Shopaholic Chinese woman splurges US$280,000, rents big flat to store unopened packages

A 66-year-old woman in Shanghai who spent two million yuan (US$280,000) shopping online and even rented a flat to store her unopened packages has trended on social media.

The behaviour of the woman, identified as Wang, has also triggered a heated discussion about the mental health of senior citizens. Wang lives alone in a flat in the Jiading district of Shanghai.

Over the past few years, she has spent more than two million yuan buying items from online platforms, according to the news outlet Kan Kan News.

(Wang gingerly opens the door of her packed-out flat. She says she shops so much online because it makes her feel “excited”. Photo: Douyin)

Wang mostly hoards the unopened items in her home, creating a disorderly environment. Her neighbours have complained about the bad smell and have often seen flies and cockroaches around Wang’s flat.

Wang says she is addicted to online shopping and that spending money in such a way makes her excited. She also says she needs to squander her money so that her relatives and friends do not come to borrow cash from her.

(Wang has even bought a second flat in a residential block to store the overflow of unopened packages. Photo: Douyin)

"Years ago, I sold my flat in the downtown area and bought this house in the suburban Jiading district. It is easy for other people to conclude that there is a lot of money left in my pocket," Wang was quoted as saying.

"To prevent other people from borrowing money from me, I choose to spend it buying things. When they see piles of stuff in my home, they will feel it is inappropriate to ask me to lend them money," she added.

Wang said she usually shopped on live-streaming sessions. She mostly buys cosmetics, health supplements and gold jewellery.

(Wang's neighbours have complained about a bad smell and made reports of cockroaches and flies around her flat. Photo: Douyin)

The packages are piled up to the ceiling of her room, and she admits she cannot find a place to sleep. An underground garage she owns is also packed with items she has bought.

Months ago, Wang rented a flat to store the overflow. According to a residential committee official, Wang's daughter lives abroad while her relatives seldom visit her.

The unnamed official said they had contacted Wang's relatives in the hope that they could make her change her ways, but to no avail. In May last year, the residential committee organised a clean-up after getting Wang's permission, but the hoarding continued.

(The authorities ordered a clean-up, but Wang's hoarding simply continued thereafter. Photo: Douyin)

Shi Yanfeng, a Shanghai-based psychiatrist, told the media that many patients with hoarding disorder suffer from depression and social anxiety.

Ref: Shopaholic Chinese woman splurges US$280,000, rents big flat to store unopened packages