What
is Spendomania?
Spendomania is the reckless spending of money, usually on
items you do not need and often, do not even want! The downside is
of course, financial hardship and the possibility of running up huge
credit card bills or falling into debt you cannot pay.
How
do you know if you are suffering from Spendomania?
Most likely, you will feel like you want to shop like a creature
possessed and end up buying a load of things you don't really need
or for that matter, want, often leaving unopened packages, new shoes
or new clothing unworn.Whilst it is great fun shopping
without the constraints that once held you to relative prudence,
this can land you in some serious debt, so before you buy, always
ask yourself if you really want or need the item. If your
answer is "Who cares?" or something similar, you might want to
reconsider your spending, particularly if you tend to leave things
unopened or, perhaps much more importantly, if you are falling into
debt.
Debt burden and MS
Multiple Sclerosis and debt can be a brutal combination. Adding
to the burden of struggling to manage to work (if you are still able) and pay unnecessary bills run up by spending money you do not
have is something you can definitely do without.Multiple
sclerosis is a particularly nasty illness in one particular respect
in that it often strikes in the prime of adulthood, just when
earning power and overall stamina needs to be at their peak.
The twin blows of losing earnings through job loss, or work
absence, and physically being unable to work can place tremendous
strain on anyone. Try not to add to your problems.
When
/ How does Spendomania Strike?
When spendomania strikes, it is often subtle, at least to begin
with. A little 'treat' here and there can soon escalate into a
spending frenzy which will max-out credit cards, drain bank funds
and lead to a debt spiral.Perhaps most worryingly, a 'spendomaniac'
usually feels completely normal, indeed they can often feel
almost euphoric and therefore recognizing that there is a problem in
the first place can be difficult.
Going through this type of phase can occur after a period where
other symptoms such as dizziness/vertigo have been severe. As the
exacerbation recedes slightly and loses its grip, a temporary
euphoria can set in where the person feels wonderful mentally
and may even feel better physically but underneath the surface, an
exacerbation may still be occurring.
This is the danger time! The time when it is easy to run up debts
which will leave you in financial hardship for years to come.
Recognizing that there is a problem, or a potential problem, is the
first step.
How
to avoid becoming a Spendomaniac
Be aware it can happen ... even to you!
Keep an eye on your
spending: for example, are you buying things you do not need or
being overly extravagant? Is the thrill of shopping the attraction
rather than the requirement to shop? Do you find you are piling up
debts which you could avoid and can do without?
If you are, or
find yourself becoming aware of the some of the things mentioned in
this article, then please, revise your spending habits at once.
If necessary, and it sometimes has to be done, believe me, pass
control of finances to your partner or someone you can trust
implicitly. You do not need to relinquish all control, just have
someone who will be able to help you put a brake on your spending
habits until the worst is over.
Spendomania may occur more than once. It can occur many times but
if you are aware it can happen, and can take some steps to take to
regain control, you should be able to avoid unnecessary financial
hardship. |
