I’ve discovered that in a tough economy, shopping for non-essential stuff goes right out the window. But I miss it! Sounds shallow and loopy, but shopping for me fulfills perhaps more needs than any other pursuit that I can think of. I’m not saying it’s better than some other things, just that it’s so … versatile. I mean, look at the benefits:
• Shopping stimulates the economy.
• It hones my shaky math skills—30 percent off $45 = ?
• It gets me walking (I can shop steadily for hours and walk miles in the process).
• It keeps me from mindless noshing, can’t dilly-dally over ephemeral food, there are sales to be plundered.
• It’s free entertainment: the people watching, the latest crazes that, at my age, I’ve already seen once around and knew even at a tender age were absurd.
• And, of course, the pure joy at finding that one thing that you LOVE, and that’s been missing all your life, or at least for the last two months, beats six months of talk therapy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, estimates of retail sales for April were down 11.4 percent from last year, and gasoline station sales were down 36.4 percent. If you don’t shop, you don’t need gas. My local library has seen a 20 percent increase in reference requests and a jump in circulation as people check out books, borrow last month’s movies, and cancel magazine subscriptions, reading and watching for free.
If you’ve gotta have something new in your life, but can live with it being old, learn about freecycling. You’ll learn how to do good (by contributing) while you satisfy your lust for stuff by picking up something that you could put to good use for free.
While it’s true that some of the best things in life are free, I just don’t know how much longer I can hold out. Spring is here, the warmth is creeping in, and I’m itching to honor the sun with some sartorial splendor of my own.
I promised my shopping self that when things pick up a little, the appetite will be indulged. Until then, glossy mags—this one included—will be my low-cost guilty pleasure.
coach handbags
10:28:23 PM on Wed May 12 2010
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