A medication that treats impulsivity in Alzheimer’s patients may also work for compulsive shoppers, according to a new study in the May issue of Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. Although memantine is still in the clinical testing phase, it has been shown to be effective in a variety of disorders that cause people to have difficulty… Continue reading Alzheimer’s Drug Curbs Compulsive Buying in Shopaholics
Author: Carrie Rattle
Carrie Rattle is a Principal at BehavioralCents.com, a website for women focused on mind and money behaviors. She has worked in the financial services industry for 20+ years and hopes to inspire women to better prepare themselves for financial independence.
Is being a shopaholic truly an addiction?
Not everyone agrees on the answer to the question of whether being a shopaholic is truly an addiction. MailOnline presents two women with opposing opinions. Carol Sarler says being a shopaholic is more about greed than addiction, writing, “You’re not ill, honey—you’re stupid.” Sarter believes over-shopping is a choice that leads women to act like… Continue reading Is being a shopaholic truly an addiction?
It Is Time To Treat The Shopaholic Like Any Other Addict
Writer Dominique Jackson believes it’s time to take the illness of compulsive shopping seriously. She writes, “…oniomania, to give it its scientific name, is as potentially devastating for the individual and their families as alcoholism, compulsive gambling or other addictions.…” The problem has been noted for over 100 years, but has only recently begun to… Continue reading It Is Time To Treat The Shopaholic Like Any Other Addict
There’s No Sense Chasing the Wind
Joshua Becker suggests that in our search for happiness we often come up against the question, “Is this all that the world has to offer?” Whether we try to find satisfaction in a bigger house or bank account, alcohol, drugs, sex, or a job promotion, we often discover “we’ve only been chasing the wind,” and… Continue reading There’s No Sense Chasing the Wind
Throw a Thrifty Summer Bash by Planning a Tailgate Party
Myscha Theriault says any occasion is just right for a tailgate party and provides some cost-saving ideas to pull it off. Location is key in terms of power supply, number of people, and event activities. She suggests keeping the menu low-key, whether or not you have electricity and water. Accommodating a variety of diets is… Continue reading Throw a Thrifty Summer Bash by Planning a Tailgate Party
Materialized Socialism
I often get interview requests from undergraduate and graduate students who are writing papers about compulsive buying. Every so often, the finished paper seems to capture something about compulsive buying that some of the seasoned writers have missed. Rachel Davidson’s paper is one of those. A rising senior of UC Santa Clara, majoring in communication, Rachel’s… Continue reading Materialized Socialism
Influence. You Already Have It.
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker write of influence: “…{I]t would be wise for us to stop always asking how to acquire more and instead, start asking what to do with the influence we already have.” Becker believes that once we realize the scope of our influence, we can begin to focus on being a positive… Continue reading Influence. You Already Have It.
“If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right”: Part 1
In a provocative titled, research-grounded, and thoroughly persuasive article in the Journal of Consumer Psychology—21 (2011) 115-125—Elizabeth W. Dunn, Daniel T. Gilbert, and Timothy D. Wilson argue that “If money doesn’t make you happy, then you probably aren’t spending it right.” In the article, they acknowledge that traditional research shows only a modest correlation between… Continue reading “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right”: Part 1
Lessons from my grandmother
Jill Chivers says her grandmother was a conscious consumer and in this article she shares some of the ways her grandmother modeled living well and happily within her means. Buy well and don’t buy so much; better quality and less quantity. Instead of throwing clothes away, mend or re-purpose them. Be happy with what you… Continue reading Lessons from my grandmother
How to Unplug and Be Present in Our Over-Connected World
Nearly every religious and spiritual tradition teaches meditation and mindfulness, and for good reason: these practices help us live in the present moment and deal with stress as it arises. The practice of mindfulness is not just for monks and nuns, it’s for anyone who wants to experience happiness and peace. We can be mindful… Continue reading How to Unplug and Be Present in Our Over-Connected World