Finally a Confession - Shopping Addiction or Retail Therapy

I almost passed out on receiving an SMS alert on the credit due on my card. Where the hell did I spend this much money – this month? If I ask my friends, or family – they would say well, you say the same thing every month.  Within few minutes, with an unidentified nervousness, I opened my e-statement. 

&^%$#@! 

I had, like always, indulged in expenses on things that I really don’t need. 

If I seek professional help, they would recommend a strict therapy; and would even tell me random reasons for my unjustified spending ( like emotional deprivation, impulsive, compulsive, freak). Oh well!!

In introspection:

• I always get a high from shopping. Seriously, whether I am paying credit, or cash – just exchanging with it a bag is like a therapy in itself.
• I always buy things thinking I will need it; should use it – but never do. I am one of those people who thinks that buying skin care products would make my skin better; or buying make up would automatically make me look elegant.
• I walk away with purchases when none were needed. Even at a grocery store, I will end up picking things thinking they are healthy; or good – or will help in weight loss. The only think that happens is that I end up throwing them after expiration.
•  I always buy things for myself when I am shopping for others.  The most ridiculous one was that I picked up three pair of shoes, while looking for one for my niece.
• I am unable to resist a sale or bargain. If it is cheap, or discounted- I will pick it. You know you always need clothes to wear when you come home after work. Really, if you work long hours, you only change into sleeping clothes. So what with all the casual T-s and Bottoms that I buy at a bargain and never wear.
• I end up buying things even if they don’t fit – the only parameter that they need to qualify is a sale and a designer label.
• Sometimes, even when I am working, I think of shopping.
• I can’t even count things that I bought but never used.
• At times I feel so guilty after shopping – to the point of sickness.
• I have bought additional suitcases at my travels – just to stuff the &^%$# that I buy.
• I almost never say never to shopping.
• Just recently, I bought numerous lipsticks, when I hardly wear any. Worse, they were all the same color family.

Every girl, worth her salt has an overflowing closet – clothes, shoes, make-up….but mine is out of control.

One of my dearest friends had told me once that she often asks herself “Will I die if I don’t buy this thing – before buying anything”. This stayed with me; but with a sequencing mix. I think about this when looking at the credit card statement. Miss you girlfriend!!