Oniomania: often colloquially referred to as shopaholic, is a medical term for the compulsive desire to shop. Oniomania is the technical term for the compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, shopping addiction or shopaholism.
I am, by definition, an oniomaniac. My name is Ellen, I am 22 years old, and I love. to. shop. Not in that uncomfortable, Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic way, or a bad episode of True Life or Intervention, I just love clothes, I love bargains, and I love the whole experience of shopping. I even enjoy the grocery store. Unfortunately (for me and my bank account) I work at a major retailer...not just of clothes, but of clothes, shoes, home goods, accessories, beauty, fragrance, you name it. And at killer prices that I cannot pass up. I know I don't need another work-out tank top, but at 60% off?! I would get $12.60 of looking cute on an elliptical machine out of that, I just know it!
I can rationalize any--and let me be clear: any--purchase to myself. And that is exactly why, after graduating college and paying off my outstanding pre-spring-break-wardrobe-rehaul and this-outfit-will-definitely-help-me-nail-this-interview and who-can-ever-have-enough-black-shoes credit card debt and working for an entire year, I have embarrassingly little to show for it.
I know it is a problem; I shouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck when I have no children, not much debt (car, one credit card, etc.) and an affordable apartment I share with my boyfriend. But I keep telling myself "I'll start saving...soon" and never do. Then, last night I read an article on AOL.com about a girl who went on a "shopping cleanse". It described a few obstacles and her eventual success with a five-month, no-shopping program. I was hooked! I love any type of program with RULES - South Beach Diet, group exercise class, etc. Left to my own devices, that little rationalizing voice in my head always gets the best of me: "What's one little fun size Twix, you are on your feet 8 hours a day anyway!", "If you can get through 30 minutes on the treadmill you'll be done..okay 20..okay let's just get 15, 15 and you can be done." It's the same voice that tells me, "Of course you need 6 pairs of sneakers: black, white with pink, white with green for non-pink outfits, plain white for all outfits, and silver because they are on sale."
So, after reading this article, I decided to do it. Instead of her 5-month program (that seems like cruel and unusual punishment, and I really don't want to break any laws here), I figured I would kick myself off on a 3-month shop-free stint. Exceptions: gifts (bridal shower in May, wedding in June, birthdays in July & August), events (concerts, movie tickets, bachelorette party), food & drinks, gas, bills, and necessities (cotton balls, tissues, tampons, ice cream). Basically I am restricted from purchasing any clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, perfume, beauty products of any kind, and the like. All the good stuff.
Today was day one and I did succeed in not buying anything for myself, but my friend's bridal shower is next Saturday and I had a few things left to buy so even though it wasn't directly to my benefit, I quenched my shopping thirst. Really, I haven't felt the burn of a purchase-free day yet, but I have nothing on the list for tomorrow besides coffee & gas, and they are on the freebie list.
So, wish me luck as I embark on this life-altering journey of not shopping for three full months. It's gunna be hard, and some days I am definitely going to put things on hold that I want to come back for, but won't, or tuck things behind a pile of folded pants in the wrong department to hide them from other customers until some unknown future date. I'm going to be crazy, but I'm not going to be shopping.
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