I love working with clients as we organize belongings, sort through memories and create space for simplicity and freedom. However, the road to a clutter-free life doesn’t come without its bumps!

Why is it that some of us compulsively buy far more than we need? What drives the impulsive purchases which create overflowing closets and drawers? This is something my husband Travis and I discuss regularly on our nightly walks.

Travis is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been helping people with compulsive behaviors since 2003. We’ve always known that our work overlapped in certain areas, but until now have not had the opportunity to work together.

I’m excited to announce that we are now offering coaching for those who need help overcoming compulsive buying. With my team of organizers and Travis’ coaching skills, we will be able to address both the environmental and emotional factors in overshopping.

5 Signs of Compulsive Shopping

So what are the signs of compulsive buying (sometimes more seriously called shopping addiction)? There are many. Here are 5 signs of compulsive shopping that we have identified:

1. You have a large number of unused or unopened items such as clothes with the price tags still on them.
2. Your storage spaces such as closets, drawers, or even an entire guest room are overflowing with items.
3. You can’t stop spending and shopping even though you have made resolutions to do so in the past.
4. You are in financial distress such as credit card debt or unpaid bills because of your spending.
5. Your enjoyment of purchases is short-lived and you often experience buyer’s regret.

Travis has written a longer article on these signs and discusses what’s happening in the brain when someone experiences the compulsive urge to shop. I encourage you to check it out.

What Causes Overshopping?

Many of my clients are aware that emotional or irrational reasons drive their purchases. Some of the things I’ve heard again and again are:

• I shop late at night when I’m lonely and bored.
• I couldn’t resist the sale and that’s why I bought 12 bottles of shampoo.
• I feel worried I’ll run out of something if I don’t have duplicates in the house.
• I don’t want the kids to miss out on something they desire.
• Having lots of stuff makes me feel safe.

My husband often tells me, “At some level these reasons all make sense. They are unhelpful attempts at meeting real needs.” That’s why I’m excited about this new partnership. Up until now, my team has addressed the physical aspects of organizing. Through this partnership with Travis, we will address the emotional factors as well.

We believe that coaching those who buy too much will help improve finances, relationships, and disorganization. We are excited to help people find freedom from compulsive buying so they will spend their time and money on the things that matter.

If you would like help with overshopping and are ready to set up a coaching session with Travis, email him at travis@wtravisstewart.com and get started today.