I don't go to the mall very often. Why, you ask? Well, I don't usually buy much, or at least not there. But this past Friday a young friend and I wanted to spend some time together, and she felt like getting a little Christmas shopping done, so off we went.
Luckily my friend, whom I will call Karen, knew just the things she wanted, and in which store they were. We parked, went straight to the proper section, and Karen searched for her prospective gifts. I helped her with sizes, colors and styles for a while, but she seemed to have everything under control. So I stood around for a few minutes. I noticed some shirts that were a good price, gorgeous colors this year, and nice and long, like I prefer. Suddenly I believed I "could use" a few shirts like these. I held back, though.
Selections in hand, Karen and I went and looked through the mundane, useful item I thought I would get for a loved one for Christmas. It was a little more expensive than I would usually prefer, but the quality and quantity and country of origin were acceptable. We made our purchases and decided what to do next.
We had passed some purses that were really cute, so we looked at them for a while, killing time before leaving the mall to go to dinner. The more I looked at a particular style of bag, the more I wanted one. (These specific ones were nearly $100, not something I would ever seriously consider.) The shape was really pleasing, and the colors were so appealing; so many to choose from! Oh, well, off to dinner.
I haven't stopped thinking about those bags, not because I am going to buy one, but because I liked them so much. I won't feel very good about myself if I get one, but the fact that their style and color and presentation in the store were so very attractive is something I am giving a lot of attention.
I suppose the moral of the story is that I know material things don't make me happy. And that marketers and other people who want to get some of our money work from the perspective that material things (that they are carrying in their retail centers) will make us happy until we come to the mall next time.
So--why was I so enthralled with the purses, anyway? I believe it's because my current one isn't really meeting my needs. I have some choices here: 1. Find one in my closet that will work (I have a few in there); 2. Get one second-hand (totally in my value system if I really NEED it); 3. Make one.
Are you an impulse shopper, or a self-medicating-shopper? Where is your favorite place to shop? Do you have strategies to avoid getting too many things?
Stay tuned while I stay out of the mall.
And Happy Holidays!
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| Thanks Silverdale Chamber of Commerce for the photo. |
Selections in hand, Karen and I went and looked through the mundane, useful item I thought I would get for a loved one for Christmas. It was a little more expensive than I would usually prefer, but the quality and quantity and country of origin were acceptable. We made our purchases and decided what to do next.
We had passed some purses that were really cute, so we looked at them for a while, killing time before leaving the mall to go to dinner. The more I looked at a particular style of bag, the more I wanted one. (These specific ones were nearly $100, not something I would ever seriously consider.) The shape was really pleasing, and the colors were so appealing; so many to choose from! Oh, well, off to dinner.
I haven't stopped thinking about those bags, not because I am going to buy one, but because I liked them so much. I won't feel very good about myself if I get one, but the fact that their style and color and presentation in the store were so very attractive is something I am giving a lot of attention.
I suppose the moral of the story is that I know material things don't make me happy. And that marketers and other people who want to get some of our money work from the perspective that material things (that they are carrying in their retail centers) will make us happy until we come to the mall next time.
So--why was I so enthralled with the purses, anyway? I believe it's because my current one isn't really meeting my needs. I have some choices here: 1. Find one in my closet that will work (I have a few in there); 2. Get one second-hand (totally in my value system if I really NEED it); 3. Make one.
Are you an impulse shopper, or a self-medicating-shopper? Where is your favorite place to shop? Do you have strategies to avoid getting too many things?
Stay tuned while I stay out of the mall.
And Happy Holidays!
2 comments:
For me shopping can really change my mood. I will go shopping because I am in a bad mood and want to feel better. If I find things I like and afford then I buy them and feel tons better. On the other hand if I don't find anything or find things that cost too much then I end up feeling worse then in the first place. I tend to do better when shopping for the kids.
I don't like shopping unless I have a need. And I will price before buying, so if i went to the mall I have to check out 3 or 4 stores to find the best price of that item. But if I am out for a certain something and see something that catches my eye and I think it's a reasonable price, I call Dave to get his opinion and that'll decide whether or not I impulse buy. :)
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