[Wednesday, February 16, 2005]
Girls and shopping: two words that seems inseparable recently. Those two words seem related or based on my own experience it does related somehow. Girls love shopping and shops also seem created for girls with attractive display, friendly shopkeeper, and goodies that mainly mean for girls. In the other hand, the publishing of these books seems to justify the relationship even further. In fact, the book has created some new type of lifestyle for most women/girls who are now proudly claimed themselves as a shopaholic. But is it true that we're a shopaholic just because we like to buy things and shopping around? And is it right if being a shopaholic is something that we could proud of?
Shopaholics are compulsive shoppers who suffer from uncontrolled overspending. True shopaholic would always love to go shopping when they're feeling depressed even though they are in debts. They would spend a lot of money on the things that they do not need. They get a rush in making purchase but "crashed" soon afterwards. They have closets full of clothes that never worn and countless gadget that never been used. They often feel reckless and out of control when they shop around. They lie to their friends and family about how much money they spend. They feel emotionally upset and disturbed about their own shopping habits. After some big shopping trips, they sometimes feel disoriented and depressed. And the shopping behavior has caused problems in their personal relationship in one way or another. This true shopaholic shops out of compulsion. They use spending as a coping mechanism of their emotional distraction. They do not shop because they merely enjoy it, or because they are purchasing things that they have a need for. They buy things because they feel they HAVE TO. A truly shopaholic is out of control. (Taken from the Pagewise)
Therefore if you love to buy things that you like but you still can manage to control your spending and behavior, then you're not a shopaholic. If you can't resist the temptation of sales season and start to buy things compulsively but still can manage to resist spend your money to buy something that off your limit, then you're not a shopaholic. If you buy things that you do not need but still can manage to use your own money and never feel guilty about it, then you're not a shopaholic. If you like to shopping around to cope with your emotional distress and depression but still can manage to shop beyond your own financial ability and do not put any harm to others, then you're not a shopaholic. Self control is the key. It is the only thing that separate someone who love to shop and truly shopaholic. Shopping is always fun to do, thus when you no longer feel the pleasure from doing it then you may start to worry if you probably one of those shopaholic. And last but not least, being a shopaholic is not something that we could proud about. It was the reflection of loosely or in an off-handed manner, and lack of self-control. So be careful to claim yourself as a shopaholic.
If you wonder whether you're some kind of shopaholic or not, try on this simple quiz to find out what kind of shopper you are. I don't think there is any deep scientific basis behind the making of this quiz. But go ahead and have a try to fulfill your curiousity and merely to have fun ;)
* Posted by 3k4 @ 5:58 AM *
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