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Compulsive buying disorder may not seem like a common disease, but more people have it than you think. Common symptoms of this disorder include anxiety, mood problems, obsessive-compulsive hoarding, among other things. People who have it are more commonly known as shopaholics.

People have different ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. Some turn to food, eating their way through a particularly emotional time. However, according to research, people also buy a lot more expensive stuff when they’re depressed. Usually, those who are a victim of this disease suffer financially, overspending and going way beyond their credit card limits. To an outsider, it can be easy to judge these individuals who spend recklessly. The truth is, it can be hard to rid oneself of this type of addiction, especially when credit cards are so easily obtainable. If you are one of those who are having a problem with over-shopping, there are five things you can do to save yourself (and your finances, too).

1.#Carry around cash. It can be easy to overspend when you’re not seeing the full extent of your expenses. When you carry around cash, your payment is tangible. Unlike with credit cards, you’ll actually have to take the time and count how much you’re giving at the counter. This prevents overspending, because you can easily keep track of how much you’re going to spend.

2.#Stay out of the mall. There are many other things you can do for fun aside from going to the mall. When you go there, it’s inevitable that you’ll spend money. For shopaholics, it can be very easy to go from one purchase to another, so beware. Opt to stay at home and read a book, or go outdoors at a park – any place where you can be away from shops and stores. You want to avoid temptation at all times, so this means..

3.#Stay away from online stores as well. You can buy and get absolutely anything from the Internet nowadays. If you want to avoid spending online, temporarily block online store websites from your computer so you won’t be tempted to do a little “window shopping”. It would be even better if you have someone else block these stores, and have them set a password, just so it won’t be as easy for you to unblock these websites from your computer.

4.#Look forward to something else (aside from shopping!). When you’re drying yourself out, trying not to shop, the tendency is to look forward to the next shopping binge. If you find yourself doing this, stop and try to find something else to look forward to. This will divert your attention from your addiction to something more positive.

5.#Lock up all your credit cards. Let’s face it: credit cards are the culprit. While they give us a wide range of possibilities and conveniences, they are also very susceptible to abuse. If you’re trying to wane off shopping for a while, it’s best not to whip out your plastic. They’ll only make it easier for you to overspend.

Amos is a writer who covers personal finance topics such as saving money and the best credit cards, review the best credit cards offer, offer that you can apply online.