Is there something wrong with me?

Question

I cant stop spending money!! Im turnin 17 in a couple of months and I've had a job for about 3 months and have spent every penny of it including money that I get from my dad. In a matter of like 5 months I've probably spent over $5,000 on shopping for myselff. and I can't seem to save any money.... Oh and I don't go to school because I already graduated high schoooll (ahead of everyone my agee). So is this kind of spending normalll or is it just me?? I feel like im addicted or something..

Answer 1

I probably don't know what the hell i'm talking about because i'm a guy but here goes. You shop because you're bored. You have nothing else to do but the new job you had for a couple of months. I reckon you shop not only because you like to shop, but also because there's nothing else for you to do. If you really want to start saving up open a savings account like ING and every pay you get deposit at least $300 in there. It might not seemmuch but months later you'll see that it all ads up to alot of money.
Think about this why do you shop? Do you even need the things that you buy? I bet you probably use the clothes you buy once or twice then forget about it. Just think about it. Would you rather spend money on things you use once or twice in your life or do you prefer to save it up for something better like a holiday to overseas where your shopping addict can be released. If you know what i mean.
Think about it.

Answer 2

Its not an addiction like some would say its more of fancying u have to find out why u spend the money and how to make it last try to make a bank account and every time u get payed put $50 in the bank and leave the card with Ur dad so when u really need money u do have some saved.

Answer 3

I get the feeling that you are using shopping and overspending money as a way of coping with anxiety. It is a poor coping mechanism that can easily ruin your life in future.

Ask your self why if you are anxious. What is making you anxious? Why are you coping with your anxiety that way? If you can't pinpoint the root of your anxiety. Talk with your parents, religious leaders or teen counselors and tackle this issue before it gets out of control.

I, personally, think that you may have some anxiety due to the fact that you are now facing the adult world and you now have to make major decisions that affect your life e.g: going to college or not? Living on your own or with your parents? What career path to take etc.

I think that if you talk with an adult you trust, you will realize that those decisions are nothing to be anxious or afraid of. If there is no adult you can trust, use the $5000 to see a clinical psychologist to help you unlearn this bad habit and relearn more efficient ways of coping with anxiety. I, personally, think you can change this habit on your own, you don't need to pay someone $300/hour to teach you how.

The main thing to understand it that whatever you decide, you are the creator of your life. YOu can choose to create a masterpiece of your life or you can just automatically react and let the world assign you something you are not going to like.

So, face your fears/anxiety; your confidence and self esteem will only grow stronger. For the time being, when you feel anxious, instead of shopping, go for a jog or a swim, you'll feel better.

Answer 4

No hard feelings... now I understand why the question about the $360 pair of sunglasses you bought yesterday! I'm so sorry for my response to your question, also.

My questions:
a) Do you have withdrawal symptoms when you can't spend your money for a few days or hours?
b) Do you feel like you have to buy something, anything (especially in the fashion area) constantly, or you'll bust? c) Does what you buy really make a difference or is it just petty junk or things you don't need or may actually not want but feel you have to have?

If you answered yes to 2 of the above, you may have a psychological dependency (I'm not sure the term addiction applies to non substance abuse stuff), but the term addiction can be applied.

Spend wisely starting today-- call, set up an appointment and see an addictions therapist ASAP, before you become truly addicted and spin yourself into thousands of $$ into debt! Treatments usually involve planning for specific ways to avoid the addictive stimulus, and teaching you healthier ways to find satisfaction (and they don't cost $300 per hour like some guy stated earlier-- sessions can cost between $60-150, depending on who you see and their credentials-- addictions counselors will be on the low end).

G'Luck!!!

Answer 5

i would recommend that you DONT get a credit card! while you still dont have expenses, save 1/2 of what you take in in a savings acct. and do not touch it. watch your savings grow, which would be quickly as you would be saving 500 a month. that might not seem like much to you now, but in a year it would be 6,000 saved and you still will have bought 6,000 dollars worth of stuff which is quite a bit. and here is the beauty of it. you wont be in debt either! you will be starting your adult life Ahead of the game instead of behind it, which will make it easier for you to buy a home or furnish an apartment when the time comes. and in the meantime, when u do spend 1/2 of it, make your purchases wise ones. spend 1/2 of your SPENDING money on things you need and 1/2 on fun things. that is a big thing to do. 1/2 is SAVINGS money, 1/2 is SPENDING money...1/4 of the spending money is for things you need, 1/4 of the spending money is for fun. remember, what you are saving is going to still be "fun" money too, when you have it to buy your home or whatever . dont get into debt if you dont have to!! you will thank yourself big time later. good luck

Answer 6

honey. its an addiction, whenever u feel sad/lonely u go shopping. im sure that sometimes u go shopping without even knowing what ur doing. u just hit the mall for no reason and once u get there u go like " hmm. what am i doing here but sure ill buy something" you need to set a plan for ur self step by step. to give rid of that addiction see whats missing ur life and fix. replace the addiction to something useful
like hit the gym
or get online
or find a new hobby
or sing.walk.dance anything to full the empty space.
good luck
bye

Answer 7

Well, once in my theatre class we have to perform a P.S.A. One of the group came up with the shopping problem just like you. What happend after that is she broke, and borrow her friend money she also broke. It was made up, but it could actually happend for real. I was reading the other answers, many of them said the addiction. It is true. You just have to control it, it you mind, it also make people think that you can't control your self. Which is bad. You don't really get what you want, you can't get every thing in life. Do you?

Answer 8

That is actually possible. There are people who shop as an addiction. If you can't find the means to stop, get help...can be a problem later.

Try focusing on taking a trip...save for it.

Answer 9

People here are lying to you; It's not normal. you spent a thousand dollars every month for five months on useless things. you better get some help before you end up like those 21 year olds on television in 1000's of dollars of debt.

Answer 10

the answer is your spoiled. when you get put in a situation where it's jeans or a place to live, shoes or lunch for a week, it will be easy to learn to budget. just like pavlovs dog, when you get locked out of your apartment for not paying rent you learn to budget. but that would never happen to you coz daddy will pay your rent for you, so that's why you can't stop spending, coz dad makes everything betterr.