My shopaholism has found eBay. I check my favorite categories obsessively for new items. I check my “watch list” obsessively when I have a live bid, for fear someone will top my best offer. I just placed a bid about a half hour ago, and I think I’ve refreshed my email five or six times since then to see if I’ve been outbid yet. I’ve only got a 3 cent margin in the lead at the moment. I’d like to up that another buck or two, but can’t seem to find a way to do that while I still have the high bid. I’ve calculated the auction close time, and pondered whether or not I’ll be home from my yoga class tomorrow to watch the final moments of the auction. It’s madness. Madness I say!

Now, I’m not TOTALLY obsessive compulsive about it. (Go ahead, scoff if you will.) But when I see something I might want with a low low opening bid and no reserve, I’ll watch it for a few days. I’ll make sure I know what the retail price is. I calculate in the cost of shipping. And I’ll watch it. Most times, some other poor sucker bids it up past my el cheapo limit before I ever post a bid.

Maybe it comes from my work schedule: I get up too late to get anything but fast, critical out-of-the-house errands done in the morning, and I work until 10:30 at night. No time for leisurely bargain hunting!

Gotta go check my bid now…