Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Not all enthusiastic shoppers are problem spenders. The signals that a problem exists are
when you feel little or no control over your impulses, or you repeatedly buy things that are
never used.
Compulsive spending is caused by both social and psychological factors. Expatriates in
particular are vulnerable to this specific problem. It affects equally both men and women,
but is often more visible among female expatriates.
Many working wives accompanying their husbands overseas must either totally give up
their careers or settle for something other than their chosen profession because of limited
opportunities. Others find their former role as homemaker taken over by their live-in maid.
Feeling lonely and frustrated, they often use shopping and dining out as a way of feeling
better about themselves.
The modern urban lifestyle, with its emphasis on consumption and acquisition, certainly
promotes the impulse to spend. All the latest fashions and electronic gadgets besiege our
vision at every turn in almost every major city on earth. Elsewhere, ethnic handicrafts, jew-
elry, antiques and artifacts inspire the “collector” in us. Fancy boutiques and pricey cafés
provide limitless opportunities for people to consume and spend beyond their limit. Such
temptations often are difficult to resist. Peer pressure to possess luxury brands too often
makes it feel mandatory.
The nouveau riche syndrome also encourages spending. Many middle class families ar-
rive in a foreign posting and suddenly find themselves among the elite of society. New-
found affluence and the need to keep up appearances encourage them to upgrade their life-
style accordingly.
However, affluence and temptation alone do not cause compulsive spending. The key
problem is a psychological one. The act of spending is stimulating, providing immediate
gratification. For example, buying a new dress makes someone feel good about herself. At
that particular moment there is an uplift of self-image and boost of self-confidence. There
is a surge of adrenaline which can become psychologically as well as physically addicting,
as with any stimulant.
During the course of spending, the overspender may experience a sense of pleasure,
gratification or release. But often following the act he or she will feel regret, self-reproach
or guilt. The feeling is relieved only by another shopping binge. This turns into a cycle that
is difficult to get out of.
People suffering from emotional turmoil or poor self-esteem are vulnerable to this sort
of addiction. They use shopping as a way to temporarily lift them from depression or fill
a void in their life. In Cindy's case, when she feels depressed she tends to spend more. It
helps her “feel more alive.”
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