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Originally Posted by Astrocloud
I am almost honestly considering Debtors anonymous. When I have money it's almost like I can't control my spending. Or better put: I simply have to avoid the places where I will spend my money.
For example: the day I got laid off from Lucent -I went to a footwear store and bought two new pairs of Timberlands. Not because I needed them but because it felt good to buy stuff.
Do you have any experience with this?
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I can tell you I was a compulsive spender (and still am to a much lesser degree) and it is tough. What I found that helps is as hard as it is, give someone else (a family member) control of your money. Also, cut up the credit cards, tell family and friends under no circumstance to loan you any money and if need be go to a credit counselor.
Find what triggers you, find out why and work on it. For me, I spent because I "had" the money and "owed myself something" or I was broke and "what the Hell, I can buy this and I'll just worry about it later." Then I suffered from depression when bills came due and felt there was "no way out" and would spend more because it allowed me a false sense of being in control.
I am not familiar with DA except by name alone. It is a problem we face in this country (high debt is almost expected) and finding a working solution starts within self. Sounds like you know the problem, the hard part is finding out what works for you to recover. You can do it, it just takes a lot of inner work and dealing with feelings the spending has covered up for years.
It's the same as any addiction, and yet, this addiction is one fed hard by the credit companies, with all kinds of loans, cards, etc.