Some people shop out of necessity.
Some people shop for fun.
Some people shop to fill the gaping void.

For those who think shopping for miles is just so last year, check out Stockback.com, the first ever “consumer stock-ownership program.”

Here’s the company credo: “People love to shop. People love to save. People want to invest.”

Oh, but how to balance such conflicting desires?

Shop on some of stockback.com’s 75 stores (including Barnes & Noble, Lands’ End, Brooks Brothers, Toys ‘R’ Us, eve.com, and wine.com), and earn a cash reward of up to 20 percent (i.e., you buy a $200 fleecy thing from Patagonia, you get up to $40 back). Once you reach the $10 minimum in your account, you invest it into a mutual fund composed of stock in the same companies you’ve just browsed.

Just so you can feel that much better about dropping $100 on a crappy tie for your boss.