Conclusiones y Perspectivas

free decision to buy?

Do you occasionally suffer from compulsive shopping Do you occasionally suffer from compulsive shopping attacks?

attacks?

If so, read the following appendix as a first aid remedy If so, read the following appendix as a first aid remedy for compulsive shopping risks.

for compulsive shopping risks.

The average German is said to spend

The average German is said to spend - on av- on average – 1erage – 11010 percent of his salary each month, the average American percent of his salary each month, the average American allegedly even 120.

allegedly even 120.  At least ONE

 At least ONE problem you needn’t problem you needn’t worry about. Assu-worry about. Assu- ming you’re among the target audience for this book. ming you’re among the target audience for this book. Experts estimate that a major portion of our gross na- Experts estimate that a major portion of our gross na- tional product can be attributed to frustration shopping. tional product can be attributed to frustration shopping.  And

 And that that applies applies to to eveveryone eryone with with more more money money thanthan needed for necessities.

needed for necessities.

Lower classes own more T-shirts than needed, upper Lower classes own more T-shirts than needed, upper classes more Ferraris than needed, or they have the classes more Ferraris than needed, or they have the fuselage of their private jet gold plated because the fuselage of their private jet gold plated because the brilliant shine looks so chic. The masses are as sus- brilliant shine looks so chic. The masses are as sus- ceptible to compulsive shopping attacks as those who ceptible to compulsive shopping attacks as those who profit from compulsive shopping attacks of the masses. profit from compulsive shopping attacks of the masses.  Already

groups modelled after Alcoholics Anonymous. They groups modelled after Alcoholics Anonymous. They call themselves Shopaholics Anonymous.

call themselves Shopaholics Anonymous.  Accor

 According to ding to the Internet (you’ll find the Internet (you’ll find a lot a lot with searchwith search strings like “frustration shopping”), the first European strings like “frustration shopping”), the first European study on compulsive shopping was conducted as early study on compulsive shopping was conducted as early as 1989 by Stuttgart-Hohenheim University. A conser- as 1989 by Stuttgart-Hohenheim University. A conser- vative estimate back then put the percentage of popu- vative estimate back then put the percentage of popu- lation affected by “shopping problems of this kind” at lation affected by “shopping problems of this kind” at around 15 to 20 percent.

around 15 to 20 percent.

My own “housewife” survey among acquaintances re- My own “housewife” survey among acquaintances re- sulted in

sulted in more drmore drastic findings. astic findings. Sample responses:Sample responses: “20 percent? Nonsense! Everyone suffers from that at “20 percent? Nonsense! Everyone suffers from that at least to some degree.”

least to some degree.”

“Hello, what? These guys are dreaming. I don’t know of  “Hello, what? These guys are dreaming. I don’t know of  anyone who doesn’t have more stuff at home then they anyone who doesn’t have more stuff at home then they can possibly use.”

can possibly use.”

“In that case I am definitely one of the 20 percent…” “In that case I am definitely one of the 20 percent…” One early-retired gentleman, sounding slightly offen- One early-retired gentleman, sounding slightly offen- ded: “You know I’d love to have some of those pro- ded: “You know I’d love to have some of those pro- blems. But I can’t afford that kind of thing. At times I blems. But I can’t afford that kind of thing. At times I don’t even have enough left for food…” His sister, cut- don’t even have enough left for food…” His sister, cut- ting him short: “But only by the end of the month. Just ting him short: “But only by the end of the month. Just look at your silly collection of semi-precious stones and look at your silly collection of semi-precious stones and minerals! What on earth do you need all this stuff for? minerals! What on earth do you need all this stuff for? Some of these stones are still in their original paper Some of these stones are still in their original paper bags from whenever you bought them.”

bags from whenever you bought them.”  A

 A bailiff bailiff once once told told me me how how he he often often finds finds deliveriesdeliveries from mail order houses in their original packaging at from mail order houses in their original packaging at homes where he is sent to impound things. People find homes where he is sent to impound things. People find things in a catalogue, the compulsive shopping habit things in a catalogue, the compulsive shopping habit attacks and by the time this stuff finally arrives they attacks and by the time this stuff finally arrives they have long lost interest.

have long lost interest.  Accor

 According to him, most of the tding to him, most of the time there are fime there are few aew actualctual valuables to confiscate. Instead he occasionally dis- valuables to confiscate. Instead he occasionally dis- covers a few blue trash bags stuffed with clothes for covers a few blue trash bags stuffed with clothes for which there was no room in the wardrobe. However, which there was no room in the wardrobe. However, the person concerned could not help but buy them the person concerned could not help but buy them anyway.

anyway.

If you are among those affected by compulsive shop- If you are among those affected by compulsive shop- ping habits (I definitely am, at least a little bit), naturally ping habits (I definitely am, at least a little bit), naturally you handle it differently: for instance, you add a sub- you handle it differently: for instance, you add a sub- terranean marble garage for all those precious Ferraris. terranean marble garage for all those precious Ferraris. Read “God on a Harley“ by Joan Brady. After reading for Read “God on a Harley“ by Joan Brady. After reading for an hour or so you get the feeling you want to rid your- an hour or so you get the feeling you want to rid your- self of ballast.

self of ballast.

One tip on dealing with compulsory shopping habits One tip on dealing with compulsory shopping habits the bailiff suggested (even bailiffs are human beings; the bailiff suggested (even bailiffs are human beings;

this particular one had participated in one of my semi- this particular one had participated in one of my semi- nars) can also be found in the Stuttgart-Hohenheim nars) can also be found in the Stuttgart-Hohenheim University study:

University study:

Each month you are supposed to schedule a clean-up Each month you are supposed to schedule a clean-up day and make a list of everything you own. Besides each day and make a list of everything you own. Besides each item, in a separate column, you are to note the last time item, in a separate column, you are to note the last time you actually used it! You are to carry the completed list you actually used it! You are to carry the completed list in your wallet at all times. You may wind up needing a in your wallet at all times. You may wind up needing a bigger wallet, or better still, a wheel barrow!

bigger wallet, or better still, a wheel barrow!  When

 When you you realise realise that that you you already already own own 300 300 pair pair of of  shoes, and you haven’t even worn 202 of them in two shoes, and you haven’t even worn 202 of them in two years, maybe it gets easier to pass on buying pair years, maybe it gets easier to pass on buying pair number 301, which you will never wear either!

number 301, which you will never wear either!

By the way, compulsive clothes shopping (buying By the way, compulsive clothes shopping (buying pieces you‘ll never wear) can be reduced drastically by pieces you‘ll never wear) can be reduced drastically by visiting Herta Hirt once in a lifetime. Herta offers a visiting Herta Hirt once in a lifetime. Herta offers a special kind of colour consultation. She sees a fixed special kind of colour consultation. She sees a fixed kind of basic

kind of basic aura arounaura around people, d people, including its colours.including its colours.  Accor

 According ding to to Herta, Herta, this this laylayer er nevnever er changechanges. s. ByBy wearing clothes of the same colour found in the basic wearing clothes of the same colour found in the basic aura, you strengthen your body’s energy field, its inner aura, you strengthen your body’s energy field, its inner power and vibes. And: decisions become a lot easier power and vibes. And: decisions become a lot easier when shopping for clothes, while at the same time when shopping for clothes, while at the same time reducing them drastically.

reducing them drastically.  Among her

 Among her 4000 plus 4000 plus clients, Hertclients, Herta repora reports, none ts, none so farso far shared an identical colour combination!

shared an identical colour combination!

On my homepage, www.baerbelmohr.de, you’ll find an On my homepage, www.baerbelmohr.de, you’ll find an article about this topic in the free magazine. To reach article about this topic in the free magazine. To reach Herta directly go to: http://www.lebensfarben.eu

Herta directly go to: http://www.lebensfarben.eu

In summary, the study mentioned earlier concludes In summary, the study mentioned earlier concludes that individuals suffering from compulsive shopping that individuals suffering from compulsive shopping habits shop for consumer goods and services during habits shop for consumer goods and services during attac

attacks. ks. They give They give in to in to an irresistible urge experiencedan irresistible urge experienced as overpowering their free will all the way to loss of  as overpowering their free will all the way to loss of  self-control.

self-control.

Shopping is experienced as the only way to satisfaction, Shopping is experienced as the only way to satisfaction, as in most addictions, with a tendency to ever increa- as in most addictions, with a tendency to ever increa- sing dosages.

sing dosages.

Some experience shopping as a tranquilliser, others as a Some experience shopping as a tranquilliser, others as a stimulant. In each case it produces feelings of euphoria stimulant. In each case it produces feelings of euphoria and plugs holes in the soul and feelings of emptiness. and plugs holes in the soul and feelings of emptiness. Frequently, shopping is experienced as a symbol for in- Frequently, shopping is experienced as a symbol for in- dependent, competent decision-making as well as a dependent, competent decision-making as well as a symbol of abundance and intense living. In most cases, symbol of abundance and intense living. In most cases, lack of self-esteem is the root cause. Yes indeed, lack of  lack of self-esteem is the root cause. Yes indeed, lack of  self-esteem, regardless of the magnitude of the shop- self-esteem, regardless of the magnitude of the shop- ping compulsion.