How do you know if you're a shoppaholic?  I think I might be, but isn't the definition of addiction is that you experience withdrawal if you don't have it?  I don't get withdrawal symptoms when I can't shop, does that mean I'm not a shoppaholic?  I'm terrible in stores though, I've had to start leaving my Visa card at home and only carry a little cash for the day on me :-(.  It's like Babe Bennett & Marty's conversation in the movie Mr. Deeds:
"I'm flat broke!"
"How are you flat broke? You make more money than anyone here; what do you blow it on?"
"Shoes...."

When you shop for things you really don't need, when you have bills you need to pay with the money you got (and are out of food), then you clearly have a problem.
If you're able to prioritize so you don't go wanting for anything just cause you saw a pair of shoes you "had to have" then you're at least not causing yourself much harm with it.

I'm not so sure Min, the amount of waste, of consumption consumption, the mindless ownership for the pride of ownership, none of that is very good.  In the famous 3 Rs of the Ecology Movement, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - everyone got all hip to the third as a way to ignore the first, which is the most important.

Maybe she gives her old stuff to the red cross then?

lol no worse, I'm a packrat, I never throw anything out :-p I have a whole bin of really old clothes I never wear anymore, hell I even keep all my receipts & labels gah, but no, my one virtue is I've never spent money that wasn't mine, I have no credit since I've never taken a loan or used a credit card; I started limiting my cash because I kept spending and was getting worried lol, I just love new clothes & shoes & makeup & knicknacks & all that, kinda like Peggy Bundy in the episode where they have the garage sale ;-) (yes, second TV reference, I definitely have a terrible TV addiction lol, I get withdrawal symptoms from that one)

I think any 'olism is difficult to define. Possibly the most common, alcoholism is still subject to debate. So I think there is a little groundswell to define an 'olism as a habit (in its broadest sense) that prevents you from acting and enjoying life as the 'normal' person. This is of course fraught with crap. So I think a better definition is that you have an 'olism if it is impinging on your life and life style in a negative way.  Defining negative is then a problem, "I have too many children, they impinge on my life, I have kidolism?"  I think possibly doing a repetitive behaviour that you do not want to do, but cannot prevent yourself from doing may be a better definition.

I love shopping but I don't spend outside my budget, I don't gamble. I don't overeat. I train in the gym but not too excess; just to keep healthy and feel good. I'm a moderate/ high alcohol consumer but it hasn't impacted on my life or (as far as I know) health, and it is monitored I have regular medical checks, I am on HRT. I don't do any other drugs.
I can read about three books on a day off, I buy books like crazy I'm a bookoholic.
I can get caught up in strange mathematical logic puzzles that distract me so much I don't go to bed. I have puzzlolism.

I have withdrawals from all of these. I remember not too long ago being on a long haul flight. One of my students had given me her 'final' draft of her thesis. Yes I borrowed the on flight phone and called her and went through corrections etc. Her reply quite simply, when she got a chance to respond was "It's 3 am get a life. And put the phone down" I'm a teacherolic."

Sorry probably no help, but I can't sleep

Cindy

Cindy, puzzlolism LOL

no doubt I loooove to shop. Often it can be therapeutic. But like Min said it should never be to the detriment of your daily life. I also enjoy just going to the mall to look at things, even if I don't spend any money. There are a few occasions when I'll see a dress or top or something I simply "must have" right then, but most of the time I try to control myself by waiting a while to see if it's just a spur of the moment impulse of if I can, indeed, actually live without it. Sometimes a day or two later I'll go back, but most of the time I don't.

But there are ways to control it. Another thing is to get the most out of those times you actually have to shop, like going to the grocery or when you really need that new pair of shoes, or as I did recently when I was gathering up stuff for my hospital stay (okay I found a dress that I couldn't resist but overall I controlled myself and kept it to the list). And of course making a shopping list and sticking to it (more or less) also helps.

I know I am.

My problem is that I can't window shop. If I do, if I see something cute, I have a hard time convincing myself that it will still be there next month when I have the $$. Ugh its so hard.

I just try not to go shopping at all when I can't buy.

I'm even worse lol, I just like having things, I have a bunch of dresses I've never wore but bought because they were cute & on sale :-).  I have movies I haven't watched, books I haven't read... lol.  I like staring at the pretty bookshelf but I'm too lazy to read them, I even buy food and don't eat it, gawd what's wrong?  Has anyone read White Noise?

I myself need to avoid shoe stores because the desire to buy more is very strong. I do agree with Fairygirl. If I am feeling depressed buying a new pair of heels cheers me up.