Self-Help

If you’re fairly certain that you can navigate your overshopping problem on your own, there are many self-help resources to help you.

Read Introduction

Dr. Benson’s book, To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop has been used as a self-help resource by thousands of people. Some of their comments are on the sidebar to this page. To purchase the book, click here.
2-Part, Fully Assembled Shopping Journals. These portable companions, that you write in as you make your way through the text, bring the powerful techniques and strategies of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop directly to your shopping encounters.
For information about Dr. Benson’s audio program, Stop the Shopping Insanity, click here.

Dr. Benson’s blog, with dozens of posts, is divided into the following categories

There are a great many other, helpful books and videos, all listed in the resource section of the website.To access them, click here.

We’ve also compiled a comprehensive list of articles and blogs related to compulsive buying. To access them, click here.

And, finally, here is a list of in-person and online support groups and discussion boards, hypnosis tapes, and a few personal finance sites.

  • Debtors Anonymous: Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from compulsive debting. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. There are no dues or fees for D.A. membership.
There are D.A. meetings in every state, as well as telephone and online meetings.
  • Shopping Addicts Only: This Yahoo online support group is a forum in which people overshoppers seek and provide support, guidance, and companionship for other overshopperss that also have a shopping addiction. It is free of charge. After becoming a member, a person can post messages on a message board, contact other members, and gain access to helpful links.
  • Daily Strength: Daily Strength is an active online support forum with a shopping addiction support group. Individuals can post discussion comments and questions to peers in order to get advice, help concerning treatments, and moral support.
  • HypnosisDownloads.com: This 18 minute downloadable audio file details the steps in the compulsive buying cycle and uses guided imagery and visualization to help overshoppers gain control.
  • SaveKaryn.com: On this site is the story of Karen Bosniak, who found a creative way to get out of debt and, in the process, became an inspiration for others in debt. The site offers down home and helpful suggestions for getting out of debt by a former debtor.
  • DailyWorth.com: Daily Worth is a community of women who talk money. They deliver practical tips, empowering ideas, and the occasional kick in the pants…free, daily, to your inbox.
  • TheSilverPurse.com: The Silver Purse is a personal finance site by women and for women. Find tips for setting goals, investing, reducing debt, and more.
  • Spenders Anonymous is a 12-step program for compulsive spenders, based on the philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous. Its purpose is to bring individuals together who are suffering from compulsive buying through meetings held in many parts of the country. For a list of current meetings, visit the ‘List of Meetings’ link on the site. The website outlines the 12 steps of the program and includes personal stories from individuals on the path to recovery.
  • Shop Your Wardrobe is a 12 month online program for women who want to develop a healthier relationship to shopping, and the support and inspiration to do it.  Each month of the course has a new theme, designed to give you the tools, ideas and practical know-how to slay your shopping dragon.
  • SupportGroups.com provides an online support group for shopping addictions. The purpose of the site is to bring individuals together in a non-judgmental environment that offers recent news in the field, encouraging words, and the reassurance that one is not alone in the challenges he or she faces.

We wish you patience, persistence, and much success. Please know that if you need our help, you can contact us by phone 917-885-6887 or by clicking here.