Shopping Addiction

Guest Post By Allison Morris

It's definitely no secret we live in a consumer-based society. In fact, more than half of Americans reported that they "love" the feeling that comes with shopping, according to "Shopping for Happiness," an infographic posted by OnlinePsychologyDegree.net outlining the cost of being a shopaholic. 

We've all done it before: celebrated good news or nursed ourselves after receiving bad news by hitting the stores. But even when we are not riding the wave of an emotional high or low, 68% of people surveyed reported that they purchased items simply because they couldn't resist the clearance deal. 

While periodic bouts of spending are not likely to derail your household finances beyond repair, the average American carries approximately $7,500 in debt. On a more extreme note, a small percentage of adults may actually suffer from a compulsive shopping addiction. This could in fact be due to a genetic predisposition for developing addictive behaviors. If you believe you fall into this category, it's recommended that you try taking a break from carrying your credit cards, always take someone with you while shopping to hold yourself accountable, or try to find other outlets or hobbies to devote your attention to instead. With the New Year upon us, these can be great first steps towards spending less in 2013.