By: Brianna Gaxiola
Shopping has evolved into a hobby for most young people worldwide. It is an activity that most partake in. Some people do it in groups while others do it alone. I personally love to shop; it stems from my love for fashion I've held since I was born. Now in my teenage years I must ask myself the question: Has my love for shopping turned me into a shopaholic? I love to shop and if I could I would all the time.
The word reeks of someone with a problem. Like alcoholics have a problem with alcohol. I wouldn’t call my shopping a problem BUT isn’t the first step in admitting you have a problem denial?
The Dictionary defines shopaholic as "a compulsive shopper," while a teen slang site, Urban Dictionary, cleverly states that it’s a slang term to describe oniomania. A disorder that describes peoples urges to shop till they drop. People, who have been diagnosed with the disorder, experienced significantly negative life changes. They spend money until there is nothing left to spend. They can not stop-even if they try. A lot of people with oniomania can directly link their shopping habits to their emotional situation. If you’re sad ... buy a bag? Not the healthiest way to deal with depression but many say that it does indeed help to spend cash to make them feel better.
That most definitely does not sound like me. First of all, I can only spend if I do indeed have the money to do so. I personally can walk into a store and successfully walk out with nothing purchased, something a shopaholic would not be able to do. While shopping makes me happy it is not the first thing I do when I am upset. Shopping has only brought me joy and happiness; it has never negatively effected me in any way. I don't think we can blame the misconception of the word shopaholic, I mean we do live in a consumer society.
The word shopaholic can be defined as a "woman's" problem. I think we can all agree that Women enjoy shopping more than most men. But men generally enjoy "collecting" things, be it cars or tools or even stamps. Isn’t this just buying a lot of something? So can I label myself a collector of shoes and clothes? It sounds so much better than a shopaholic. I shop a lot but as far as having a clinical disorder, I do not believe I have gone that far.
From a shopping lover to another, here are some tips on how to avoid excessive shopping. One, Pay in cash. You’ll be more aware of how much you are spending then just using credit. Two, Make a shopping list. Only buy what's on the list and nothing else, I mean nothing else. Three, window shop. You'll enjoy browsing the latest things while keeping your wallet in a safe place.
I wish I could have been a fly on the corner of Sedgwick and Cedar in the late 70’s. I can see it now: chilling, in my B-Boy stance, watching Kool Herc spinning vinyl, while the birth pains of the new born baby named hip-hop blast through Herc’s parents’ speakers. I wish I could have been there It would have been an amazing opportunity to be that fly, don’t get me wrong- I’m fly, sitting there for hip-hop’s umbilical cord being cut, just so I could ask the crowd: “are all of yall some followers?”
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