I watched the show Extreme Couponing on TLC the other day and I couldn't help but wonder if the people who do that are recovering from a shopping addiction. One of the women admitted to being a shop-a-holic on a budget.
I'm wondering what others think. Is the art of turning a $1,000 grocery bill into $5.63 a good outlet for one's shopping addiction, or just another way to feed the need to shop? Do you think it's a healthy practice?
I think in smaller doses, it's awesome. I go to the grocery store on double coupon day to save money, but I try not to buy things I don't need. I feel like doing that isn't necessarily saving me money. For me personally, the shopping addiction and over-spending are only symptoms of a bigger problem that would likely not be dealt with properly if I were still going over the top aquiring things... regardless of how much money I spent.
Hi MetalMom, I am a huge believer in everything in moderation. I think that when things are done to the extreme such as extreme couponing, then that may be a potential shopaholic outlet. I think what you are doing is perfect; you are saving money and purchasing what you need. You are very aware and do not buy any unnecessary items. That's fantastic!
The more I think about it, the more I could see myself getting addicted to the ways of an extreme couponer. It's that thrill of the deal. I feel it when I shop rummage sales, thrift stores and clearance racks. I used to be willing to buy something just because I'd get a good deal on it. It didn't matter whether or not I needed it. I can see how that would manifest itself in saving big money at the grocery store too.
Moderation is definitely the key, as it is with most things in life. I plan to continue taking advantage of double coupon day, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go to some of the extremes to get a deal. I also don't have room to erect a grocery store in my house, to store it all!
The practice of extreme couponing is certainly food for thought. I'm interested to keep up with this show and see how I interpret those people's behaviors as I get further into my recovery.
Wow…And I thought I was completely an outsider. I used to have a shopping addiction to REALLY expensive things. Then I used started an eBay business to deal with the addiction and found I liked making money more than buying the stuff. Unfortunately, I found thrift store shopping!!! Yeah, I have found some amazing deals on things (clothes are my weaknesses) but they are so good that they are too hard to pass up. Before I know it, I’ve spent only $2.50 on “that adorable shirt that is a $80.00 shirt” but I’ve bought like 40 other things that are just as adorable and just as cheap!! Then, well, I find out when the 50% off days are and I make sure to go to them. And since they add new stock everyday, and I might just miss something adorable, I go even when it isn’t 50% off day. There are 5 that I rotate going to and in the last month I have been 16 times and average $42/trip. I literally could wear a different COMPLETE OUTFIT each day from now until the end of summer without repeating anything. Now, the obvious answer is to sell some of it like I did before. But since the same brand stuff is now available to me for pennies, it’s hard to let go of it!
The bad thing is I don’t want help! I mean, I guess, I do or I wouldn’t be typing!
Metalmom, that totally makes sense, it's a form of an extreme; therefore, can create an addiction of sorts. I think that the double-coupon is a perfect way to go. I think that you are so strong for coming this far, and I know that you are going to continue on this brilliant path that you are on. Please keep sharing.
Hi 2boymom, thank you for being here with us and for sharing. I think that you are right in that you are here for a reason and that's to work through this shopping addiction. We are here for you and can help you work on this. I used to have a shopping addiction; it fulfilled an empty void very temporarily and the aftermath would cause a huge wave of stress. I started working on the root of the problem and went cold turkey with the shopping.
I can see that couponing and thrift-store shopping make things cost less, but I don't think it addresses the real problem - the need to shop. In fact, I think it encourages it. The same shopping, just maybe fewer consequences. Maybe we need to find out what is at the root of the compulsion to buy stuff and tackle that rather than just make it less damaging. (thrift stores are a blast, by the way :) )
I can see where extreme couponing is good if you are actually addicted to saving money, but if it is indeed to buy a bunch of crap you don't need without severe consequences, it is very bad for a shopping addict. I think any time an addict feels they are getting away with something, it can be a problem. Like...I found a gorgeous 900 dollar leather bag from Coach at the outlet for less than 150 bucks. I was ecstatic about my find, but it caused problems for me because I discovered how cheap you can get Coach bags...but the problem is, more money seems to be okay to spend when you're getting deals like that, and it spirals out of control from there. If you've gone couponing and spent 75 bucks, aren't you going to go back sooner and see if you can't maybe top yourself? If you spend forty dollars in one trip to a thrift store, it is still hundreds of dollars a month if you've gone 16 times. I definitely agree that one must search for the reason behind the shopping problem and deal with it head on. It is shocking how good it feels to buy something and NOT freak out about what you've done because it is a NORMAL impulse purchase that a non-addict may have bought as a treat. I wish everyone luck, and stay strong. I struggle every day with my need to shop, but it feels so good to NOT be scared about where my next bill money is going to come from, and I feel so much more at peace...I fight to maintain this every day.