In the Red: The Diary of a Recovering Shopaholic

Description

'Thirty-one thousand, six hundred and thirty-seven pounds and eighty-four pence. That's how much I owe. I feel sick looking at the display on the calculator. I try turning it upside down to see if that helps. It looks like hOLEgIE, which probably means loser in some long forgotten language.' When your debt is more than your share of the mortgage and your partner's threatening not only to leave, but to tell your mother how out of control your spending is, it's time to take drastic action. So, for one whole year, Alexis Hall sets out to buy nothing but the bare essentials in a bid to reclaim her life from the retail rollercoaster threatening to pitch her into permanent poverty. But for a self-confessed shopaholic consumed by consumerism, just making it through lunch hour without buying the latest accessory becomes a life-altering act. In the Red is her hilarious diary as she struggles to transform herself from a spending junkie to a scrupulous saver You'll soon realise there's a bit of Alexis in us all!

Alexis Hall is a media relations officer and former broadcast journalist. Shelives in Glasgow with her partner, their four-legged, furry child and her large collection of shoes. In the Red is her first book.

''In the Red' provides a humorous look at how she curtailed her spending and offers practical advice on how to get yourself out of debt.' -- Deborah Anderson, Evening Times 'Having resolved to give up all non-essential shopping for a year, Alexis wrote a diary of her daily struggle against temptation and the result, 'In the Red,' is a hilarious account of the frustrations and triumphs of her spendthrift year.' -- My Weekly book group 'A witty take on our consumer culture through the eyes of one former addict, 'In the Red' is compulsive reading for shopaholics everywhere.' -- My Weekly book group 'Her addiction to handbags and fashion accessories, the nonstop journey into a quagmire of debt which is felt by millions in this country was there to be read in this essential and humourous work of literature. The limitless expenditure and the conclusive battle within herself to transform herself is both inspiring and an effective psychological doorway to regain one's own self respect and dignity.' -- Sajid Hussain, Scotland's Chronicle 'Somewhat in similar vein to Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic books, there is great benefit in reading and learning from his work of literature by a unique Scottish writer. Both entertaining and empathic, one cannot go wrong with this book, it is a must for any reader to have, if you fall into debt and need a bit of a 'lift' read 'In the Read,' ye cannae go wrong!!!' -- Sajid Hussain, Scotland's Chronicle 'The book is humerous and playful as well as depply serious....the openness and wit of Hall's account make 'In the Read' compulsive reading for any shopaholic wishing to stop.' -- Stopping Overshopping