A recent study in The American Journal of Psychiatry reveals that about 1 in 16 Americans -- some 6% of us -- have compulsive spending habits.

This kind of behavior leads to a momentary rush of adrenaline, but afterward comes the financial hangover. Christa has done a lot in her life to take control of her wayward spending habits. She believes that if you're always buying new clothes, for example, you disrespect the things you already have in your closet. When the shopping bug bites you, try paying attention to the stuff you've already acquired in your life.

On a related note, Clark once owned a house built in 1937. The master bedroom's sole master closet was all of 2 x 1.5 feet in dimension! During those Great Depression years, that was big enough for a middle-class husband and wife. Today, a closet of that size would never work. Some people have so much clothing that they can go for months without wearing the same thing.

Clark believes the best way to tackle compulsive spending is with shock therapy -- you've got to ban yourself from stores! Let's say you're prone to go on a shopping binge when you feel blue. You've got to make sure you don't even get into the car to go to the store or the mall.

Here are some more thoughts about getting compulsive spending under control:

• Only buy non-perishables every 6 weeks and buy your perishables on a weekly basis.

• Sell all belongings that you don't use. Don't buy new things to replace them.

• Freeze your credit cards (literally) if the temptation to shop is too great. Put them on ice in your freezer.

• Always be mindful of your needs vs. your wants.

• Adopt a cash-only approach.