Parents' Guide to

My Shopping Addiction

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Voyeuristic look at troubled folks with buying compulsions.

TV Oxygen Reality TV 2012
My Shopping Addiction Poster Image

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What's the Story?

MY SHOPPING ADDICTION is a reality series featuring people who are taking steps towards beating their shopping compulsions. The addicts, who range from folks who regularly spend thousands of dollars on high-end clothes and shoes, to people that routinely buying large quantities of a single item at a dollar store, are at a point where they are out of touch with their finances and are unable to see how their habits are impacting their relationships with friends and family. With the guidance of clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula and compulsion specialist Dr. David Tolin, they participate in a week's worth of exercises designed to help them recognize that they have a problem, and think about what they have to do to beat it. They also note some of the things that are fueling their addiction. Brief follow ups about each addicts' progress after the week is over are offered at the end of the show.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The series showcases some of the behaviors that serve as indicators of a shopping addiction, which include habits like going on routine over-the-top shopping trips for unnecessary items, being unable to pay basic living expenses, excessive borrowing, hiding purchases, and hoarding. While it briefly underscores how extreme shopping, like many other addictions, is often used to cope with deeper psychological issues, most of the show's focus is on the treatment exercises and the addicts' reaction to them.

The folks featured here come across as narcissistic, especially when they react to being asked about paying off their debts or to being given sound financial guidance. Although some of this is expected, it can be a little frustrating to watch. But there are some lessons to be learned here, especially when it comes to understanding the very real and long-term consequences that come from spending money for the wrong reasons.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about some of the reasons people become addicted to certain behaviors. Addiction to alcohol and drugs is known to be physically destructive, but when does an ordinary activity like shopping actually become a problem?

  • What role does advertising play in fostering bad shopping habits? What can parents do to help their kids develop better shopping habits?

TV Details

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