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Friday, February 23, 2007

Shopping Addiction leads to a Financial Whirlpool

Shopping is something most people love. But often the thrill, excitement, and absorption becomes such that an ordinary hobby or time filler becomes an addiction. A shopping addiction like drugs, alcohol, or gambling is a blinding thirst where the shopper is unable to see essential from non essential and over spend. They shop until they drop and run into debt spending on their credit cards up to and over its limit.

Shopping for many is escapism from the realities of life and its accompanying problems. It is but a temporary reprieve from depression, anxiety, or loneliness. What a shopper never understands is it is a false world which will not grant happiness or love, or self esteem. After the shopping binge the person will experience remorse. The unhappiness will intensify due to unmanageable financial disaster and debt. This will be further compounded by the displeasure earned from family members or financial consultants. Believe me over 80% of the purchases will never be used. An addict may have a hundred pairs of shoes, or bags, or coast, or glasses – the obsession being restricted to one kind of object.

Like alcoholics, compulsive shoppers go on binges when they are upset, lonely, depressed, or feeling out of sorts. Shopping is a “pick me up,” a temporary euphoria that lifts their spirits.

The possible repair of finances and cure of the addiction is possible only if the shopper accepts that an addiction exists. What helps is professional counseling and joining a self-healing group that is dealing with this addiction. A shopping addicts version or equivalent of alcoholics anonymous.

Guidelines:

1. First and foremost set small limits on all credit cards. Freezing the limits will help you limit your spending power.

2. Lock away all credit and debit cards.

3. Budget household and other expenses. Make specific envelopes and mark them clearly for what the money is earmarked for.

4. Sit with a family member or friend and make a list of bare essentials. Go shopping with a controlling companion one who will say “NO” is no uncertain terms.

5. Never visit sales or discount warehouses. Or, watch television shopping channels.

6. Do not subscribe to shopping catalogues.

7. Fill your day choc-a-bloc with activities. If you have no time to ‘stand and stare’ you won’t have a moment to think about shopping. Find interesting activities that absorb your interests and time.

8. Go to the mall or shopper’s paradise after they are all safely closed for the day. This way you can look at displays without being tempted to rush in and buy something.

9. If you feel the itch or urge to shop, resist it with all your strength and go out for a walk or to the gym exercise until you are too tired to do anything else.

10. Pay for all purchases by cash or cheque. Use a card only in emergencies.


Compulsive shopping is a serious addiction. It is escapism from realities and unhappiness. As serious as drug addictions and an illness, a compulsive shopper needs treatment that is similar to other addictions. Addictions of any kind need to be snipped at the very root before it reaches a point of no return.

About Author
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/shopping-deal/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Online Shopping including topics on shopping deals, finding coupons, shopping discounts, price comparison and more. His article profile can be found at the premier article submission site http://www.1866Shopping.com

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-paul-wilson-7.html

Bad credit loan: A loan specially designed for you

Bad credit loan is the need of the hour. Bad credit scores affect every aspect of your financial lives including being qualified for mortgages and loans, interest rates, insurance premiums, employment opportunities and social status. Bad credit leads to exploitation by the lenders. Most of the finance resource avenues will be shut for you and leave you wandering with no choice. In such a case, availing bad credit loan becomes mandatory. If you want to renovate your home and you don’t have finance to do so, obviously you have to depend on financial firms to take bad credit loan. There are many factors involved for getting a good interest rate. Your credit record is one among them. Lay offs, ill health, sudden crisis can make a negative impact on your credit rating. Six out of ten people in UK suffer from bad credit. Bad credit loan is designed for such borrowers. Reasons that influence credit scores:
• Unpaid bank loans
• Overdue bills
• County Court Judgements
• IVAs
• Bankruptcy
• Arrears on payment
• Defaults
• Credit card and store card balance
In order to get bad credit loan at a competitive rate you have to repair your credit score at once. There are lot of specialised lenders who are adept at providing bad credit loan at competitive interest rates. If you consider a secured bad credit loan subsequently, you will get lower rate of interest. You have to put your house as collateral. Lenders are quite comfortable in providing a low rate secured bad credit loan despite your bad credit
About Author
The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Ask4loan as a finance specialist. For more information please visit:http://www.ask4loan.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-amanda.pane-328.html