I’m not very good at shopping. I like to get new things, but I don’t like to spend the time looking for them. And, I basically have no self control. I see pretty colors and my decision making ability is greatly threatened.
I don’t have the patience to pick up select items here and there, because I’m generally very efficient-minded and I like to convince myself that I need to just buy things now, so that I can be done shopping and I won’t have to do it again for a while. It’s kind of a Costco mentality in that I stock up on a lot of things that I don’t need, might never use, and wouldn’t buy under normal circumstances. Sometimes it works in that I won’t buy anything for a really long time, but then I go through phases where I more than make up for it by buying a ton of stuff all at once.
A long time ago, my dad pointed out to me that when I get my mind set on something, nothing else will do. I fixate. I get this way about non-material things as well, but I notice it most when I can’t stop thinking about that shiny MacBook Pro or that nail polish in just the perfect green color.
I’m a sucker for coupons and discounts. I remember this episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy is telling Desi about this great deal she got on cashmere sweaters and she tries to convince him that she really saved him money by getting such a great deal, but he’s like, you could have saved me a lot more if you hadn’t bought anything at all. I think of all the money I’m saving by getting something half off and not of all the money I could be saving if I just didn’t buy that thing I don’t need and really don’t even want that much.
The bad in all of this is that I often have buyer’s remorse, I sometimes buy things I never use, and I hate to spend my time and energy shopping when I could be doing anything else. I also don’t like the way I can get preoccupied with material possessions like my life will not be the same if I don’t have them.
My mom is the kind of person who will see something at the store and then go home and think about whether she really wants it or not. I don’t think I’ll ever have that kind of patience or self control.
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I have no self control when it comes to shopping. Quite obvious if you ever see my credit card bills. And I can’t say no to salepeople. It drives my boy person crazy. He wouldn’t even let me go to the dealership to buy my car b/c he knew I’d wind up with something crazy, so he went, picked it out, and then had me come sign all the papers w/o even looking at the lot.
Is the title a reference to How I Met Your Mother?? I have been loving that show lately! How do you feel about online shopping?
I hate shopping. I can never find anything that fits right … and I get frustrated too easily. I do most of my shopping online now.
I have to be in the mood to go shopping. If I find something I like, such as a shirt, I’ll buy it in several colors (same goes for pants). Which means I’m not a very exciting dresser when it comes to things like work attire but I am ok with that. I have more fun shopping for accessories and jewelry. This past weekend my friend and I spent just about all day shopping — I spent less than $40 and had fun.
Being a former Econ major (for a semester, only to drop it and have my GPA jump a full 1.0), I learned, understand and take to heart the concept of “utility”. That’s the only reason why I’m able to be smart about my shopping. Then again…I did bought tickets to Europe on an impulse…
shopping wears me out. i can’t do it for long periods of time. i go through spurts too though.
I used to try to convince myself that I like shopping. I don’t. Only sometimes. I have to be in the mood. I always find things when I’m not in the mood and never find things when I’m eager to buy. It figures!
I’m kind of like your mom, I contemplate my purchase for a long time before getting it. I thought about and researched my blackberry for weeks before I finally purchased it. Even then I had a bit of buyers remorse after just because it was SO expensive, but that quickly went away!
Sometimes I impulse buy, but rarely, I’m pretty stingy with my purchases!
I’m the same way. Fixate is actually a good way to categorize how I tend to shop. I try to go out only when I need certain items. While I have the best of intentions, my plans usually go awry. Right now I’m analyzing some of the stuff I own but never use. I intend to sell whatever I can and then stash that bit away for a while. Recently I’ve been really bad about shopping. Thank goodness I will receive my paycheck on Friday so that I can start paying off the bills this month.
I hate shopping… I could never do the whole ‘I’ll go home and think about it thing’ because in the end if I do want/need it… generally I will be too lazy to go get it haha.
I’m a TOTAL impulse shopper. No thought, just “ooh that’s pretty.” And I slap down the credit card. It’s a bad habit!
Your boy JT has a twitter – not sure if you knew as he’s pretty new to it: http://twitter.com/jtimberlake