CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Dear Jellybean,

I'm a shopaholic, i'll just come right out and say it! I spend so much money, every time I go to the mall I spend $30! And I go once-six times every 3 months! Can you help me not spend so much money? Everybody gives me these gift cards and everything and money for my bday and christmas and I can't help but spend them! In the past month, April, and it's April 26th, I have spent about $85!!! On jewellery and clothes! I have a lot of clothes and I have 20 pairs of earrings, 10 necklaces, 3 bracelets, and 8 rings!!! I don't need anymore, but I see something and can't help but buy it! I walk by Claire's and no matter how hard I try, I can't help but buy something! I could, but I wouldn't be happy! At least I don't steal, but I'm 14, and I want to save up! I only have $90 in cash left out of $300 and I am starting to save up for a car! When I turn 16 after I get my license, I wanted to get a car, but at this rate I am always asking my parents for money, I don't get allowance, but I beg them and they give it to me because I cry!!! What should I do? It's chronic!
-Shopaholic

Dear Shopaholic,

Shopping is definitely a fun and fabulous activity! But if you're shopping all the time, and spending every bit of your cash, you're out of control. Follow these tips to start reining in your shopaholic habits, and put aside a bit of cash for the stuff you REALLY want and need - like that car:

Don't buy (or ever look at) fashion magazines. To a shopaholic, they're like steaks to a hungry dog - they make you want to buy every single cute thing you see in there.

Get involved in something that keeps you busy, so at least some of your time is taken up - and you can't go shopping! Try out for a team, get into a regular exercise program with a friend, do volunteer work, start creating your own website - whatever keeps you out of the malls for several hours a week.

When you want to hit the stores, don't! Try to convince yourself of something better to do. Hey, if you do tummy crunches every time instead of shopping, you'll have abs like Keira Knightley in no time!

If you absolutely have to go shopping, make it hard on yourself to try on clothes. Wear a complicated outfit, like many layers of clothing and accessories, laced up tops, tight-fitting jeans and boots, etc - anything that is a pain to remove and makes you think twice about going into that fitting room.

Try "exercising" your self-control! Try this: When you have some cash in your purse, go to the mall and walk around for a whole hour, looking in stores, even trying stuff on, but without buying anything. When you get home, think about how much discipline you just showed. You had fun shopping, and you still have cash. Do this exercise a few times, and you’ll start to develop the willpower to resist when the urge to splurge hits. You will be SO proud of yourself!

Can't shop without spending? Leave your cash, debit cards and credit cards at home. If you don’t have the money, you won’t spend it. It’s that simple. (And no fair borrowing from friends!)

Try the "wait a week" rule. When you’re thinking about buying something pricey (such as a leather jacket or a box set of CDs), wait a week. This will help you make sure you really want it, before you spend a pile of cash. Plus, maybe it will go on sale!

Start saving better. Make up savings rules for yourself, like any money you get for your birthday goes right into your savings account. Or, save ten percent of all cash you get. (If your parents give you $40, put $4 in a savings jar. It sounds like nothing, but it will add up fast!)

Organize your closet. If you can see all the stuff you've got whenever you look in there, you might get a reality check that you don't need more!

Get a job. Once you start slaving for your own spending money, you may be slower to throw it away on stuff you don't really need.