No thanks, im just browsing - retail therapy dying a death during the ‘crunch?
Sometimes we go out shopping when we feel down just to feel better -but at this time is that a wise move? That ‘rainy day’ we saved for has now arrived, job are being lost left, right and centre due to downsizing and redundancy and we need to save instead of spend our pennies if we can help it.Im not just talking to the ladies, us men can be just as guilty. cds, dvds, games, some designer clothes- buying something for ourselves at a time when were feeling low can cheer us up. So theres nothing wrong with buying the odd dvd- but how many times a month do you go for retail therapy? It can really start to take its toll financially if its more than afew times a month. The latest dvd release can cost anywhere between £9-15, and you buy one a week, that 4 a month, which will costs anywhere between £36-60- it adds up doesnt it?
So is it worse to buy a more expensive thing once a month, or tinier items more often? It all depends on what your buying -A Gibson guitar can cost £1,500 might now be left on the shelf where before the recession it wouldve been bought. Sure, its a Gibson Les Paul, but you can buy an Epiphone copy at a great reduced price and then buy new pickups if needs be- and still not reach that £1,500 mark. Those designer dresses that catch your eye really need buying -when a cheaper brand can look just as great, with no-one but the fashion police none the wiser. So what is the sensible option -well, if your really desperately need the item, living off baked beans and pasta for acouple of months isnt going to kill you. Cutting back on other luxurys to get that item might not be a bad thing seeing as your compensating for it in the long run. Making a list of items you ‘want’- not need, and getting one a month, spreading out your purchases over the long term can help. After all, how often are you going to watch that dvd over the space of a year? With all those forgotten outfits in the wardobe gathering dust do you really need another outfit?
Just because we’re watching what we put our money into doesnt mean we cant still go out and have fun, we just have to be less wasteful with what we do buy. The only person making you buy the items are yourself.