I'm very low income too, and am also a research hound. Whatever topic grabs me. Mostly now I research online, which makes it one of the greatest inventions of all time! Because there's no NOW like a hypo/manic NOW is there?!

It used to be that I'd practically jump around waiting for the library to open! (Open, dammit! I need to clear your shelves!!!!!!!!! ) I'd like to recommend it though if you prefer actual books, Nammu, because the library's saved me a TON of money (assuming I would have had it to spend, lol). DVDs too. They don't have everything of course, and access and selection vary wildly depending where you are, but I'll throw it out there. It's amazing how often people forget the option.

When I had more, I spent more (oh, to have that money back...sigh). The worst one would probably be mid-aughts on ebay. Ridiculous things. Multiples of things (like a second copy of cds in case they got a scratch -- yeah, like I couldn't get one later when/if that actually happened, lol!) I was dx'd around that time (but afterwards), and that episode was really eye-opening. Being fresh in mind, I could remember the thoughts that were happening. The reasononing (justifications, rationalizations). So when I start hearing those now, I can recognize it for what it is, and head it off (most of it anyway ) So they are not nearly the problem they used to be.

I can't really answer the question because I don't think in those terms, but basically... I do not like to shop. I am very good at it, but no fan. (Haha, just realized I'm wearing a skirt that gets complimented regularly. I paid 25 cents for it. So like the kind of good where no one would ever realize how poor I am.) So if I start to WANT to shop, or <gasp!> get multiple colors or atypical styles, the alarm goes off and hypomanic watch kicks in.

P.s. It doesn't hurt that no one in their right mind would issue me a credit card.