Are you a compulsive shopper?

With deals in every isle, it's easy to over spend during the holidays.

“The dangers of compulsive shopping can affect lots of factors of your life,” said Nancee Blum, a social work specialist in the psychiatrist department at the University of Iowa.

Blum warned shoppers against overdoing it this holiday season, and she said these days stores try to bring customers in at all costs, which can lead to dangerous habits.

“Many of us remember a time when shopping was something you did because you actually needed something,” she said.

But just because you like to shop this time of year, doesn't necessarily make you a compulsive shopper.  Blum said compulsive shopping is similar to alcoholism or excessive gambling.

“True compulsive shoppers shop year round,” she said.

Blum believes many people label themselves or others as compulsive shoppers, but not that many people actually are.  She does, however, believe that problems can be born from the holidays.