Louis Vuitton, cure shopping addiction, compulsive spending

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Shopaholic: Addicted to designer outfits and accessories

Louis Vuitton, New Bond Street, London

Vicky works for Capital, a popular radio station in London. She earns good money but every penny is spent on designer outfits from the most exclusive boutiques on New Bond Street, Regent Street, South Molton Street, and in Burlington Arcade. She thinks nothing of spending $500 on a pair of Prada shoes or a Miu Miu bag. She can blow a month's salary on Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, and Jimmy Choo. She owes $40,000 on her credit cards and is able only to make the minimum payment each month.

VICKY SAYS: I've got a great job at a radio station in London, I rent a beautiful flat (apartment) in Chalk Farm, and I drive an old but immaculate 3-series BMW.

On the surface, I'm doing really well. o many people I'm a picture of success. I wear the best outfits money can buy.

I go to work in Louboutin and Jimmy Choo shoes. My outfits are from the most exclusive designer boutiques in New Bond Street, where Victoria an David Beckham buy their clothes. The thing is, the Beckhams are multi-millionaires and I am not. I'm struggling. I'm up over my head in debt.

In American dollars, I owe about $40,000 on my credit cards, I owe my boyfriend about $15,000, my dad about $8,000, my brother $2,000, and my little sister $1,000. I'm often overdrawn at the bank, I can't make my cellphone and broadband payments, and there's no way I can afford to eat out with colleagues.

I grew up quite poor in Croydon, south London. My mom was a nurse and my dad a schoolteacher. Croydon wasn't a glamorous area and I longed to get out of there and to own beautiful things. I really wanted to be famous, make lots of money singing but it didn't work out. My music career helped me to get into radio.

I started spending a lot of money on clothes and accessories as soon as I was making my own money. My first ever designer outfit was a pair of previously-owned Maud Frizon shoes, such beautiful craftsmanship. From there, I moved onto Chanel, YSL, Lacroix, all the classic designers.

Buying exclusive outfits gives me a deep sense of pleasure, a real buzz. It starts when I have made the decision to buy something and builds up on my way to Bond Street in Mayfair where you often see Madonna.

Dolce & Gabbana boutique in New Bond Street, London

As I enter the street, I'm really excited with butterflies in my stomach; there's such a wonderful feeling of anticipation -- what will the day reveal?

I reach the boutiques on New Bond Street or South Molton Street and I'm so hyper. I can't wait to get inside, see the new items, touch the fabric, hold the shoes, try them on. I'm a regular at so

Bags by Miu Miu on New Bond Street

many places that they treat me really well. I can try on anything I like; there's no snootiness at all, which there is toward people who are looking but no buying.

I'm elated when I find a perfect pair of shoes that just slip onto my feet. I feel as though they were made for me.

Rolex on New Bond Street, London

It's even exciting handing over my credit card and seeing that my purchase of $1000 has been approved. I feel so good about that. So many people have to think twice about paying $500 for a pair of shoes. I don't do that. If I want something, I buy it.

It's great walking down the street with a Jimmy Choo bag. Everyone knows I'm not one of the tourist shoppers on Oxford Street spending $30 at Top Shop or H&M. I would never shop in those places. It has to be designer items. I don't want to be seen carrying a plastic H&M bag. That's just not my style.

I read about that American politician Sarah Palin, the one who ran for vice president and who's resigned as Alaska governor.

Beautiful bare legs and street fashion on South Molton Street, London

She really loved fashion and designer outfits but couldn't really afford them. Then John McCain gave her a clothing budget of $150,000 and she went crazy.

I understand her perfectly. A woman wants to buy and wear the best that money can afford. Fashion says so much about a woman. Great outfits and accessories make a woman more desirable, more powerful, more able to hold her own in a man's world.

The down side of course is the amount of money I have to spend. I am at the stage now where I can't handle the debt. Before, I could keep juggling my my income to cope with interest payments, bills, other expenses like rent and food, but now I'm maxed out and I don't know what to do.

Yes, I have a problem. I admit it. I admit, too, that I don't wear all the outfits I buy. I have bags full of stuff with the price tags still on. But I never return items. That would be embarrassing.

The real pleasure is in the dreaming, planning and buying. It gives a rush that makes me deeply happy. Once I've bought the items, the rush is over. Owning is not nearly as much fun as buying.

I wish there was a pill to pop that took away my craving. I feel like an alcoholic or a gambler sometimes. I just can't stop myself. I hope I don't have to reach rock bottom before I get help. I'd love to be able to buy quality outfits and accessories and still stick to a budget.

THE PROBLEM IN BRIEF:

1) Compulsive shopping or spending addiction is an illness like alcoholism and addiction to gambling. It produces a rush, a feeling of well-being that does not go away with one purchase. The urge or craving has to be constantly fed.

2) Spending addiction wrecks your personal finances, plunging you into debt you can't manage. Financial institutions are very willing to lend you money, but they are not as tolerant when it is time to pay them back. Your credit rating, your ability to borrow money in the future, will be damaged if you cannot make your payments and get into trouble with debt collection agencies.

3) Compulsive spending, like alcoholism and gambling, can wreck even the most loving relationships. Many marriages have been wrecked and families torn about by one member's compulsive spending.

4) The compulsion to spend takes over your life and becomes the the main source of pleasure and enjoyment, but it is false pleasure causing you considerable stress and anxiety in the long run.

5) Compulsive spending will turn you into a liar. You will hate the person you become. As your spending and debt spiral out of control, you will begin to lie and manipulate in order to keep your head above water. You'll lie to loved ones, friends, and colleagues. You'll borrow money with no ability, or intention, to pay it back. You'll dump good friends who recognize your problem and try to intervene.

THE SOLUTION:

1) Recognize the problem, own it, and get help. Admit you are an addict and seek professional help, counseling, or group therapy. Contact Debtors Anonymous.

2) Financial advice. Talk to a financial advisor about the best way of managing your debt. You can't hide massive debt for very long. You need help finding the best way out of debt so that financial problems don't haunt you for the rest of your life.

3) Cut up your credit cards. Keep one for emergencies only, but don't use it to fuel your addiction to shopping. Pay by cash. This will limit your spending.

4) Avoid sales and various offers, e.g. buy two get and get one at half price. Window shop when stores are closed. If you go shopping during the day, take a limited amount of money and leave credit cards at home (see above: compulsive spenders should not own credit cards). You will end up spending more than you intended to if you are lured into stores by sales and offers of special deals.

5) Be honest to yourself and others. Admit you don't use or wear many of the items you buy. The thrill is the buying, not the owning. The compulsion to spend is the craving you have to get under control. Buying things does not make you a better person.

6) Tell people you trust that you are addicted to shopping and a compulsive spender. Good friends will understand, encourage and help you.

7) Don't place yourself in situations where you will not be able to control the urge to spend. Don't watch shopping channels on television, don't read magazines that urge you to spend beyond your means. Don't go shopping when you feel down or anxious.

8) Alternative action. Put your energy into other activities. Even though you might not be attracted by the idea, go for a jog or walk if the urge to shop or spend comes over you. Join a health club or the Y, where your energy can find a constructive outlet.

9) Write shopping lists. Buy only what you need. Don't buy items that are not on your list.

10) Medication. Ask a health care professional about medication for your compulsive spending. The drug Nalmefene (Revex), used to treat gambling, kleptomania, and sex addiction, is said to be promising for shopping addicts. Nalmefene targets the brain's pleasure and rewards circuitry. Other medication may be available to help you.

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Vicky is a self-confessed shopaholic, a compulsive spender. She loves designer clothes and accessories. Whatever she earns and can borrow, she spends on Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Miu Miu, and Jimmy Choo. Her addiction is ruining her personal finances and relationships.