Addicted to retail therapy

Vicky works for Capital, a popular radio station in London. She earns good money but every penny is spent on designer outfits from the most exclusive boutiques on New Bond Street, Regent Street, South Molton Street, and in Burlington Arcade. She thinks nothing of spending $500 on a pair of Prada shoes or a Miu Miu bag. She can blow a month's salary on Dolce & Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton.

VICKY SAYS: I've got a great job at a radio station in London, I rent a beautiful flat (apartment) in Chalk Farm, and I drive an old but immaculate 3-series BMW.

On the surface, I'm doing really well. To many people I'm a picture of success. I wear the best outfits money can buy. I go to work in Louboutin and Jimmy Choo shoes.

My outfits are from the most exclusive designer boutiques in New Bond Street, where Victoria and David Beckham buy their clothes. The thing is, the Beckhams are multi-millionaires and I am not. I'm struggling. I'm up over my head in debt.

So what should I do? All this has me wondering, should I get a payday loan? In American dollars, I owe about $40,000 on my credit cards, I owe my boyfriend about $15,000, my dad about $8,000, my brother $2,000, and my little sister $1,000. I'm often overdrawn at the bank, I can't make my cellphone and broadband payments, and there's no way I can afford to eat out with colleagues.

I started spending a lot of money on clothes and accessories as soon as I was making my own money. My first ever designer outfit was a pair of previously-owned Maud Frizon shoes, such beautiful craftsmanship. From there, I moved onto Chanel, YSL, Lacroix, all the classic designers.

Buying exclusive outfits gives me a deep sense of pleasure, a real buzz. It starts when I have made the decision to buy something and builds up on my way to Bond Street in Mayfair where you often see celebrities and sports stars.

As I enter the street, I'm really excited with butterflies in my stomach; there's such a wonderful feeling of anticipation -- what will the day reveal?

I reach the boutiques on New Bond Street or South Molton Street and I'm so hyper. I can't wait to get inside, see the new items, touch the fabric, hold the shoes, try them on. I'm a regular at so many places that they treat me really well. I can try on anything I like; there's no snootiness at all, which there is toward people who are looking but no buying.

I'm elated when I find a perfect pair of shoes that just slip onto my feet. I feel as though they were made for me.

It's even exciting handing over my credit card and seeing that my purchase of $1000 has been approved. I feel so good about that. So many people have to think twice about paying $500 for a pair of shoes. I don't do that. If I want something, I buy it.

It's great walking down the street with a Jimmy Choo bag. Everyone knows I'm not one of the tourist shoppers on Oxford Street spending $30 at Top Shop or H&M. I would never shop in those places. It has to be designer items. I don't want to be seen carrying a plastic H&M bag. That's just not my style.

I read about that American politician Sarah Palin, the one who ran for vice president and who's resigned as Alaska governor.

She really loved fashion and designer outfits but couldn't really afford them. Then John McCain gave her a clothing budget of $150,000 and she went crazy.

I understand her perfectly. A woman wants to buy and wear the best that money can afford. Fashion says so much about a woman. Great outfits and accessories make a woman more desirable, more powerful, more able to hold her own in a man's world.

The down side of course is the amount of money I have to spend. I am at the stage now where I can't handle the debt. Before, I could keep juggling my my income to cope with interest payments, bills, other expenses like rent and food, but now I'm maxed out and I don't know what to do.

Yes, I have a problem. I admit it. I admit, too, that I don't wear all the outfits I buy. I have bags full of stuff with the price tags still on. But I never return items. That would be embarrassing.

The real pleasure is in the dreaming, planning and buying. It gives a rush that makes me deeply happy. Once I've bought the items, the rush is over. Owning is not nearly as much fun as buying.

I wish there was a pill to pop that took away my craving. I feel like an alcoholic or a gambler sometimes. I just can't stop myself. I hope I don't have to reach rock bottom before I get help. I'd love to be able to buy quality outfits and accessories and still stick to a budget.

By Athina Simonidou

GO TO: How to shop with a woman

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