“Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world”. Shoes, clothes, handbags and make –up, things that most girls just can’t get enough of.
With many stores having great offers and beautifully composed shop windows, we have the urge to buy things we don’t really need just for the sake of it, or because something tells us we want it.
Seyi Ebofin, 18, a frequent shopper in Holloway, said: “Certain clothes like trousers, skirts and tops I cannot live without, I look after my money well so I know I can buy these essentials when needed.”
You realise after you’ve bought the things that you already have them. We get sucked into buying them due to a good price or after talking yourself into thinking you actually need it.
Magdalene Anou, 20, North London, a shopper in Nags Head Holloway said: “I do try and tell myself that I don’t need a new outfit. If I keep the money I would be able to use it for something else. However, it does keep a smile on my face knowing new clothes have been added to my closet.”
The thrill we shoppers get when purchasing items is short lived, until the dreaded bank statement arrives to remind you of just how much you’ve spent. So do we have a problem? Do we consider ourselves to be a shopaholic?
People who “shop till they drop” or swipe their credit cards to the limit often do have an addiction. Compulsive shopping triggers at different points. Around 6% of women and 5.5% of men are compulsive shoppers. During seasonal periods, such as December, particularly in people who are depressed, lonely or stressed the problem tends to manifest.
Miss Anou continued: “Sometimes I do wonder if I am addicted to shopping but I know I am not because I know when to draw the line.”
There are many ways in which you can get help if you do have a problem. Professional counseling is one option, as you can talk about your problem and understand there are many others that are going through the same thing.
Start off slowly in reducing your shopping, make a shopping list and only buy what is on the list. “Window shop” ideally when the store is closed so you don’t have the urge to go in and buy it, if you do have a look in the day, try and leave your purse at home. Exercise is a great way to take your mind off shopping and the urge to go out, splashing your cash.
So when out shopping just question yourself, do you really need this? Do you really want to waste your hard-earned cash on clothes that will hardly see the light of day? Just think about it.