Compulsive spending

• A constant need for all the latest items: no sooner have you bought yourself the designer bag you saw on a WAG in a magazine than another one comes along! One day low-waisted jeans are in, next day it’s high-waisted. Your hi-tech moby is outdated within the month and you can't wear anything from last season.  We’re always being tempted into purchases to follow trends.
• Online shopping: the number of online shops has exploded in recent years. You no longer have to leave the house to do your shopping: in just a few clicks, without having to get your wallet out, you can clean the e-shops out.
• The end of hard cash: Bank cards, cheques and online payments are gradually replacing notes and coins, which makes it more difficult to keep track of what you’re actually spending.

> How to regain control

• Leave your credit card at home: when you go on a shopping spree, leave the house with just cash in your wallet so you can control what you spend. 
• Set a budget: study your bank statements, check your online banking regularly and learn to manage your money better by setting aside an amount to spend on shopping trips - and never go over it!
• Quiz yourself before you reach for your wallet! Do you really need a new lipstick? Are you really going to wear those green flares? Don’t you have more important bills to settle, like the rent, your phone and water bill? Will you really feel that much better after you’ve bought it?
• Keep a record of all your purchases: update your spending notebook every time you make a purchase. If you realise that you’ve bought useless items on impulse, try to understand why and bear it in mind next time you’re out shopping.
• Get your calculator out: take a look in your wardrobe and do some maths. With your 25 pairs of sandals, you could have paid for a holiday, and with your 8 tubes of anti-wrinkle cream, you could have treated yourself to more than a few facials. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
• Test yourself: leave the house with no cash or cards and do a bit of window shopping. If you spot something you like, wait a few days to see if you still really want it, or if your urge to splurge has passed.
• Always check if you can return the item and get a refund before you buy. That way, if you do end up conceding, at least you know you can take it back if you change your mind or if it puts you in the red.
• Get help: if you're a real compulsive spender, it’s advisable to seek some kind of counselling (such as psychotherapy or behavioural therapy) to understand the reasons for your addiction. 
• Get involved with a support group: find out what support groups are available in your community and go along to meet and get support from people who are in the same boat.

> For more help and advice

• If your compulsive shopping has led to financial problems, contact the National Debtline by phone on 0808 808 4000 (free phone) or visit their website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
• Debtors’ Anonymous offers a 12-step plan and peer support for those affected by debt: www.debtorsanonymous.org.uk