Super. Man.
The other day I popped out to buy a BBQ chicken and came home with two new bras and a superman costume. True story. Even I was a bit puzzled by this until I remembered I am female and suddenly it made perfect sense.
[I’m well aware that these kinds of gender stereotypes infuriate some people and I’m going to peeve others by drawing attention to my occasional reckless consumerism. Worse still, I may even be irreverent about it along the way. Yes I know. I’m the reason this planet is going to hell in a hand basket. Glad we got that out of the way early.]
My BBQ chicken experience was a classic case of Accidental Shopping, something I have accidentally perfected over many years. It’s very rare that I go out with a specific intention to buy something and then come home with it. That would be far too easy.
In fact, I’ve always had a theory that the more urgently you need to buy something, the harder it is to find. The Universal Shopping Gods are perverse like that. They can sniff desperation and they like to mess with your mind as well as your Mastercard.
Looking for something to wear to your cousin’s wedding next weekend? Devoted an afternoon to shop for winter clothes? Job interview in 48 hours and nothing appropriate to wear? Each of these scenarios guarantee that everything you try on will look dreadful, you’ll develop a painful blister and nothing will be available in your size. Frustration and disappointment will ensue.
However. If you’re madly dashing to an important meeting that’s already started or you have a whining child hanging from every limb, there will be a riot of extraordinarily cheap, flattering and well fitting items seductively calling your name from every shop window you pass.
This is how Accidental Shopping happens and how a BBQ chicken can turn into a bra. Or two.
Integral to my Accidental Shopping theory is my belief that there are certain situations where money is free or at least dramatically discounted. These situations are like a parallel shopping universe where your normal reasoning is temporarily tasered by your environment or your state of mind.
Obviously, this leaves you vulnerable to Accidental Shopping so in the interests of buying fewer bits of unnecessary crap, here are the situations in which you should be alert and alarmed:
1. WHEN YOU’RE USING FOREIGN CURRENCY
Foreign bills are a bit like Monopoly money. They don’t feel real and thus, spending them doesn’t seem terribly real either.
If you’re lazy, you may also be prone to approximating the exchange rate. As in “An Aussie dollar is worth ABOUT the same as the US dollar” when it’s actually 65c. Hard to believe those pesky little 35c add up but they do. Oh how they do
2. ON HOLIDAYS
Your holiday environment can have an intoxicating affect on your shopping judgement. When you’re relaxed and stress-free, full of sex and cocktails (assuming you’re not accompanied by children who will preclude all of these things and most others) it’s easy to believe your feeling of holiday well-being can be transported home via a wardrobe of expensive beaded sarongs or a collection of jauntily patterned home wares made by local artisan. Naturally you will return home and realise none of your holiday shopping remotely fits into your actual life and you have no storage space for your ugly plates.
3. WHEN YOU ARE AT AN AIRPORT
My penchant for shopping in airports could be a by-product of the fact that as a nervous flier, I’m often off-my-dial before boarding a plane. When I was really bad, I had to start medicating myself before I left home which made me the last person who should have been in charge of a credit card. These days, I’m better and unmedicated but still in urgent need of distraction before I fly. For others, it’s just boredom, another dangerous headspace when in close proximity to shops.
4. WHEN YOU ARE DRUNK OR HIGHLY CAFFINATED
Bad, very bad. See above.
5. WHEN YOU’VE JUST COME FROM THE HAIRDRESSER AND YOUR HAIR LOOKS EXCELLENT
This is a deceptively easy trap and I fall into it with pathetic frequency. Especially since it’s usually possible to staple on an extra half hour of shopping after a hair appointment. Don’t. Not even on the way back to the car. Do. Not.
Everything looks better on you when your hair has been professionally blow-dried. Even things that don’t look good on you at all.
6. WHEN YOU DIDN’T MEAN TO GO SHOPPING
See above re: BBQ chicken. Truly, all I needed was a chicken. But on my way to the chicken shop, I had to pass a toy store where I saw an adorable little Superman costume for my toddler. On the way back to the car I impulsively popped into a boutique and found some terrific bras, the kind I’m always looking for but can never find.
I’m not sure if there’s a moral to this story but I do know that was one expensive chook.
Has this happened to you? Do you have other times you think are dangerous to shop?
Comments
202 Comments so far
When Im hungry!!! I end up loading the grocery trolley with so much stuff that would not have been on my list. When Im hungry everything looks appealing in the grocery aisles
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two words: Bunnings and IKEA !!!!!!
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Oh so true! Why is everything on sale in a colour you want and size to fit you when you are shopping with kids? And you usually spot them towards the end of the trip when the kids are really on fire. Lucky I have a very understanding husband, pity about the bank balance.
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In the printed article at the weekend, it states “Hard to believe those pesky little 40p’s add up, but they do”. Gasp! The ultimate grammatical sin….
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on late saturday afternoon two weeks ago i had just started the process of getting ready for a night out. i had my maxi dress all picked out and had just started the long process of getting ready wen i realised that becos id lost a bit of weight and the dress is strapless that i was going to need hollywood tape to stop it from slipping downexposing my bra during the night. still wearing my ‘getting ready moomoo’ and with wet hair, and leaving the first glass of wine that i had just poured on the bench, i jumped in the car and raced down to the shops to grab some hollywood tape as the shops were shutting in 20mins. running past the shoe shop on the way out with hollywood tape in hand,i spotted a dreamy pair of mega high heels on sale and with a further 30% off the sale price, they had my size, i tried them on,, it was love and they were only $20 down from $120!!!!! i bought them, absolutely had to wear them out that night and then had to change my whole outfit to work around the shoes as a maxi dress just would not do…and hence the hollywood tape i so desperatly needed is still sitting in its packet in the cupboard…
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I haven’t read the comments, but being a rather typical finance nerd, I’d just like to point out that the American dollar is closer to 93cents per Australian dollar at the moment. Just FYI.
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As a fellow finance nerd I had to click the like button!
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This will probably sound so obvious, but the day you get paid and feel incredibly cashed up!
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…but you *did* buy the chook? I would have forgotten all about it…
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The emotional or impulsive purchasing is what a significant percentage of the marketing text book is all about.
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I found the explanation of why department stores do their layouts the way they do really interesting. Nothing is left to chance every tiny little placement is carefully thought through to make you shop more.
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I think the shops have a conspiracy theory going that applies just to me. If I want a pair of brown boots, then that’s the exact colour they’ve all decided NOT to stock that season. Happens with everything I deliberately shop for. But when I’m not looking, or can’t afford them, or it’s summer, there they all are. Why the hell does that happen????
I hate how they start selling winter stuff when it’s the middle of summer. And vice versa.
And, a tip, when you go shopping for glasses (from someone who’s helped 100′s of people choose their frames): if you wear a great face of make-up then ALL the glasses look good on you. But if your usual attire is no make-up, then try on frames wearing none so that you’ll find ones that look good on you either with your make-up on or not.
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nice. i need sum new glasses. mine broke while i was testing out the bendiness!
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What about: when you’re in Priceline/the chemist? I have gone for a toothbrush and come out with vitamins, bubble bath, moisturiser, the list goes on. I have never spent under $80 in that place. It’s so shiny!
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Agree, I avoid that shop as it is dangerous. My mum is obsessed with Priceline.
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I have to agree! cant stop buying stuff when I go to Priceline from stuff that I need to stuff I think I can use, it never ends..
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Totally agree – I love price line and always spend at least $50 when ive just gone in for a bottle of mousse
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On holiday. Husband went out by himself for a few beers – without telling me!! Payback (I swear this is true) I walked into the Louis Vuitton shop the next day and bought a $2,500 bag – that’ll teach him I thought – but it took him a month to notice. The greatest grief I received was from my teenaged daughter “we were meant to be shopping for me!” I will have that bag for A VERY LONG TIME .FOREVER. My feeling is that a couture bag will last many times longer than a seasonal bag. I’t will still look good in ten years time (and more). Let’s say seasonal bag $300, how many times a year, two = $600 year. – Louis Vuitton is looking like good value! My daughter won’t complain when I give these ‘vintage’ handbangs to her, will she????
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You aren’t a tosser, I agree with you one the Louis Vuitton bags. I have ummed and ahhed over whether i can justify the money for one and it’s true that one handbag, well chosen – can last many many years.
I havn’t taken the plunge, but I did buy an Oroton handbag (matching wallet), from DFO two years ago. And it goes with everything and I have not stopped wearing it – I will have it for the next 10 year I think. As long as you wear it out completely -I think it can be money well spent. I think that if I bought a LV to go to the supermarket in my town, I would be laughed out of town. Only good if you are in Sydney and every second person owns one. You don’t feel so strange then.
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Two new bras and a Superman costume brings a whole new meaning to Superman’s call of ‘Up! Up! and Away!!!’
But seriously folks…I just have to stop buying DVDs.
I even buy box sets of 200 episodes, but then who can resist The Twilight Zone? At my age I may never get to see them all!!
I am a Libran so shopping takes forever as I try to make up my mind. I went into Lifeline the other day looking for a used flannel shirt for a short movie.
I found a Ralph Lauren, probably one of the best shirts I’ve ever owned, for $5. It’s brown check, fabulous material that is satin lined around the shoulder, and looks like Kirk Douglas ( Mickey’s Dad! ) could have worn it in a 1940s movie! So the best time may be when you least expect it! the worst time is when you get a bargain, travel home and think…why the hell didn’t I buy two?
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NUMBER 7: The pre-period purchase (PPP)…..my sister and I won’t let each other shop the weekend before our period is due. My god we have bought the most atrocious items – electric blue mail polish, russian style winter hats …… You know it’s a PPP when you THINK it’s the most incredible purchase EVER. It isn’t. It’s disgusting and hopefully someone will catch you before you wear it in public. Forget the money lost, try to reclaim your dignity!
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Luckily for where i live we just have a convenience store and unless I want some chips or milk, I do not have many temptation, last time I came to Sydney I realize how easily is to fall for this kind of shopping, shops and beautiful things are everywhere very hard to resist, love to all ooxx
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Spot on Mia! I can relate to most of those, but I still think they are all valid reasons TO shop
I do believe Bowerbird below is right in throwing in eBay – it eats my time and money without me even realising it!
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I really relate to the caffeine inspired shopping experience, especially as this often occurs in shopping centres, where the Gruen transfer can take place: “The Gruen transfer refers to the moment when a consumer enters a shopping mall, and, surrounded by an intentionally confusing layout, loses track of their original intentions. Spatial awareness of their surroundings play a key role, as does the surrounding sound and music. The effect of the transfer is marked by a slower walking pace and glazed eyes.”
So if you see glazed eyes shoppers around you at the mall, beware, they are not in their right minds ….
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As another one who lives far away from shops……dare I throw E-BAY into the discussion? I thought I was just the cleverest woman in the world when I discovered e-bay for my kids clothes…
Trouble is:
a) it doesn’t feel like real money either; and
b) Because there is a delay in receiving things, I kept forgetting what I had bought!! I KNEW my little girl needed more t-shirts, pretty dresses, shoes etc etc etc, so I just kept buying them. And then they kept turning up.
I have a huge cupboardful of such pretty little shoes, and you know what? My daughter wears crocs and gum boots. Thats it.
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I was going to say ebay. Especially when the auction is nearing the end and you don’t want to be out-bid…
YOu should sell the stuff (on ebay) that she doesn’t wear/ you think is ugly etc. Often it is good to wait til it is in season, so sell jumpers, long pants, sneakers etc now and t shirts, dresses in sept
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My word, MM’s gain is ebay’s loss!! I am turning over a new leaf!!!
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Isn’t the Australian Dollar to USD about 92c now? That is nearly the same.
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That’s what I kept telling myself…
Although it does sounds the same, and if all you were doing is ordering something online from the US without considering much the exchange, when you are on holiday and your hotel bills, spending money, tourist tickets etc, run into the thousands it does sneak up on you, that you should take into account the missing cents, even though it was only around 5c diff when I went. Not that I really did… (no head for math. Went to use the calculater part on my phone but had forgotten how to work out % – times 100? x the amount then divided by 100? something to do with 100? oh whatever roughly the same!)
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I don’t shop very often but sometimes when the wind blows I get this crazy urge to spend all my money in Big W on hand creams and nighties and bedside lamps. I do it in record time too, as if I’m under surveillance, it’s such odd behaviour but there is something really FUN about just buying stuff for the hell of it. Just because it was there and you could.
And can I just say, men DO do this sort of stuff too just at a different store….
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yeah, like Bunnings! He goes in for a packet of nails, comes out with 6 items, none of which are nails!
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Absolutely like Bunnings!! My husband has a theory that you can’t go to bunnings and spend less than $75.00..as much as you try. We have bags of well intentioned and unused bunnings ‘crap’ dotted all around the house!!
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My craziest accidental shopping purchase occurred when I went up the road to post a letter and came home with a ‘flat pack’ garden bench balanced precariously on top of my double pram. I drew a lot of curious stares.
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That’s totally hysterical.
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One crazy day in Sydney I went to a hairdressers for a style to wear to a weddding. 2 hours later – a treatment, scalp massage with wash, a blowdry, three clip on hair extentions and I was $500 poorer. I nearly died when I got to the cash register! I am such a country bumpkin that a cut and colour is $70 where I live. And these lovely little leb girls were like “OMG, you look like Ricky Lee”! “Do you want a GHD too?” Lucky I stopped there! They were the best salesgirls I have ever seen how they worked me over that day! Such a sucker for pretty hair!
My husband hates the extentions, he calls it the rats nest.
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I have the problem with spending too much at anything to do with physical appearance (hair, beauty) not because I get swept up with “accidental shopper” syndrome, but instead afflicted with the common
“omg I just feel so pressured after 2 hours of being told throughout my SO relaxing treatment I am not using the right hair/skin/hand/body/nail product and if I do not switch immediatly (CANNOT wait until next visit) to their salon stocked super expensive product my skin/hair/nails/whatever will shrivel up and die and no one will ever love me”
I just wither under the well practiced spiel. I also find haircuts especially far from relaxing and I’m already stressed and tired and just want to go home, I know if I hurry I can make x tram so please just take my money and sell me $75 worth of shampoo and conditioner.
I know when they ask that dreaded quesiton “so, what product do you use?” I should brightly say “oh product x, love it, works so well for me” and fix the product pusher with a “not on me you wont” stare but I’m too weak. I dont want to suffer under the worse “hmmm really, well your hair/skin is dry/weak/oily/spotty/combination/whatever new made up vaguely scientific sounding thing and only our specialised product can tackle that, you DO want to do the right thing buy your skin/hair/body, don’t you?”.
I actually stopped going for facials at Ella Bache, which I used to love, because the product pushing reached epic proportions. I know they have a job to do and it can be helpful but they just pushed it to the point the treatment was not enjoyable and felt like only a vehicle to sell products to them.
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Wow, I found my Ella Bache therapists really laid back. They have never tried to sell me stuff… thank God for that, or I’d be broke! I do have my hairdresser recommend stuff though… expensive but it actually works…
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As an ex-beauty therapist I used to hate having to push products onto clients. My rule was “If I don’t believe in it, I’m not going to push it”.
Most hairdressers and beauty therapists work on commission.
One of the spas I worked in had a monthly “bonus” (free product) for the therapist who sold the most products. I had a very relaxed and laid back approach to “selling” – If clients were interested they would ask you. My collegues were the pushy kind and month after month on most occasions I would be the “top seller”.
My advice for the “accidental spending” especially in salons/spas is everyone has the BEST products – spinning scientific research and the like to get you to buy it – Don’t buy it straight up! – Most products have samples. Ask for them, use them and then purchase if they work for you.
There are some great therapists out there! Find someone who will give you the relaxing experience you are after without the sales pitch.
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Eek – shopping after Friday afternoon drinks. I visited Cue with half a skin-full a few years ago after friday office drinkies, and figured I’d try on the awesome coat I’d been admiring in their window. Tried it on and it looked FAB – it was a woollen winter overcoat, black with beige check pattern. Very sleek with a hint of retro. I wear so much black, it was the perfect match to my wardrobe.
…until I put it on Monday morning and in the daylight walk to the station, realised it was NAVY and beige, not black. Hmmm. After a session of slient ‘ohshitohshit’ all the way to work when I thought about how much I’d spent, I realised it still looked awesome as a navy coat. Screw the rule about not wearing navy and black together – well that year I did!
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very funny
I’m not usually into shopping myself, could never understand why my girlfriends so into it. But having recently gone back to full-time work after six years I have been going crazy!!! Today I went to buy much-needed shoes for my son (which I got) but also tried on two $200 pairs myself & bought them both. It felt so good to be able to do that after scrimping for so long.
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At least you got the chook
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Ralph Lauren had a sale and of course I can’t buy just one shirt – I had to have two. Never mind that the shirts are a weensy bit small, incentive to diet!
One shirt is still is tissue paper still.
I always buy two as I am afraid that one awesome item of clothing will never be made again and then I can’t find a shirt with the same cut I like.
I am a hoarder of flash makeup too, I will buy anything as long as it comes “Gift with purchase”. So many sample size trials of little creams and lippys overflowing my bathroom vanity.
Another thing, I never get to decent shops so I go rather mad when I go to big shopping centres, Factory outlets are my weakness too. I end up carrying 10 billion bags of shopping home and people look at me being the crazy manic shopper of the year when I have finished once the shop assistants have kicked me out at closing time. I am a bit of an addict!
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clinique “gift with purchse” is my downfall… every. single. time.
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Oh I hear you on that one! I have a drawer FULL of the stuff and I can’t even begin to tell you how many cute toiletry bags I own. However, every gift time, there I am spending over $65 to get my gift. Upside is I’m not going to run out of anything anytime soon!
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I’m like that with Estee Lauder. Haven’t done it in a while though because I’m still working my way through a lipstick compact of 9 colours, most of which look dreadful. Why why why??!
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With still a couple of days to go until payday I’ve taken to cycling AROUND the city instead of through it (small city centre) so I don’t have to look at all the pretty things. I always see beautiful things in my size when I’m broke. I’m actually planning a shopping trip to the UK next month – the exchange rate with the Euro is good, and makes living on the Euro more expensive. Plus the UK has the mecca that is Primark!
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Ohh i went to primark on saturday – sooo good and sooo cheap!
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when i was a kid, my grandad and I went out for milk and came back with a brand new car.
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That is hard to top!
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Yep, I think you win.
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Oh Mia! I swear, sometimes it’s like you can read my mind! I SO agree with this post and am guilty of all 6 ‘worst times to shop’.
Can I just also say that I TOTALLY agree with the fact that you can NEVER find the damn thing you’re looking for when you go to the shops with a purpose! Last month I HAD to buy a new shower curtain for the unit I moved out of (to replace the cheapo originial, as it had got a bit grotty). Do you think that I could find one under $30, NOOOO!
And now, 1 month on; I SEE THEM EVERYWHERE! And they are cheap!
Maybe it’s the shopping gods punishing me for all that reckless (unnecessary) spending?
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Its dangerous to shop when a) someone (your partner) is available to look after your children & you just need to duck down to the shops to get some milk & bread….yeah right; b)the unimaginable happens & somehow you have a day completely free from children & other responsibilities. Highly dangerous.
I fall into these two categories the most!! LOL
Have also fallen into the airport category and on holidays.
There is nothing like the feeling of shopping post children, when you didn’t realise before children how incredible it is to wonder aimlessly in a store, not worry about getting snot, dirt on clothes, broken items, all out scrags between kids etc. Its pure freedom.
xx
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haha Mia, i can totally relate, i can never go into the supermarket to just buy one thing, i always come out with a basket full of stuff. Same as when i go into K-mart, i went in there today looking for a little hand held vac to clean my car, i didnt get the vac but instead bought two pairs of shoes, a belt, a pair of sunglasses and a dust pan!! I am hopeless!
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I had to get petrol recently on my way to a dentist appointment. I drove past a shop that had the most gorgeous dress in the window. As I was in a hurry I rang call connect and got them to put me through to the shop. Then once connected to the shop I asked them to put that dress in my size on hold. I went back in later that day and bought it. Very expensive tank of petrol and dentist appointment.
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I like your style Lu!
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Another bad time to ‘shop’ is when at an event such as a rock concert, particulary after a great performance when you’re buzzing with adrenalin and sooooo caught up with the excitement of it all. This is when you are highly likely to purchase a tank top with your (new) favourite band’s name emblazoned across the chest. You don’t really like hot pink and the size may be a weeeeee bit big on you (‘I’m size 8 but I can wear an XXXL over my bikinis…’), but the 45 bucks for the Made-in-China-for-50c top is sooo worth it as a momento of the best night of your life. Ever. Inevitably, the tank top will end up in a Salvo’s bin while the $45 remains on your Mastercard statement (because concert t-shirt stalls now conveniently have all forms of payment available to starry-eyed punters).
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Yes, I bought those flashing devils horns at AC/DC for (my kids) they were $20 each. Awesome at the time, feeling a bit ripped off now though
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Me. This. Lady Gaga recent concert.
However, I intend to keep mine so that my future child can wear it and be so cool ‘oh it is not just Supre trying to LOOK vintage with a bands old image, it IS vintage and I am so cool’. Thus my child becomes hugely popular and happy and I am a good parent. : p
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Thats what I hope for with the horns – collectors items anyone? Ha fat chance they will make it to next christmas being plastic and all!
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Hehehe… I bought a Gaga T when I saw her as the support act for PCD (we were going for her anyway)… Wore it again at her show!! I have a plan to see her live every time she does a tour! Wearing the same shirt!! =P
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I won’t part with my concert tshirts. They have been in storage (have them now) but haven’t looked through them yet. So many awesome memories. A few may end up on Ebay, but I doubt it will be many.
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Last week my partner & I went for a quick coffee in the city..
I came home with 2 new pairs of jeans & 3 new pairs of shoes! & he paid for the shoes! SCORE!
All this in about 20 mins plus we still managed to have our coffee!
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It happened today actually. Off to buy my two oldest kids a smoothie and my nephew a birthday card, I also picked up some beautiful grey suede ballet flats and a top. Oh, and sunnies. The sunnies were semi-neccessary, the rest was not. I’ve decided to blame pupil free days for this as I was a bit strung out from having the oldest kids at work with me.
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Maybe you’re onto something,Mia.When we are looking for something specific (eg.outfit for wedding/job interview/hot date etc) maybe you can try to trick your mind!
I would say shopping for your BBQ chicken was serendipitous..as long as you’re happy with your extra items!
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Mum popped out for a chicken once, too, Mia, and returned with a computer, printer and all the paraphanalia that goes with it.
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I hate shopping. Especially if I stupidly go whilst under the effects of PMT!!! You should see the special selections I can make…
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Easily solved: no money & no credit card = no accidental shopping. Loathing shopping malls helps too.
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I stopped in to a tea shop I had heard about from friends on an impulse on the way home from the farmers markets… I was just going to have a look and maybe purchase some “boutique” herbal tea as little treat after having meal planned, shopped for groceries, and completely cleaned the house while mr cat and miss five were out for the morning …
I walked out with a gorgeous tea set that cost more than the weekly groceries,plus five different kinds of tea!
The upside is, the tea set is beautiful, I didn’t have a tea pot and colours match beautifully with a set of cups my late grandmother gave me.
Miss 5 and I had a tea party this morning, with the new set and every time I look at it it makes me happy.
oh and then this morning I stopped to get milk and came home with a tinkerbell dressing gown, and tinkerbell undies for miss 5. still not quite sure how that happened.
I am not normally an impulse shopper, we have a new mortgage and I feel guilty every time I spend any “extra” money instead of putting it on the home loan… but sometimes you’ve gotta splash out.
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Aldi does not help. Who’d have thought camping toilets could be so cheap! And right there next to the German Weet-Bix equivalent. At $39 who wouldn’t need one? Just waiting for the jousting sticks.
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Tell me about it
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We live at ‘the castle’ too. What is that on top of the sponge cake? Icing sugar… dreamin’….
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I freaked out in Aldi. We don’t have them in SA yet. I visited the one in Coolungatta… Not seeing any brands I recognised creeped me out. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I don’t think I’ll shop there when they eventually open in SA!
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Just start by getting a couple of things at a time at Aldi and then you start to get the feel of which things you like and which things you leave. Mini cleo LOVEs their yoghurt icecreams. I love their dips.
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So true! I am hopeless in all supermarkets but especially Aldi!
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How much they askin?
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“It’s what you do with it luv!”
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Dreamin
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How’s the Serenity?
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Oh, Aldi. How I love your random crap…
The groceries really are much cheaper and just as good, but the money you save ends up being spend on odd extras that they only ever have once, so you HAVE to buy it now or they’ll never have it again.
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We have a classic family story…
My parents went out to buy vegetables and came back with a bbq. Another time shopping for vegetables again my dad came back with another fishing rod.
Vegetables are dangerous
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Mia, I really wish you didn’t have to apologise or explain yourself in anticipation of criticism (usually predictable criticism). But then again, I am female too and a classic female apologiser as so many of us girls are.
I suppose being aware of what your critics might say and ackowledging them is better than being one of those extreme-wing talk back radio men who seem to live in a vacuum where all they hear is the sound of their own voice and the screened callers in who agree with them (Melbourne Talk Radio I’m looking at you). Be brave! We like your opinions!
For me the most frustrating thing with shopping is when I see *the* perfect top etc that would go with *everything* would absolutely *complete* my wadrobe is amazing *value* *unique* and any other kind of perfect you want to throw at it. But I have no money. And then when I do, say a week later after pay day, they are sold out in my size, but it is still there is another size (feels worse when said remaining size is too small) so I can gaze longingly at it and feel sad I missed it, annoyed at being broke the other week and reconsidering my decision not to have a credit card.
Then because I am in the store, with money, and intent on buying something so the trip wasnt wasted (totally nonsensical thinking), I end up buying something I dont like that much and never end up wearing, or only wear once or twice. But for some time until I accept I will never really wear it and recycle it on to a friend or op shop, it will hang there, silently mocking me…..
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I don’t know… I think it’s great that Mia has acknowledged that, yes, excessive consumerism is not the best, and that not all women are extreme shoppers. It brings a little balance to the post and environmentalists/feminists/whoever can relax & enjoy the post knowing there is no need to ‘enlighten’ Mia & commenters of these facts.
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True, just sometimes I feel annoyed you can’t have an opinion/example of something you do without having to painstakingly point out that its just a light generalisation, you are aware of feminist theory, you are an intelligent woman but you also can talk about shopping, shoes, SATC without being a bimbo, you are aware of opposing views BUT FOR GOD SAKES can I just say, for example, ‘like alot of women I am hopeless at direction’ without being blasted with 100 examples of women who can navigate their way to the moon and back while their husband gets lost going to the corner shop.
Glad I got that off my chest.
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Foreign money is a killer! I should never, ever shop with overseas money because I always spend so much more. Okay, now I want to go shopping.
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Foreign money in my head is the same dollar as Aus money!
Luckily when I was in the US recently the dollar was around 94cents so this didn’t hurt as much as some of the other times I’ve been to the States. 94 cents was good, it’s like ‘oh its the same price plus just a tiny wee little eeny bit more….so whatever I’ll take it!’.
When I was in Hong Kong it was x 8 or divided by 8. Something hard. I am NOT a maths person. It was very very hard. So um a million trillion dollars for this bottle of perfume thats $85 dollars back home ummmmmmm that works out to….divided by 8, not wait is times…do I count in the money exchange fee…what fees are my card to do this…..oh whatever, I’ll take it!”
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I’m probably the only person who comes back from foreign holidays & thinks I should have bought more. Invariably I buy something for someone else as a present, & then later realise I should have bought one for myself as well. This is otherwise known as the “Murano necklace non-buyer’s regret” (Venice, 2004).
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I’m with you, Lulu — I often come home thinking, “maybe I should’ve bought…”
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non-buyers regret is the worst!
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I’m actually LEARNING to become one of these shoppers, an accidental shopper that is. You see, if you are like me,if you don’t like or enjoy shopping, if you only shop when you NEED something , you can’t find anything,because as Mia says, you can never find something when you need it. So you then go home with nothing.
Add to this, the fact that I never browse through stuff. The result is hardly any clothes. I am starting to remember to browse at times when I’m out, and Mia’s right! You DO find just the perfect size, at 20% the original price , just when you have an appointment elsewhere. There is an upside to Accidental Shopping, so bring it on!
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I am the same!!
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I can so relate, I just got back from my honeymoon so that equated both foreign currency and feeling happy/holiday delerious. Couldn’t beleive how much I spent on my credit card when I got home – but really all worth it!!
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I always do the stupid thing of walking through the Myer department store on my way to the train station – damn you Mecca Cosmetica – why can I NOTlk pass you without whipping out my credit card..WHY!!!
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Hehe! I once went into Inglot looking for eyeliner… I came out with over $250 worth of new makeup and then went back the next day and spent another $60.00 on a makeup brush!! Lol!
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While my wife went shopping in Sydney for dreary things like David Jones Pasta Sauce, I went and bought a new computer. I’m happier with my purchase than she is……….
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He he he good one Fendi! what type of computer did you buy? I need to buy one too, ca you recommend yours? or not? love f
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I was at the hairdresser the other day with absolutely no plans to go shopping afterwards when, get this, the hairdresser told me my hair looked so good that I really should go shopping to show it off!
I’m aware she is obliged to be flattering but needless to say, I did exactly what she said and bought some dresses in DJs for ‘just in case’ situations.
My fault totally
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you must have been high on the colouring fumes….that was it!! LOL
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Great article Mia, I totally relate!
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