FAIRBANKS - Are you a compulsive shopper? Do you always find something at the store you just can’t live without, yet the next week there is some other latest and greatest that commands your attention?

There is a name for this affliction: compulsive buying disorder. It is found in 5.8 percent of Americans, but 80 percent of those afflicted with the disorder are female. Compulsive buying disorder is characterized by an obsession with shopping and buying that causes adverse consequences — often to financial well-being, but also to personal relationships.

While you may not suffer from a compulsive buying disorder to the point that it has adverse consequences, most of us are guilty of spending money we don’t have for things we don’t really need, whether it is that magazine that catches our eye in the checkout line or that new electronic gadget.

One thing is clear — the way products are packaged, displayed and placed in stores is intentional and meant to catch your eye. Companies spend millions of dollars each year convincing us to buy and capitalizing on the fact we seldom say no.

So how do we counteract these urges to buy? How do we train ourselves not to pick up that shiny item that catches our eye? Here are a few ideas to help us resist the urge to buy.

• Make a list and stick to it. Making a list before going anywhere is easy and practical and helps you avoid forgetting items. But it also can help you avoid spending on things you don’t need. A list will help you stay on track and be productive. The trick is actually sticking to the list. Check the list before going into the store so that you know exactly where to go and you can head straight there. Don’t go down aisles that don’t have items on your list. Roaming through the store leaves you vulnerable to all those beautiful displays.

• Leave your credit cards in the car and only take in the cash you need. Avoid spending more money by limiting yourself to the cash you have. Don’t put additional purchases on your credit card. Don’t even bring the cards to the store with you. I have a friend that puts her credit cards in a bowl of water and freezes them. If she still wants the item after it has had time to thaw, she buys it. It cuts down on her impulse shopping

• Set a time limit on how long you stay in a store. This may seem a little controlling, but it really can help. Setting a time limit prevents you from browsing and finding items that you must have. Make it a practical time limit, like 20 minutes for a quick trip to the grocery store or an hour for your regular weekly shopping time. When your time is up, leave.

• Take a friend, preferably one who can help you watch your expenses. It can be a lot easier to stay on track if you’re not alone in the store. Your friend can remind you of what you’re in the store to get and can give you a second opinion on any purchases. A companion who doesn’t enjoy the same type of shopping or spending as you is most beneficial in this situation.

• Only go when you absolutely need something, not just to browse. Going to a store to just look around is an opportunity to overspend. Only go when you absolutely need something. And even then use the other strategies mentioned above — make a list, only bring in the money you need, and bring a friend who will keep you on track. Staying out of the store is the first step in controlling spending.

All of us are guilty of spending impulsively. Keep your finances on track by resisting the urge to spend.

Roxie Rodgers Dinstel is a professor of extension on the Tanana District Extension Faculty. Questions or column requests can be emailed to her at rrdinstel@alaska.edu or by calling 907-474-2426. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.