15-07-2025
'I Shop So People Won't Ask Me For Money': Chinese Woman Spends Rs 2.3 Crore On Online Orders
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In Jiading, Shanghai, 66-year-old Wang spent over Rs 2 crore on online shopping and had to rent a second apartment just to store the sheer volume of packages
In Jiading district of Shanghai, China, a 66-year-old woman has become a viral cautionary tale about online shopping addiction. Wang, who lives alone, has reportedly spent over 2 million yuan (roughly Rs 2.3 crore) on goods she bought online, most of which remain unopened. Her addiction has grown so intense that she had to rent a second apartment just to store the sheer volume of packages she continues to receive.
According to Kan Kan News, her home, and now her rented storage flat, are both overflowing with boxes, cosmetics, health supplements, and gold jewelry ordered during live-stream sales.
Wang admits she has nowhere left to sleep in her own house. Her underground garage is also packed wall-to-wall with unopened deliveries. The living space, far from livable, has turned into a cluttered maze that's drawn complaints from neighbours.
Residents say the piles of boxes have led to foul odours, and infestations of flies and cockroaches. The local residential committee has stepped in multiple times, even coordinating a deep-cleaning drive last year with Wang's consent. But the effort was short-lived. Within months, the packages started piling up again.
Wang has spoken candidly about her obsession. She says online shopping gives her mental relief, and even acts as a shield. Years ago, she sold a property in central Shanghai and moved to the suburbs. Ever since, she claims people around her assumed she had excess money and kept asking her for loans. Her solution? Spend the money so there's nothing to lend.
'I buy things to stop people from asking me for money," she told local reporters.
Wang's daughter lives overseas, and other family members rarely visit. Authorities reached out to her relatives in an attempt to intervene, but nothing has worked.
Mental health experts say what Wang is dealing with isn't just a habit, it's a disorder. Dr Shi Yanfeng from the Shanghai Mental Health Centre says hoarding disorder is often linked to depression and social withdrawal. Treatment takes time, support, and consistent intervention, he explained, adding that long-term care is necessary for people trapped in compulsive hoarding cycles.
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