Coronavirus and Compulsive Spenders & Debtors

For more inspiration, listen to the “I Can’t Stop Spending!” Podcast

This is a time of real struggle for everyone, but I think addicts, even those in recovery, are at increased risk. Thankfully, we have an arsenal of tools at our fingertips and a Higher Power who can carry us through, whether speaking to us during prayer and meditation, at meetings, or through the voice of our network, to whom we can gratefully turn for support.

With the frenzy to “stock up,” it’s way too easy to justify compulsive spending and debting right now. Just the click of a button brings us some comfort or, alternatively, seeing that items we need are out of stock with no known return date, we feel that panic of “not enough” and “not safe” rising up, bringing with it the desire to buy something, anything, to make us feel better.

Just last week, an ad for shoes appeared. Now, mind you, I only wear sneakers because of my prehensile toes and arch issues, though I have one pair of “real shoes” for special occasions, which almost never occur. But these were orthotic-friendly and so cute in a world where shoes for people like me are generally mighty ugly.

New Blog Post & Podcast Episode Available: “Letter to a Suffering Friend”

As I wrote a few weeks ago, my blog will now be located on the “I Can’t Stop Spending!” website, where I also have a podcast.

For awhile, I’ll post a link here as well when there is a new post. You can also sign up to get each new blog post by email (the sign-up form is located on the sidebar of the “I Can’t Stop Spending!” site).

Click here to read the post, “Letter to a Suffering Friend,” or listen to the podcast episode.

Ongoing, I’ll also be posting an inspirational reading from my book, “Getting Out from Going Under Daily Reader for Compulsive Debtors and Spenders.” In this post, it is May 27: “The Enemy of Creativity.”

“Money Diet” vs. Spending Moratorium

Click here to listen on our podcast site, “I Cant Stop Spending!”

I just came across a December article from New York Magazine called, “Should I Go on a Money Diet This January?” by Charlotte Cowles. It painted a clear portrait of the difference between a budget-minded philosophy and a recovery-centered vision without ever mentioning a 12 Step program.

The thing is, this “diet” philosophy is about extremes. So, people overspend or binge spend in December and then swear off in January to undo the damage. But, to quote the article, “Just like Dry January won’t help if you’re an alcoholic, no money diet will cure compulsive spending habits.”

If you’re like me, once you are in that binge-mode, nothing but running out of credit or hitting some other really severe bottom will make you stop for more than a brief period. Creating a cycle of extremes is really what a compulsive spending addiction is about.

Why I’m Not Buying a Lottery Ticket

I swear I’m not a prude. And, the truth is, I’m not a compulsive gambler. But I have made a decision that I will not spend $2 for the one in 292 million chance of winning nearly a billion dollars.

I am Not Recovered

In April, I celebrated six years of back to back abstinence from compulsive debting. But it has become clear to me recently that I am still a seriously compulsive spender. And I now truly understand why the primary purpose of Debtors Anonymous (DA) is not incurring unsecured debt.

If we just never had to spend money again, we wouldn’t have a problem, right? But unfortunately, we must learn to forge a new relationship with money that doesn’t include incurring unsecured debt. As I’ve written before, we must walk the razor’s edge.

The Retention Department

If you don’t know about “The Retention department,” you are missing out on savings for services many of us use. The Retention department is the last stop when you are going to leave your current cable, Internet, or phone provider. You can actually request to speak to someone in this department, and I have saved a lot of money over the years by negotiating with them.

So, here’s what happened the other day. The promotions on our current services were about to expire. Our services were going to go from about $160/month (a ridiculous amount to pay) to CHOKE, GASP — $250 (an obscene amount to pay)!

Inciting a Riot

A DA friend recently helped me see how I was creating unnecessary suffering for myself. While she wasn’t speaking about me in our conversation, her words seeped deep down inside me, creating a growing disturbance until I realized that I was doing the very thing she described. (Please bear with me as I walk you through the path to exactly what I mean.)

StyleCaster.com Article on “Online Shopping Addiction”

I just read an article from StyleCaster.com by Leah Bourne about what she calls “shopping addiction.” To begin with, I was quite sad that the author barely gave a nod to recovery, throwing in one line at the end about it, writing, “Looking into therapy or support groups is a good place to start.”