精美英文欣赏:我们这个时代的购物狂(上)（在线收听）

Shopaholics of Our Times

我们这个时代的购物狂

In trying to keep up with the Jones, many people buy more than they can really afford.

人们都试图跟随琼斯，许多人购物超过了他们的承受能力。

For some who purchase many items they neither need or use, however, there is more than merely trying to keep up with the Jones going on.

然而，那些购买很多既不需要也不使用的东西的人，不仅仅是想要跟随琼斯的脚步。

These people have a compulsive shopping disorder, addicted to going to malls and buying things they really don't need.

这些人患有购物强迫症，沉溺于逛商场，买自己不需要的东西。

They spend a lot of time juggling accounts and bills to be able to continue to shop for more things and lie to others about the amount of shopping done and the amount of money spent.

他们花很多时间摆平账户和账单，为了买更多的东西，有关购物数量和所花金额对别人撒谎。

Compulsive shopping is the uncontrollable desire to purchase items.

购物强迫症指对购物有种无法遏制的强烈愿望。

In a society that celebrates spending and credit, this behavior is usually looked upon as a joke rather than a serious problem.

在一个秀支出和信贷的社会里，这种行为常被看成一个笑话，而不是一个严重的问题。

Shopaholics are often viewed as merely being financially irresponsible and therefore left on their own with no support in dealing with their problem.

购物狂不仅被视为金钱上的不负责任，而且也会令自己再遇到困难的时候变得束手无策。

Studies indicate that as many as 1 in 12 people in the US suffer from shopaholism with 80%-90% of those suffering from it being women.

研究表明在美国12个人里就有1个患有购物狂症，其中80%到90%是女性。

The typical compulsive buyer is a woman in her early to mid-30s who has a number of credit cards and whose family earns a low to middle income.

典型的强迫性购物狂是30到35岁间的女性，她们有一系列的信用卡，家庭收入处于低到中等水平。

The shopaholism can have devastating effects.

购物狂症会带来毁灭性打击。

It often leads to financial problems, such as overspending and can also create mental and emotional difficulties.

它常会导致经济困境，比如过度消费，还可能会产生精神和情感的困扰。