IT'S a nightmarish thought for every woman the idea of someone reading the guarded secrets of her shopping habits.
IT'S a nightmarish thought for every woman the idea of someone reading the guarded secrets of her shopping habits.
But Glasgow spendaholic Alexis Hall hopes telling the world about her retail madness could inspire those heading for financial meltdown.
The 39-year-old selfconfessed shopping addict racked up credit card debts of more than £30,000 and after a year of cold turkey' she could now help turn around the fortunes of others.
Sounds make me want to run naked through the streets'Alexis' diary reveals how she felt as she gave up shopping.DAY 14: SUNDAY, MAY 28 I adore their impractical kitten heels, so soft you'd swear they were made from real kittens. It's like being tortured and tested all at once. I delete it immediately and rush to the kitchen to find solace in a jar of Nutella. DAY 20: SATURDAY, JUNE 3 A trip to the shopping centre does not exactly send my spirits soaring. It's huge, soulless and full of things I can't buy. Never have I wanted to shop more! DAY 138: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 When did they decide to gang up on me en masse?! DAY 221: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 DAY 257: SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 DAY 309: TUESDAY, MARCH 20 |
Alexis, who works in public relations with Strathclyde Police, is airing her diary with the launch of her book, In the Red - The Diary of a Recovering Shopaholic.
It follows a year in her life when she hit rock bottom and realised her outrageous spending had to stop.
In the Red provides a humorous look at how she curtailed her spending and offers practical advice on how to get yourself out of debt.
Alexis said: "I have kept a diary for nearly 20 years and you bare your soul in it.
"It is full of secrets and now I am sharing mine.
"Friends suggested to me I should do something with it and the book deal came together.
"Who knows what will come of it but if this book helps one person get their life back on track and out of debt I will be happy."
And with many people facing mounting debts after Christmas, the book, which is launched this Thursday, could not have come at a more appropriate time.
Alexis said: "I will never forget the date February 15, 2006.
"I'd amassed almost £32,000 on credit cards and realised it had to stop. I could not go on any longer - it had to be cold turkey'.
"I spent money I didn't have every day. You name it I bought the lot from designer shoes from Gina to Mulberry handbags of which I had six at hundreds of pounds a time.
"It just didn't matter and I couldn't stop. I would sneak home and hide bags from my partner Kevin.
"If I wore something new I'd say I'd had it for ages."
Alexis owed more than her annual salary and her disposable income was shrinking fast.
She said: "I took Kevin to Rome last February and it was after that, I woke up and decided to face my problem.
"I thought I owed about £26,000 but it turned out to be £31,637.
"I felt physically sick as there is no way you can just magic it away."
Alexis then started on her own payment plan. She pays a chunk of her salary each month and is spurred on by her diary.
With just £5 to get through the working day, she stuck to her own rules of no shopping, no new clothes and only spending money on essentials.
She added: "I am not debt free but am making dents into what I owe.
"As for advice, I would say to anyone out there struggling: be honest with yourself as it is only then you can start to get help."
- In the Red by Alexis Hall is published by Icon Books on Thursday and will be available from all good book shops, priced £10.99. To order a copy at the special price of £8.99 including free P&P in the UK, call 01206 255800 quoting In the Red Evening Times offer'.
