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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have a serious shopping addiction?

30 replies

postingfortrafficabout · 22/06/2024 16:09

I have a serious shopping addiction. It sounds trivial to some, but for me, it’s become a major part of my life—perhaps too major. I find shopping to be more enjoyable than almost anything else. Whether I’m happy or sad, I turn to shopping. When I’m happy, I buy things to celebrate. When I’m sad, I shop to cheer myself up. This cycle has led to some financial strain and put me in debt at times, though it's usually manageable.

I’m aware of the issue, and my husband is understandably fed up with it. He’s supportive but frustrated, and I can’t blame him. Despite knowing it’s a problem, shopping remains one of the few things that genuinely makes me happy. I also struggle with depression, and this makes it even harder to break away from my shopping habits.

I’m at a loss for how to tackle this. Has anyone else experienced something similar? How did you manage to get it under control? Any tips or strategies that helped you would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your advice and for reading this.

OP posts:
IamMoodyBlue · 22/06/2024 16:53

Set yourself a budget you can afford & stick to it.
Cut up a credit card?
So easy to give a glib answer, but actually doing something to change is very far from easy, especially as you seem to relying on shopping in the same sort of way that some people rely on chocolate, or alcohol or gambling.
For me it's reading. I know how I'd feel if someone said I had to cut down my book time.
So good luck, and take it slowly. Be kind to yourself, but also, be careful.

Guavafish1 · 22/06/2024 16:33

keep the receipts
return the items

Juicyj1993 · 22/06/2024 16:32

What sort of things are you buying? Do you use the stuff you buy?

Do you have any other hobbies?

I also love to shop, but I find spending time with good friends, reading a good book or even just watching something good on Netflix and putting my phone away for a few hours stops me doing too much damage

TwoThousandAcresofBlueSkyThinking · 22/06/2024 16:21

What do you do with all the stuff that you buy? Does having it make you happy or does that add to the stress of the addiction?

keeptryinggirl · 22/06/2024 16:10

you sound bored
very bored

what is your life like aside from shopping? work? hobbies? exercise? friends? children?

This must be very very stressful for your husband

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