- Whether it is a new piece of clothing, the latest gadget, or even food, everyone experiences a desire to splurge from time to time.
- Indulging in these occasional overspending habits is certainly not bad, especially when someone is doing it in moderation without disrupting their finances.
- However, for some people, this urge to shop becomes uncontrollable to the extent they frequently find themselves spending beyond their means on things they do not need.
Whether it is a new piece of clothing, the latest gadget, or even food, everyone experiences a desire to splurge from time to time. Indulging in these occasional overspending habits is certainly not bad, especially when someone is doing it in moderation without disrupting their finances. However, for some people, this urge to shop becomes uncontrollable to the extent they frequently find themselves spending beyond their means on things they do not need.
Known as shopping addiction or compulsive buying, this behavioral problem may sound trivial but can be as damaging and problematic as alcoholism or gambling. Fortunately, there are always different ways to break free from this addiction with the help of family, friends, and mental health professionals.
FAQs
It is common for many people to go on occasional shopping sprees, especially close to special occasions, like holidays and birthdays. However, this occasional overspending does not indicate that they are addicted to spending money. Shopping addiction has nothing to do with how much a person spends their money. Instead, it is their extent of preoccupation with shopping and the level of personal distress they face when they do not buy anything for a long time that defines this addiction. (source: StatPearls, 2025)
Yes, a lot of people who suffer from shopping addiction also have underlying depression at the same time. However, this is not the only co-existing disease they may suffer from. The list also includes anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, impulse control disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders.
If someone close to you is struggling with shopping addiction, it is common to feel confused about how to approach them. Their unhealthy spending habits might be causing you a great deal of financial stress and emotional turmoil but remember not to let these emotions control how you approach them. The issue you are about to discuss with them is sensitive, so it’s better to work through your emotions first to deal with them in the best possible way. You may wish to consult with a therapist to make more sense of your emotions and provide you with a better perspective on the issue at hand. Whenever you reach out to your struggling loved one, try coming from a place of concern and love. Stop yourself from using shame to instill a behavioral change in them. Contrary to popular belief, shame can be ineffective and harmful to your loved one. It is also possible that your loved one already feels guilty and shameful about their compulsive behavior, but they need your help to seek recovery.
If left untreated, a compulsive shopper will likely go deeper into dept. They may start losing friends and break the trust of their loved ones in the process. If things continue, they may even lose their home or other property due to poor financial management. People with a shopping addiction are also very likely to resort to stealing to support their habits, increasing the risk of criminal charges and arrests. They usually do not ask for help unless they hit rock bottom and face serious consequences due to a lack of control over how they spend their money. While such people require the help of a close family member or friend, the onus of learning appropriate spending habits ultimately falls on them. They may have to refinance their mortgage, file for bankruptcy, or take on an extra shift to pay off the debt they are in. Such people usually have low credit scores, so they struggle more in securing a job or renting a place. While treatment can improve shopping addiction, there is always a risk of relapse, but it is manageable with proper investment in healthy coping strategies.
