Byline: Alice Wyllie

WHILE men are generally understood to prefer the simple pleasures of a roll in the hay to pretty much anything, for many women the "best things in life" are definitely not free. A recent survey of 778 women aged 19 to 45 by cosmopolitan.co.uk has found that three out of four young women think about shopping nearly as often as men are said to think about sex.

Thoughts of the latest it-shoe or how to afford a much-coveted handbag pop into women's heads every 60 seconds, while two out of five of those surveyed described themselves as shoe and bag "addicts". But seeking your thrills in such a way can come with a hefty price tag and, with the western world feeling the ever-tightening grip of the current credit crunch, now is not the time to be indulging in such an "addiction".

Fear not. The next time you find yourself waking in a cold sweat and racing to your computer to grab yourself that designer handbag that you simply can't wait until morning to buy or you're about to blow a month's rent on that cashmere cape, help is at hand.

Follow our practical 12-step programme to kicking your binge-shopping habit for good. Or at least until your next bonus...

1 Admitting you have a problem is always the first step on the road to recovery. Tempted by those high-waisted jeans that you don't really need but definitely want? Not a major problem. Buying said jeans in three different lengths to go with your flats, kitten heels and stilettos? Problem.

2 Drastic times? Drastic measures. If you can resist everything but temptation, it's time to rid yourself of anything that might entice you to part with your funds. Cancel catalogue subscriptions and e-mail updates from your favourite shopping websites, take a different route to work if it means avoiding your favourite boutiques and go for a walk or to a gallery instead of round the shops when you're at a loose end.

3 Time to get yourself a sponsor. You need someone who's prepared to talk you down from the retail ledge at any time of the day or night, someone you can phone from the cash desk at Harvey Nichols and beg to come and prise your credit card out of your clammy fist before you do something you'll regret. Perhaps that frumpy friend with no dress sense who whines every time you nip in to Topshop?

4 No-one's suggesting you go completely cold turkey. Just no more bingeing. Take an inventory of everything in your wardrobe so that you can see the gaps in black and white. Think about what you need, not what you want (another pair of shoes? Really?), shop with a list and stick to it.

5 Adhere to the two-week rule. Keep the tags on everything you buy, and if you find you haven't worn something within two weeks, return it. The chances are you won't be donning it any time soon, so get your money back while you still can.

6 If you're still chasing the abercrombie clothing high of a new purchase but your bank balance simply isn't co-operating, try swapping some of your existing tat for other people's tat. Like alcohol-free beer, it's almost the same as shopping, but without spending any money. Try isyours.com to swap your unwanted stuff for someone else's.

7 Still unable to trust yourself when you hit the shops? Leave your credit card at home and take what you're willing to spend in cash. You'll be unable to splurge, and handing over cash reminds you of exactly how much you're spending.

8 When you're shopping for clothes and accessories try to stick to a restricted pale
Other articles:
http://www.cixilife.com/Blog/View/?785
http://www.hao7.net/THE-WORLD-IN-YOUR-HANDBAG-Chi.html

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