I think it’s time for a 12-step program.

If this isn’t the first time you’ve stumbled upon Mommin’ It Up, chances are you’re well aware of Jenny’s, um, habits. I came across this article today and, in preparation for the arrival of A&E’s Intervention camera crew, I thought it might be time to evaluate her situation.

From MSNBC, When Bargain Hunting is an Addiction

By Melinda Fulmer (with unofficial editing and commentary by Emily)

For some people , the rush of a great deal trumps practical considerations — such as whether they need, want or even have a place to keep what they’ve found on sale.

The siren song of the clearance rack is hard to resist. For some people, , it’s impossible.

For New Mexico schoolteacher Marie Barger, bargain shopping was an addiction as powerful as drugs or alcohol (Real-life Jenny quote: I was indeed rather giggly and high on savings.) — one that took her seven years to pay off. Years after her husband took away her maxed-out credit cards, she still comes across old purchases that make her cringe, such as the full-figured adult size 16 uniform pants she bought for her tiny 12-year-old daughter simply because they were 80% off.

“She’s superskinny. Maybe if she got pregnant one day she could wear them,” Barger says.

Ok for real, Jen, if you ever sound hopeful that Sophie is going to get knocked up so she can wear a pair of pants you got Extra Care Bucks on, I am going to sue for custody.

A large part of these compulsive spenders are bargain addicts — people who can’t pass up a good sale even if it’s on something they don’t want, need or even particularly like. For these people, what they buy is not as important as how much that item’s price has been reduced.
Case study: Pizza Rolls (and these are just the ones she’s shown us)

Scoring deals helps these out-of-control shoppers ease their insecurities and feel more competent and in control, says Tim Kasser, an associate professor of psychology at Knox College in Illinois and the author of “The High Price of Materialism.”

Unlike other types of out-of-control spenders, bargain addicts rationalize their purchases as something good they are doing for themselves, their children, their spouse or others, Benson says. Real-life Jenny quote: I had also sent her home with a bag of goodies from what I now call “Jenny’s freestore” – you know, Glade candles, toothpaste, dish soap

“It feels as though they are saving money, so it’s hard to pass up,” she says.

Drowning in bargains

“They can never get enough of what they don’t need,” Benson says of shopping addicts.
Case Study: Glade candles. (It’s kind of hard to see, but rest assured there are no less than 20 candles in that picture)

Barger knew she had a spending problem. She broke down and started sobbing. It was this event that made Barger realize how deep her “need” for this hobby was. “I told my husband, ‘I think I’m a shopaholic.’ I told him I was basically going into the DTs” from not shopping. Real-life Jenny quote: I am starting to come down from my shopping high now…better get to bed before I start getting the shakes!!

6 signs of bargain junkies

Here are six telltale signs of bargain junkies:
1) They hit sales and clearance racks when they feel angry or down.
2) They spend more than they can afford. (That might not be relevant, seeing as how Jenny’s finances can probably handle the $0.03 she spends each week, but still)
3) They see sales as opportunities they can’t pass up. Real-life Jenny quote: I went to CVS many, many, many times this week. TOO MANY
3) They feel guilty about their shopping and hide their purchases. (Or brag about them on their blogs. One or the other.)
4) They spend so much time tracking down deals that their time with family and friends is compromised. Real-life Jenny quote: I am gonna have to cut back this week cause thanks to CVS I am behind on my laundry!
5) They routinely forget what they bought and stockpile things. Real-life Jenny quote: That’s right – we now have 80 rolls of toilet paper!

Unlike other addictions such as drugs or alcohol, compulsive shopping can’t be treated cold turkey. In our culture, people can’t stop buying altogether. Groceries must be purchased, clothing and shoes replaced every so often and birthday and Christmas gifts bought. But compulsive bargain hunters can learn to wean themselves from their reliance on shopping to feel good.

How to break the cycle

The first step for anyone who thinks he or she might have a problem should be to track purchases for two weeks — down to the penny, Shore says. Though Microsoft Money, Quicken and other computer programs can help, they don’t show the impulse buys from the supermarket or the fast food and Starbucks coffee bought with cash.

Moreover, when a compulsive shopper is lined up at the cash register or electronic checkout with some tempting sale item, that person should ask himself or herself (I’ve gone ahead and put Jenny’s answers in)
– Do I need it? Is it aspirin? ‘Cause if it is, the answer is NO.
– How will I pay for it? Easy! Just let me find the coupon…
– What will I do with it? I will pay my babysitters with it!
– Where will I put it? I’ll put it in the special storage unit I bought to house all my loot, duh!
– What would happen if I waited? I might have to fork over $2.99 instead of 6 cents, and we wouldn’t want that to happen, would we?

Breaking the bargain addiction can take some time. A good start, experts suggest, is to find activities that seem to satisfy the same needs:
– If you bond with friends over shopping, team up with them instead on an effort or a cause you are passionate about. Jenny’s already done this. She and Krista are passionate about Extra Care Bucks!
– If the thrill of discovery is your thing, Benson says, find a lecture on a new cutting-edge subject or check out a neighborhood you haven’t seen before. Unfortunately, Jenny has visited every neighborhood in the county, searching for the remaining CVS stores that don’t have her mug shot hanging on the wall.
– If shopping gives you a sense of competence, develop your other strengths and talents. What were you good at and what did you enjoy when you were younger? Anytime the urge to shop strikes, turn to other activities you enjoy or would like to become better at, such as painting, dancing or playing the piano. Yes, dancing, excellent idea. I think she should take that up. Wait, she already does that. Real-life Jenny quote: I’ve been dancing around the living room like a 13-year-old mixing Pop Rocks with Red Bull!!

For better or worse, experts say, shopping has become so ingrained in our culture and identity that it’s hard for most people to stop.

“Shopping,” says Benson, “is the way we search for ourselves and our place in the world.” Jenny’s place in the world? CVS!

*****
As I looked through previous posts to gather evidence, there was one comment I just couldn’t move past. Ladies and gentlemen, the number one sign Jenny has a shopping problem:

When I called my husband to tell him I was coming home, I said, “No offense, honey, but I think I’ve just had the most exhilarating night of my life!” — Jenny, December 2007