I feel silly posting on a support group site. I haven't acquired a gigantic sum of debt, but I used to be anti credit card entirely and over the course of a year, I have acquired around 3,000 bucks of debt. I am a clearance shopper. I get a rush out of buying at really low prices. If it's over 15 bucks... I walk away, but if the price is right... I go nuts! I buy several of the same item when I only need one (if I really need one at all). Recently, I've been attracted to clearance jewelry 4-6 bucks each... But when you buy 30.00 worth... That's a lot. And every day. Online shopping is out of control. Even though the items are cheap... The way i feel when I am buying and then hiding it from my husband is a problem. I have never taken the route of counseling or support groups before so I figure, this will keep me accountable.
Good job on acknowledging your habit and reaching out. I get some ocd type behaviors and get addicted to certain things sometimes. For example, Walmart has these awesome sandels I love, so I buy like 4 pairs because Im afraid they might run our and I want some on stock incase its winter and they dont sell them anymore. Right now I found some cheap Silver so every payday I go to this store and get a new necklace and earrings. I find new things all the time that I get wrapped up and then buy excess. Your case is a little different though with the credit and hiding from your husband. I saw a show once on this and I definitly recommend speaking to a therapist first to address the issue before it gets worse. This is a first step and Im glad your here.
Thanks for the support. I also buy in access because I'm afraid I'll never be able to find the product again... Especially if it's something I really like (ie a skirt or shoes). I went through all of my emails, last night, and unsubscribed to the promotional emails that usually suck me in. One day at a time. :)
Awesome....wow someone else with some similar habits ha ha Im not so freaky after all he he he. Well that is an awesome start. I have been telling myself lately that men like variety so if I keep using or wearing the same things I will get boring. So this is helping me to at least pick out new styles or whatevers instead of the same thing over and over and I think in a way its breaking a repetitive chain. Heres to getting a variety of styles and most likely better, being fun and different and never boring, looking for sale prices and not lying to ourself or any potential bf's, family or husbands. Keep up the good work gf. Love ya Star
Well, I gave my hubby all of my credit cards to hide and I've given myself 20 bucks in cash (every paycheck) for misc personal spending. I read cash makes one more accountable for their spending than cards or checks. Anyway, since my first post, I've only spent 9 dollars in cash! Yay! I just got my last shipment from shopping, though, and I expect those nasty withdrawals to start. I am ready to take them on! Thanks for the support!
Good job girlfriend , did you let your husband know about what your doing and the debt? I know its tough and probably scary but to fully recieve all the help and benifits of this journey, you need to be honest with yourself and those around you. It will be very hard to tell him, but just in my opinion I believe its not only a bonding yet healing truth, to just come up front, lay out whats been created, and determining together what to do with it. Im sure your husband loves you and will help you tackle this nasty fish, you both can reel this in together and then hopefully eat a yummy supper ha ha.
Yes. The very first thing I did, after admitting I had a problem, was tell my husband what was going on. My husband had already started noticing a problem so, for him, this was just confirmation. I think I had a problem before, but I had always stayed away from debt... So it was monitored more closely. More recently, I had opened up some credit cards so it became easier to conceal. For me, the difficult part was telling him about how I hid the purchase from him. We've always been so honest with each other. I made it a point to tell him about every purchase I hid and every item that were included in those purchases. He seemed hurt but he is also being very supportive of the efforts I am making to overcome this addiction. I am pretty stubborn.. When I decide to do something, i do it. Unfortunately, this is not the first t
Ime I have dealt with addiction. I was addicted to food for a long time... I had absolutely no self control. It is an every day battle, but now I am helping others. I think that's what helped me identify this problem so quickly. I feel I jumped out of one addiction to another.
Oh my Gosh! That sounds exactly like me. I am addicted to bargin stores and if I find that awesome deal I fill the cart, it really is an addicition the thrill of the hunt! Funny was reading through your posts and saw the one on unsubscribing I was just doing the same thing. The worst part is I'm thinking about one of the local stores and it's clearance time, there is nothing I need but I want to go find that GOOD DEAL! I don't know how to get over that feeling, sometimes it's like a sense of panic that I am going to miss out.