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Do you have a problem with spending money? Maybe even overspending? Then this article may help.

Sure, spending can cheer you up — but only temporarily. Spending is one of those activities that helps to block out whatever else is on your mind. When you’re thinking about what you’re going to buy, you’re not thinking about what’s stressing you. There’s nothing wrong with buying something to cheer yourself up as long as you can afford it — financially and emotionally. But if your purchase leads to financial trouble, then it can become a problem.

Sometimes spending is a response to a single traumatic event, like the threat of a natural disaster. In Florida, after Hurricane Frances passed over Palm Beach County, the malls were jammed the day the stores reopened. After any kind of trauma you want to do something to make yourself feel better. You see people buying things and they look happy. Spending is a good way to make you feel better.

Unfortunately, spending to relieve stress can create a vicious cycle that leads to serious financial difficulties, which brings about more stress and anxiety. The USA is a country of overspenders, and it’s a national epidemic that starts at the top. Just look at the national deficit. After Sept. 11, President Bush told Americans not to let the terrorists interfere with our everyday life and to go shopping.

According to some studies, as many as 15 million American men and women suffer from compulsive shopping. Feelings of loneliness, emptiness, low self-esteem, insecurity and boredom can cause people to buy compulsively. Sometimes people turn to spending money to take their minds off what is bothering them or to cheer themselves up. They get hooked on the high from buying that extra something. They get into trouble if it becomes the main method for de-stressing.

Some people might eat because the food makes them feel good, but they might not like it later when they’ve put on a few more pounds. The spender also doesn’t like later — when the bill arrives.

If you are secretly spending and racking up credit card balances that bring on financial hardship for your family or cause arguments between you and your spouse, you have a problem. Instead of trying to understand what makes you sad or anxious, you tend to deny the symptoms by shopping or eating or other things. It’s important to look at what’s bothering you and try to evaluate it.

Just consider this example: You think you’re not going to get that promotion you hoped for, so you go out and buy yourself that expensive suit to cheer yourself up.
The danger is that spending distracts you from thinking about why you didn’t get that promotion or what you could do about changing your behavior in some way so that you don’t miss the next promotion. It’s not that buying yourself a new suit or new makeup to cheer yourself up is bad. But, if it’s one instead of the other, that’s not good.

Is your shopping a problem? If you’re concerned that perhaps your spending habits have reached the problem level, ask yourself these questions.

Do you use shopping as a quick fix for sadness?

Do you often spend more than you can afford?

Are some of your purchases unused?

Do you feel guilty or ashamed about your behavior?

Would your life be better if you weren’t shopping so much?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, you may have a problem. Be honest with yourself. Ask those around you to be honest as well. Ask the people who are close to you what they see. Take a good look at your credit card bills. You need to know what your behavior is costing you.

Learn other ways to satisfy yourself.

Try activities such as meditation, taking a walk in nature or going on a date with your spouse. Find something that will be more fulfilling than a shopaholic binge.

Take a friend to the mall who knows you and knows you overspend. Tell them your spending limits and make them hold you to it.

Get back in touch with a hobby you enjoyed in the past. Meet for tea instead of going to the mall. Find new ways to relax.

Make a list before you go to the mall. Consider window shopping, or try leaving your credit cards at home.

Money is a drug, according to many financial planners. It’s the No. 1 drug in America. It gives you a quick high every time you spend it. If you have a good day, you go out and spend money. If you have a bad day, you go out and spend money. It makes us feel good. But no matter how much money you make — financial success is related to whether you save or spend. The squirrels who end up with millions, it’s because they put the nuts away, not because they make lots of nuts.