A 66-year-old woman in Shanghai has drawn widespread attention after spending over two million yuan (approximately $280,000) on online shopping—so much that she had to rent an additional apartment just to store the unopened parcels, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Home Overrun by Packages
Identified only as Wang, the woman lives alone in the city’s Jiading district. Over the years, she has accumulated a mountain of unopened deliveries, filling her home and even spilling into her underground garage. The situation has reached a point where Wang no longer has space to sleep in her own house.
The clutter has become a public nuisance, with neighbors complaining about unhygienic conditions, including a strong odor and infestations of flies and cockroaches. “It’s really become a problem for those living nearby,” one local official said.
Shopping to Avoid Loan Requests
Wang admits she’s addicted to online shopping—but not just for pleasure. She says the spending is also a strategy to discourage people from asking her for loans.
“I sold my flat in the downtown area and bought this one in Jiading. People assume I’m sitting on cash. So, to stop them from borrowing money, I just spend it all,” Wang explained. “When they see the piles of things in my house, they won’t dare ask me for anything.”
Most of her purchases come from livestream shopping events, and include cosmetics, health supplements, and gold jewelry.
Estranged Family, Unchecked Hoarding
Wang’s daughter reportedly lives overseas, and other family members rarely visit. Local officials say they’ve tried to help but have had limited success.
“Last May, we helped clean her home with her permission,” a residential committee member shared. “But the hoarding started again soon after.”
With her family distant and her shopping habits unchecked, Wang’s case has sparked renewed concern about compulsive hoarding and loneliness among the elderly in urban China.
