Pets

I feel like im addicted to spending money on not only myself but spending money constantly on my pets, and a pet will keep me satisfied for a small period of time but then Im ready for another one.. I also do not have the ability to save, money is gone as fast as it came in... is this a shopping addiction?

Hi Syldaris,

It could be. It sounds like there's an element of compulsive spending going on. Are you at a point where you want to have it addressed right now?

I feel your pain. I did this back in 2006. I bought home three canaries one day in a taxi (they wanted a limo but I had already spent enough money on the cage etc). It was supposed to be a 21st birthday present for my friend but I never gave it to him. They spit the husks of seeds all over my bedroom floor and I had to hide them from my family, I used to let them fly around my bedroom and it was a really bad idea. I took them to work sometimes and left them next to the ovens, got into trouble because it violated OH&S regulations and they were unfriendly and bit people.

They were very noisy and annoying and they bit me and drew blood. Now they live a couple of hours out of town with a girl I used to work with. I have also had three pet mice which I took into exams and I had to get rid of them. Also two dogs, and two cats. I've had maybe six or seven fish over the years and I think there has been an element of buying pets just for the sake of it. Some fish died and I flushed them down the toilet. The filtered tank took about two hours to clean, I had a Beta fish and it got sucked up in the tank and the next morning there were just bits and pieces of it floating around. They're not supposed to be with other fish. I used to get really upset when they died. One had a number of tumorous growths appear and I spent a lot of money trying to fix it but to no avail. My friend's aunty buys pet food, dog collars, a dog kennel etc. and she doesn't even have a dog. She took her invisible dog for a walk with no clothes on and wrapped herself in electrical wire.

The authorities broke down her door and found her after two weeks. Sorry off topic I am rambling again and I haven't answered your question but I know a lot about pets. I guess the best thing you can do is just make sure you find them good homes and maybe sell the stuff you buy online for more than what you bought it for and maybe you can make a profit. Or maybe get a job working around animals so you don't have to buy them. And maybe ask yourself what void am I trying to fill by spending money, and perhaps 'am I using pets to substitute human companionship?'. I saw someone on TV who did this with puppets. You are missing something and try to get it back with possessions but the possessions leave you feeling empty and alone. Making your pets happy will not fill that void.