This is going to be very a very short, simple review for what is a very short, simple book. How to Give Up Shopping is a hot mess. I don’t mean that badly, or cruelly. It is a well intentioned book with some gems of advice, but it’s also a distilled version of common sense – all of those things you know anyhow, or that you’ve probably heard Oprah or Dr Phil mention.

It won’t be any surprise to hear that people shop for stress relief, or to fight boredom, or to cover other issues. Cliches such as “When it comes to gifts, it really is the thought that counts” are trotted out, along with advice to wait and think about any purchase you want to buy.

Tisaj also delves into eco-shopping, decluttering, the truth behind credit cards and the desire to buy happiness. Don’t expect anything too in depth – but if you really have had you head in the sand it’s a great intro to these issues.

The book really is like that one friend you have who speaks very plainly and simply over a few glasses of wine and smacks you in the face with the bleeding obvious.

Sometimes the friend of course gets your situation wrong. I cringed when Tisaj wrote “What woman doesn’t want a present from Tiffany?” Um, me! I’m a woman and none of your gross generalisations suit me, thank you very much. In fact, parts of the book verged on insulting me.

Then again, I’m not the target market for this book. This is the type of gift you could only give to a very, very, very clueless person. One without any idea of budgets, or spending, and a complete lack of insight into themselves and the world around them. For those people, this book is wonderful. For the rest of us, we can read more grown up books.

How To Give Up Shopping by Neradine Tisaj is out now through Hardie Grant Books.