What is a Spendthrift?
As a compound word, with the latter half of the word being thrift, many people confuse the meaning of the term spendthrift. Many people believe it refers to a thrifty person or one who is overly cautious with money. In fact, the opposite is true, and a spendthrift is a person who is frivolous with money. The term is used to represent many ranges of overspending, from the impulsive shopper who lives somewhat beyond his means to the person who simply cannot control her spending at all. A spendthrift is generally seen as careless and wasteful when it comes to money, never worrying about tomorrow, or how bills will be paid, or how much interest is accumulating on unnecessary purchases. Shopping and spending lavishly are compulsions for the spendthrift. Such a person may go through obscene amounts of money, yet having very little or nothing to show for it. In some cases, the spendthrift is self-centered and can never buy enough to please himself. There is a constant yearning, a need that is
