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Just as alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, even love, can be addictive, shopping can be an addiction as well. It is safe to say that when bills generated from out of control shopping cause problems in one's life, there is an issue that needs attention.

Shopping, for some individuals, is a "high." Any addiction is all about the "high." The addict wants to reproduce the initial high that is felt when the coke addict, for example, has that first hit of the drug. It's hard for those of us who hate the necessary trip to the mall, to understand that buying great "stuff" can be a high, too. It's an easy high to find because the mall, or the Internet, or TV shopping is always there; right in front of us everyday.

When social drinking turns to alcoholism, an alcoholic might seek help. Why should other addictions, including shopping, be considered to be any different than more recognizable addictive behaviors?

The question is; how does one know when the line has been crossed from "I like to shop" to "I need to shop?" It's pretty safe to say that if you are in debt and you're still shopping because it makes you feel good, then you might want to consider that you've crossed the line.

I am constantly amazed at the careless way that many people handle their finances. Budget? What's a Budget? Whatever happened to only buying things that you could actually afford to pay for with real cash? I have tried and tried to explain this concept to some individuals with no luck.

Maybe some humor will drive the point home. It has worked for The Redneck Guy, Jeff What's-His-Name, so I thought I'd give it a try. Below are ten points. If you can see yourself in several of these, you might have a shopping disorder:

1. If you try on a pair of cute little pink pumps at the mall and you think "I just have to have these shoes." So you buy them; and you buy the same pair in powder blue, lemon yellow and white...and you have zero money in your checking account; you might have a shopping disorder.

2. If you can't live without the latest Louis Gucci bag for this season so you spend $1500 on one; and you only earn $3000 a month before taxes; you might have a shopping disorder.

3. If you have to climb over shopping bags to get through your apartment to your bedroom; and the shopping bags are full of clothes with tags still attached to them; you might have a shopping disorder.

4. If you are feeling down and depressed but you'd rather spend $500 at the mall than $150 for a good shrink; you might have a shopping

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