The Chronic Consumer

When people learn that I have a shopping blog, they often start making jokes about being a shopaholic. After all, they reason, I’d have to be somewhat addicted to shopping in order to have enough stuff to write about.

But that’s not really the case, as many of my purchases are either small-ticket items that cost less than $30. Moreover, a significant number of my posts just talk about products that I would like to buy sometime in the future. In reality, I don’t think I shop that much more than other people. It just seems that way because I publicize most of my purchases.

At any rate, shopaholics really do exist, and this kind of compulsive behavior can have significantly detrimental effects on their lives. I just read an article over at LiveScience about a new test that’s been developed that can show if someone is a shopaholic.

The test includes a list of the following statements:

• My closet has unopened shopping bags in it.
• Others might consider me a “shopaholic.”
• Much of my life centers around buying things.
• I buy things I don’t need.
• I buy things I did not plan to buy.
• I consider myself an impulse purchase

and asks respondents to rate the statements on a seven-point scale based on whether they strongly agree or strongly disagree with the statement. Respondents that score 25 points or more would be considered compulsive buyers or shopaholics.

I don’t come anywhere near 25 points, so I guess that means I’m safe for now! I certainly do enjoy shopping and buying new things, but it doesn’t define my life, nor do I use shopping as a crutch to get me through emotionally tough times.