Anti-Shopping Advice From The Trenches

My post on oniomania, or compulsive shopping, is one of NBA's most read. It is also one of those posts that has elicited numerous interesting comments, including from readers with a diagnosed addiction to shopping. Those comments contain excellent strategies for dealing with the impulse to shop beyond what is needed.

Since that applies to most people and most shopping done in consumer-oriented cultures, this anti-shopping advice is helpful to us all in quelling the strong impulse toward wanting MORE.

First let us consider some of the reasons for shopping for things we do not need as expressed by NBA readers.

• Loneliness
• Depression
• Desire to “look good”.
• Deprivation early in life.
• Working a lot.
• Feeling isolated
• Advertising.
• A sense of competition - trying to "keep up".
• Feeling unloved.

Following are some of the strategies that have helped or motivated readers to deal with their urges to shop.

• Run out of room to store things.
• Run out of money and/or credit.
• Recognize you are not alone, and that many others experience the same shopping compulsion.
• Share your situation with loved ones. Let them help.
• Dedicate yourself to a hobby or project.
• Spend time with friends.
• Cut up your credit card(s).
• Develop a positive addiction such as regular exercise.
• Be content with what you already have.
• Recognize and eliminate your "triggers" that lead to urges to shop.
• Seek the help of someone who understands the consequences of compulsive shopping.

It is hard to say NO to shopping while crawling through the trenches of consumerism. There is a lot of pressure to buy, buy, buy.

But a better way is possible. You will find a lot of support here.