Help! I'm addicted to shopahol!

Alright, think about what you're wearing right at this very moment. How much did all of it cost? Your shoes? Jeans? Shirt? Underwear? Accessories? Jacket? Handbag?

I'm gonna guess somewhere in the $200 to $300 range, all things considered. Doesn't that seem like a LOT of money? Every so often I do this calculation in my head and I'm rather astounded at how much money I spend on something that's only function is to keep me warm.

Sure it's important to look good, and I'm pretty sure Renee would lose it if I walked into work sporting a loin cloth or burlap sack. But it's crazy how much cold hard cash we actually drop on designer goods.

Case in point: I have a wedding to go to this weekend and it's taken me weeks to find a dress that a) wasn't going to cost the equivalent of a small car b) didn't resemble something worn on Daisy of Love c) wasn't white or black. Eventually, I found a beautiful dress that met criteria b and c but not a. That's alright though - I can go a month without eating.

In these days of economic turmoil, most of us are trying to cut down on needless spending in order to save our pennies (or at least, we probably should be). So it's no wonder that swapping is the hot new way to get new stuff without emptying your bank account. But can those of us with a penchant for that new clothes smell really wean ourselves off that addictive retail drug?

I swear, I really have been trying to cut down on shopping for clothes (current purchase excluded) in order to save my pennies (pennies saved thus far: 0). And it's not like I don't love a good visit to Kensington or Value Village for some second hand goods. But who knows if I'll ever be able to truly give up the one truly effective form of therapy?

How long could you give up shopping for? A month? A season? Are you still blowing your pay check on clothes despite the recession? Ever been to a clothes swap?

- Vanessa

PS. Think you might suffer from shopaholism?  Well, acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to recovery (actually, I'm pretty sure denial is the first step, but whatever).