Oniomania, shopaholic addiction

God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables – slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need, Fight Club.

The society in which we live in can be defined in many ways, such as an information society, a true global village or a consumer society.

We live in a capitalist world economy where large corporations and companies are very powerful and bombard us with constant, aggressive, and very persuasive advertising for crap we usually don't need, e.g., using empowerment (Real women, Real beauty -Dove), shared values (Rei is closed. Let's head outside #OptOutside), fear of missing out, and celebrities endorsement. It is a materialistic, superficial, and hedonistic society that borrows and goes deeper and deeper into debt Many people buy goods and services that they cannot even afford. It is a society that suggests the idea of getting something for nothing. Can you not afford it? No problem! You can access easy loans, easy borrowing, and, of course, easy mortgages.

A mushroom of colossal and unprecedented debt is upon us due to low interest rates and easy money, even in these uncertain times.

The total personal debt in the U.S. is at an all-time high of $14.96 trillion. The average American debt (per U.S. adult) is $58,604 and 77% of American households have at least some type of debt. 45% of American households carry a balance. The total student loan debt is currently at $1.57 trillion, with each borrower owing an average of $38,792. Americans with a mortgage pay a median monthly payment of $1,595. Forty-two percent of households have mortgages, RAMSEY, Average American Debt.

Many people buy all kinds of goods and services compulsively to fill their internal emptiness, to feel good, satisfied, complete, or less alone. Then, they realize that they don’t need so much stuff or just maybe it is counterproductive because too much stuff is messy, stressful, and confusing to the eye.

They may think that money directly determines happiness, but money does not buy you happiness or love, does not bring fulfillment, and does not give their lives any meaning or purpose. They are neither happier, more attractive nor more popular after their purchases.

It is important to notice that we are not referring to those who shop as a distraction or want to treat themselves from time to time. We are talking about impulsive behavior. People who cannot avoid buying. They cannot resist offers and buying the latest hot gadget or gizmo.

Those who buy things when they feel lonely, angry, sad, or stressed out, and run to shops and malls to make themselves feel better, less grumpy, to forget about the problems and difficulties in their lives. Typically, soon after their purchases, they feel guilty, disappointed, sad, and ashamed of what they have done. They have very low self-esteem because of their lack of self-control in the acquisition of unnecessary items.

The typical profile of a compulsive shopper is a woman in her thirties or forties who buys clothing, jewelry, shoes, and beauty products. Men look for electrical goods, digital gadgets, and tools. This disorder can be found in 5.8% of the United States population. Regretfully, we are now witnessing the general adoption of an absolutely unsustainable and irresponsible consumer lifestyle and an unbridled accumulation of debt.

One of the most devastating effects is its impact on personal well-being and personal relationships. In order to “feed the beast”, many people work longer and harder, and therefore, they increase their anxiety and stress levels while their personal and romantic relationships suffer. As a result, people experience feelings of low self-esteem, sadness, anxiety, emptiness, and depression. These negative feelings push them even further into buying more things to make themselves feel better that is clearly a terrible self-destructive cycle. At later stages, personal and romantic relationship breakdowns take place, as well as extreme levels of stress and debt and, in some cases, bankruptcy, homelessness, underemployment, prostitution, and theft.

How can we stop being a compulsive buyer?

1. Recognize that you have a serious problem and start by being accountable for your expenses and writing down all your expenses for a month.
2. Seek help from your family, your loved ones, good friends, and, in more extreme cases, a behavioral specialist or a psychologist.
3. Identify and treat underlying issues: loneliness, low self-esteem, insecurity, anxiety, stress, depression, etc.
4. Control your personal and family expenditures, especially pocket money. Avoid bargains, discounts, tricky deals, and promotions. If something is too good to be true, then it is not. Do not pay with credit cards and debit cards for small purchases, but rather use cash to control your spending.
5. Learn to identify and recognise what is necessary and what is superfluous.
6. Replace the “buy now” approach with searching and comparing prices and product features. Read online reviews and comments. However, be aware of fake reviews and other scams and spend some hours reading the real customer reviews.
7. Before you go shopping, make a list and stick to it.
8. Don’t buy anything on your own.
9. Avoid shopping especially when you feel blue, stress out, and have some difficult moments. Instead, you should go out with your friends, do sports and outdoor activities, visit some relatives and friends, listen to your favorite music, read a blog or book, etc.
10. Replace instant gratification with delayed gratification and long-term fulfillment.