Shopping Addiction Support Group

Hi,
I am a 20 year old single mother with a wonderful supportive boyfriend. After my ex (my daughters father) and I split up I returned home with my parents. I feel that I have hit a point where I can handle being a parent on my own now and I would really like living on my own...the problem is I need to learn money management. I work in a retail store (I know probably not the greatest job for me) and I feel like I have to buy something, even if its small, everyday that I work. By the time that I get my paycheck, the last is gone. Sometimes I feel empty without shopping. I thank god have never been apporoved for a credit card...but am still in debt through other things, such as student loans, medical bills, past due cell phone bills. My credit score is below 550. My shopping has gotten in the way of adequatly taking care of my daughter, thank god for my daughters sake that my parents are always around to pick up the peices...although that enables me to keep spending. I have at times felt such a desire to shop that I have shoplifted...in fact I have numerous times. I feel guilty for stealing and shopping. I lie about things I buy and how much I spend. My parents always ridicule me for always having a bag when I come home and I lie about the "sales". When I am trying to convince everyone else why I spend I am trying to convince myself as well. I always tell myself that I deserve something just for me, something to make me fel good about myself...but the more I spend trying to self accept the more empty I feel...I just cant stop and I need to before its too late!
Posted on 08/17/09, 11:08 pm