Hoarding starts somewhere. Some people may collect “free” things, but there are many others out there that lean toward compulsive buying. Some indicators of compulsive buying are evident in the length of shopping trips, the amount of money spent, and the frequency of store visits (Faber, 2004). Not all compulsive buyers are hoarders, but if a compulsive buyer starts to accumulate excessive amounts of things without being able to part with them, this can place them into that category. The cycle can be hard to break, as it becomes almost like a drug. Buyers can experience feelings of excitement when shopping, although they might feel buyer’s remorse after the fact (Ditmar, 2004).
Dittmar, H. (2004). Understanding and diagnosing compulsive buying. In R. H. Combs, Hanbook of addictive disorders: a practical guide to diagnosis and treatment (pp. 411-450). New York: Oxford University Press
Faber, R. J. (2004). Self-control and compulsive buying. In T. Kasser, & A. Kanner, Psychology and consumer culture: The struggle for a good life in a materialistic world (pp. 169-187). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
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