Most Americans will not admit that they are addicted to anything, especially shopping, although the majority of people can not imagine a weekend without the mall. But "Americans are addicted to shopping, and they're buying way too much stuff, and for all the wrong reasons" (de Graaf, Wann, Naylor 71). Credit cards are steadily becoming more important than even a driver's license or pictures of the family. And why not, shopping is fun and gratifying. It's about the self and making it happy (de Graaf, Wann, Naylor 72-73). Unfortunately the addiction can become so strong that one's family, food, and well being can be put on hold. Americans are addicted to spending money on unnecessary things.
             Ask most anyone walking along the street if they are addicted to anything. Most will probably say no, but denial is always the first step. Ask those same people if they could imagine life without their cell phone or computer or car or even their designer clothes. Of course buying something to wear every day doesn't mean that a person is addicted to shopping. Although how many people buy something they don't like to wear? Many Americans are very materialistic and buying things for themselves is one of their favorite past times. This may not be considered a bad thing until recent times when shopping and its financially deadly addiction overwhelmed the majority of society. It's so easy to buy things now and money is just made of plastic. It seems like so many people are stuck in this fantasy land where they make money, spend it, save it, or lose it, but never see it. It's just a game anymore. This makes the addiction easier. Typing in a credit card number over the internet on eBay feels a lot better than pulling a couple of hundred dollars cash out of your own wallet to buy something at the mall. This can cause problems however for so many people. Rent and food can quickly be...