Table
of Contents
Acknowledgments......................................................... x
About the Author...................................................... xii
Preface: Are You A Shopaholic?........................................xiii
Introduction..........................................................xvii
PART ONE
A Human Face on Compulsive Shopping and Spending
Brad's Story............................................................1
Dollie's Story.........................................................11
Robert's Story.........................................................16
Bobbie's Story.........................................................24
Lynne's Story..........................................................31
Lucy's Story...........................................................38
Jeremy's Story.........................................................46
Helena's Story.........................................................50
Rose's Story...........................................................57
Mike and Susie's Story.................................................67
Joyce's Story..........................................................78
PART TWO
The Bigger Picture
The Top Ten Reasons People Overshop or Overspend.......................83
Sub-Categories of Shopaholics..........................................85
Natasha Kendall, PhD Interview.........................................87
Pamela Landy, JD, CFP Interview........................................98
Excerpts of Recent Newspaper Articles of Interest.....................110
Tying It All Together.................................................115
PART THREE
Exercises for Recovering Shopaholics & Spendaholics
Questions for Self-Exploration........................................117
Budgeting 101.........................................................124
A New Budget..........................................................125
My List of Unfair Things..............................................126
My Lucky Gratitude List...............................................128
My Dream Job..........................................................130
Journaling/Practice Journal Page......................................131
A Visit to a Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen.........................132
Gray Area Behaviors...................................................133
Better Ways to Get Freebies & Good Deals..............................137
Common Triggers & Coping Skills.......................................138
Common Warning Signs & Coping Skills..................................141
How My Addiction Served Me............................................144
Honesty is Its Own Reward.............................................148
Losing Your Edge or Gaining Your Edge.................................149
Be Assertive! ........................................................150
The Importance of Humor...............................................151
Someone to Talk To....................................................153
What to Do With Your Useless Purchases................................154
The Dangers of Transferring Addictions................................155
Forgiving Ourselves...................................................157
The 12 Steps of Debtors Anonymous.....................................158
Using the 12 Steps....................................................160
The Serenity Prayer...................................................171
PART FOUR
Related Topics
Conducting an Intervention...........................................173
The Family Needs Help, Too...........................................182
Help for Those Afraid of Shopping or Spending........................183
Starting a Self-Help Group...........................................184
Epilogue: Where Do We Go From Here?..................................185
Resources............................................................186
Books/DVDs...........................................................188
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