourself how advertisers take advantage of you, and keep taking steps that are achievable and you will eventually change your ways and lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.

Do you have any experience with shopping addictions that might help someone else?

Do you have any tips to help stop this habit of excessive spending?