You see the infomercial come on and you hear that familiar voice asking, "Tired of having to so and so..."; "frustrated at having to so and so..."; "well, now you can (or don't have to) do whatever with our latest gadget!" Immediately, your attention is drawn to the commercial. Your heart starts racing and visions of heavenly bliss run through your mind as you imagine the peace, tranquility, and satisfaction that this latest 'as seen on tv' product is going to bring you.

Instinctively, you jot down the 800 number on a piece of paper and decide to call and order the product before the infomercial is even over - after all, if you do call within the "next 10 minutes", you get to supersize your order.

Does this seem familiar? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, what you've just experienced is the notorious infomercial monkey jumping on your back.

Admit it or not, what you've got is an addiction to as seen on tv products.

Frequently asked questions about this shopping disorder (no pun intended):

How do I know if I have it? - You buy every new as seen on tv item that is shown on tv.

What can I do? - Short of tossing out your tv set, follow the tips at the end of this article.

I have a friend who I think has this problem. What should I do? - Share this article with them.

Is it curable? - The only known cure is never watching tv again. The question is: do you really want to cure it?

Uh, I don't think I could never watch tv again. Are there any alternatives? - Yes. Follow the tips towards the end of the article.

Understanding why we buy as seen on tv products

From cookware to weight loss products, there's an as seen on tv item that's just right for you. Incidentally, they all promise you the world; or at the very least, they promise to deliver results better, faster and cheaper. And isn't that the reason why we order in the first place? Who doesn't want things better, faster, and cheaper?

Seen the latest ab workout machine? The infomercial yells out, "30 days to sleeker, sexier abs!" What about the most recent miracle cleaning solution that's so good you don't even have to be there to clean! Or how about the newest cooking gadget that cooks your food so fast, you can enjoy your time doing other stuff.

Yes indeed. This is why we can't get enough of them. We want to get slimmer abs, buns and thighs in just 30 days. We want our food prepared faster (think of the major hamburger chains). Yes, we want to clean stuff without actually doing any scrubbing.

Now, is wanting this bad? Heck no. However, buying as seen on tv products just for the heck of it can soon put a dent in your pocket book. Also, if you don't use them, they'll just take up space in your home.

Here are some tips for helping curb your addiction to as seen on tv products:

1) Only buy useful products you really need and that you actually plan to use.

2) If you can't store it easily, don't get it as it'll only clutter up your home.

3) If you can accomplish the task promised by the product by yourself within not much of a time difference, then don't bother buying it.

4) Before buying, read reviews from others to see if it's worth it.

5) Take a break from watching tv every once in a while.

The bottom line is you can buy all the as seen on tv products you want so long as you actually use them and they're not putting a dent in your wallet. After all, isn't that why they were made in the first place?

Note: This article is meant to be humorous - so take it with a grain of salt.