Up, Down and All Around

Shopping? No, Thank You

I hate shopping.

There have been many times when I wish I could enjoy indulging in "retail therapy," like most people seem to; but after a few years of trying, I've come to the conclusion that it's really not for me.

What about it do I not like? Well, let's see...

• I don't like worrying about my budget. Not that I'm very strict with myself when it comes to budget, but there are some lines that I refuse to cross when it comes to money. One such line is borrowing money just so I can buy something that I don't even need. I figure, you only have so many times that you'll be able to borrow money from friends. So I'll have to be in desperate straits indeed before I borrow money from anyone.
  
• I often wonder why I buy the things I do. When I'm in "shopping mode," I always give into the urge to buy something tacky or useless or impractical, because those are the things that I naturally gravitate to. haha! For some reason, they're a lot less fun and entertaining once I get them home and out of the shopping bag. :-P
  
• I don't like crowds. Something about squeezing through throngs of people, especially during mega-sales, makes me feel queasy. It doesn't help that some people are just downright rude and will shove you aside without so much as a backward glance, much less an apology.
  
• I worry about safety. My dad has had his pocket picked. A friend of mine had his cellphone stolen. Another friend has had her bag slashed. Another friend got caught in a stampede when a fire broke out in one of the malls a couple of years back. Then you've got all those emails warning you to be careful when you visit the rest room, or when you're walking in the parking lot, or when you're waiting for your commute. And finally, there's always that threat of a terrorist attack, hovering unseen but never quite forgotten.

So, it took considerable effort of will to drag my butt to the mall this afternoon to look for a dress that I need for one of my upcoming social commitments. It took over two hours, and I must have tried over 14 different outfits before I found one that I liked enough, and which was within my budget. Hay! There's got to be an easier way than this to buy the things that we need!

Tags: Personal, Shopping

Posted by CF at 5:35 PM