Are you a shopping addict?

Eight out of 10 young women spend more money than they earn and two thirds even call themselves spendaholics.

Does that sound like you? More magazine ran a survey on their website and the average woman who replied was 23 and earning £18,100 a year.

So how does the average one manage to shell out £1,156 a month on clothes, beauty products and entertainment?

That's where they reckon their cash goes. Eight out of 10 said they were spenders not savers and almost half say they always spend their wages before payday. How come we're spending more than we've got?
Have your say

Are your shopping habits skinting you? Are women worse than the blokes on spending? What are you like with your finances?





Susan

I must be in the 2 out of 10 who don't overspend. I'm only 24 I have a savings account, a house budget account and spending account. I have been in my overdraft only twice in my life and it was paid the same day or the same week. Too much value is placed on buying the latest clothes or gadets to fit in these days.

Lucy

If Holly Golightley thinks that people (especially men) won't want to know her if she's not got the right clothes, shoes, hair, make up and nails then she is obviously making friends with the wrong people. Im 26 and sure I like to look nice and make an effort with my appearance, but really, if someone isn't interesting in you because you havent got the right nail varnish then in my opinion they really aren't worth knowing. Go find yourself some people that appreciate the things that matter in a person.

tim wykeham

What utter rubbish that woman are forced to look good especially for men, if men don't like the way you dress then they are the wrong men. Stop excusing the problem and fix it! The parents are as much to blame, poor eduaction in finance and constantly bailing there 'little darlings out'


harry

32K and your excuse is 'they made me do it'???? Grow up. Do you really think that all girls have 32K worth of debt 'cause of clothes and 'looking like i should'? Nonsense.


Bella

i'm only 14, but theres still pressure to have everything. A lot of my friends have got themselevs jobs so they can pay for everything they want. This one girl I know has 30 pairs of shoes +shes only 13! I think thats too much, and shes way too materialistic.


I wish to remain anonymous

I spend about £5000 a month of clothes, and I'm not in debt because my parents pay for it! Like my mum has always said: If you have the money, spend it!


maria drew

Yes Unfortunatley i am a spender on clothes/bags/shoes, cheaper the better. I cant help myself i got no interest in the future savings and investments just thinking today and whats in the shops please help any ideas...this is a problem .. i know what ur gona say whats needed is retail therapy" on a serious note i think we r spend like this cause its become the way of life and we are all seriously insecure of ourselfs!


Kevin McKeefrey

I can't believe it's just the girls who spend more than they earn, or spend their wages before pay day. I'm a man and I'm a spendaholic, it's a disease that I'm powerless over. Shall I care? Or just maintain a cyclical regularity, to survive. I spend all my money before pay day- yes, but I'm not bored. And I own things. Things are mine, I have things other people don't. I'm a king amongst men. And women. That's why we spend, it's the age-old measure of a man.

Iain Crocker

Men over spend too. Its the culture we live in. There is so much choice!

andrew f

WELL THEY ARE WOMEN


nicola

i'm as guilty as the next twenty year old girl of spending more than i should on clothes. but i think maybe we spend like this to make ourselves feel good, as these days we've lost a lot of sense of purpose and meaning in life (through loss of belief in God) and try to make ourselves happy through material things and getting drunk etc? just a thought.


charli

I use to be bad with money but after I found myself with a loan and credit cards worth £15000, paying more than half my monthly wage to pay off all these payments, left me with nothing!!! I know have to do a full time job with 2 part time jobs to pay it all off and have a life. I do feel very silly now, but at the time I had all the clothes shoes bags and make up a girl could ask for. Now at 23 I wish I had been more responsible at 18/19.


jennifer massey

i think that it is far too easy for young people to get in debt these days, and as a 21 yr old i think it is impossable to get any where without debt it is inevitable if you ever want a house or a buisness! this is why i dont save all my money for the future.


R

I agree with Emma Hurley. I live on my own and am 24 but still manage to save in my pension and savings account. These people are spendaholics because their parents normally allow it. My parents have never given me anything - despite being an only child they were determined i would learn the value of money. Even if i lived at home my parents would make me pay rent bills and food. When you only have yourself to rely on then you have to budget and save for yourself. These people should be ashamed - who is going to help them out when they come unstuck?? probably their poor family.

Paul Farnsworth

I think us blokes are just as bad as the girls these days. Men also like to look good when they go out which means spending a lot on clothes, hair products, aftershaves etc. We also seem to spend lots on other blokey essentials like beer, dvds and computer games! I wouldn't be surprised if a survey showed that men spent more than women each month on these things! I personally make lots of impulse buys (especially on clothes). I can't seem to leave anything alone. If I like it, I have to buy it and it often leaves me struggling for money later in the month!


holly golightley

During the time I was a student a spent a stupid amountof money on Clothes, bags shoes and cosmetics. I ran up £ 32,000 worth of debt. This is even though I worked every summer to clear my overdraft. But as a girl there is is an enormous amount of pressure on you to be in the latest clothes, shoes, sunglasses and bags. there is vast competition between women to look good and have the best hair, make up and nails. and if you don't spend the money on looking good then, most people don't want to know you. least of all men!!!!

Jess

I don't overspend on myself as much as I do on my boyfriend. I'm a little obsessed with 'dressing' him which he hates but at least he looks good.

Ian

people are just greedy these days and far too materialistic


Melanie

With banks throwing credit cards and loans at men & women now, it does not suprise me women spend so much more than they earn. spending £100s on clothes each month and paying back £30 or £40 a month, every month. that is why girls are spending more, lending more, more like

Petula

I think when you are younger (early 20's & below) you do spend alot more on clothes, etc as you are going out every weekend so buy the clothes accordingly. Some guys are as bad as girls. Im now 30 so dont go out as much as i used to so therefore need fewer clothes. I think we all have the occasional shopping blow out, but im now very sensible about going shopping (i dont go unless i actually need something) and manage to save a bit of cash each month incase of emergencies (& to pay for holidays!) Unfortunately, todays sociality is very material & even people who cant afford it feel as though they have to wear the right clothes & go to the right places..


Joanna

If I see something I want I buy it, but I make sure I save each month and just spend what is left, so there's nothing wrong with that!


Emma Hurley

i think these girls are very silly to be spending this much on clothes that in a few months time are probably going to be out of fashion anyway. don't get me wrong i like to treat myself but i limit myself to at the most, £100 a month. shouldn't people be thinking about planning for the future, i am 19 and already have a savings account, a pension and a critical illness policy, this is where all my money goes! thinking smart!

I got this from the bbc site i thought it was a good idea to post this up as it showed uswhat the reactions and comments from people who spend alot of money on shopping.... and also this creates and answers some of the question we are tackling in our production and that is the media influencing consumerism!!!!!

Dips
xx