Why is it that the best opportunities in life always come round at the wrong time? Certainly when it comes to shopping, spotting that must-have item is sure to coincide with having to pay a huge household bill. On the other hand, the time when we do have money to burn is the time we can never find what we're looking for.

With the onset of the winter sales, the post-Christmas period is one time that has become synonymous with shopping. In fact it is hard to believe there is anything else going on at all, judging by the ads on TV and the chaos on the high street. But why do we do it when, let's face it, there are so many reasons why we should not? Talk about bad timing, it is just typical that the stores do everything they can to tempt us in for a spending frenzy at the one time of year when we've just completely spent up.

Barely has the turkey carcass been discarded, than we suddenly seem to find we need things to relaunch our lives as the new year dawns. Not only do we turn to gym equipment to shed those Christmas pounds, but new TVs, music systems, dishwashers, washing machines, you name it. There is nothing like a fresh start and unlike at the end of December, in January we're suddenly deluded into thinking we have the whole year to pay for these things.

Do we really need more clutter in our lives when surely, Christmas brings with it a whole pile of gifts? Well, judging by the speed with which we flock to post them all on internet auction sites on Christmas day, you'd be forgiven for thinking that in general, we don't really like what we're given. Perhaps unwrapping all those useless gifts simply leaves us with a sense of disappointment and yearning that has to be cured and we find that getting out there and grabbing what we really want is the only way to fill the gap. Then of course there is the issue of boredom. There is only so long we can stay cooped up in our living-rooms with our in-laws watching chick-flicks. There comes a moment when we simply have to abandon ship and head to the shops for stress relief.

But far from it being conducive with the seasonal spirit to put a dampener on one of its greatest pleasures, the virtues of the January sales do have to be extolled. After all this is the time of the winter blues and every woman knows the dark days that lead up to Spring will always generate a need for new handbags, DVDs, books, make-up and whatever else is out there to lighten the spirit. Savvy shoppers also know that it is the best time to buy Christmas presents and cards for the following year, as well as hugely discounted sparkly dresses for next years Christmas party.

As long as you keep your head on the straight and narrow, there is no doubt the January sales can prove to be an exciting time. However, whether or not you have recovered from the Christmas hangover, the fact that shopaholism is now officially recognised as a real addiction is a sobering thought. Maybe we should turn our attention to the time-honoured tradition of new years resolutions and give up shopping for the year. Or, if those shop windows are just too tempting, you might want to leave it till Lent...