You think you are only going to get that one thing on sale, and then spiral against gravity into the rabbit hole, grabbing all kinds of everything on the pretext you are saving money.
For years, the Sale Season hits, and I’m out the door like a gazelle. Imagine running 73 feet per second - yip! That’d be me.
I had a problem. First I bought stuff only for me, then the kids, the hubs, mum. I just bought and bought. If I like a top, I got them in all colours. If there was a cute Tee-Shirt, all 3 boys must get the same. My favourite buying sprees were for my daughter. I bought her so many clothes, that she told me to stop because her closet was a mess with clothes overflowing, half she never even wore once. The first time she chose her own clothes to buy? she was 17! Good thing she didn't like shopping and now I wonder if I turned her off with my obsessive buying.
It took me losing my job to step back and evaluated this "need" to shop. I thought buying things would make me happier. But guess what? Now I have no money to buy unnecessary things and I am as happy as I used to be then.
Yes!! My happiness wasn't tied to stuff. I pursued a more purpose-driven life, I started focusing more on experience and learning than material stuff. The short-term effects of having nice things are fleeting, but the long-term satisfaction is real. It was time to stop and these are 3 things I practice when I feel myself lapse:-
Don’t Believe The Hype
It’s never like it is seen on TV. I’ve only fallen for it 376 times. And still, mind you, just last night I looked at stuff on Shoppe and Lazada and my heart did a little skippity-skip thinking of 6.6. Oh, and just because all my friends bought it and are raving, I don't need to jump on that train just because...
Don’t Need, Don’t Buy
It is so easy to fall for the sale party lines. Buy one and get the second one at 50%. The question is do I need the first one to begin with? If I don't need it then, my poor heart...
Don’t Horde
Oh, the things I’ve bought, and the things I’ve given away with labels intact, unused. Stuff that has expired its shelf life. Now I only buy as and when unless the item has a longer shelf life than how much time it will take for me to get around to using it provided I have already ticked box number 2.
So I won’t say, I am completely cured of this mindless buying, because did you see that pan that is scratch proof and cooks healthy food, and that exercise machine that will give you abs in 2 weeks, ooooh and those buy now, stay later vacation deals?
It is tough saying no to that dirty word... but I have managed the 6.6 sales so far, another 7 hours to go. What about you? Bought anything?;p
Thank you for reading,
Till next time, Carpe Diem!
Sh33la
Image from pexels.com: Photo by Karolina Grabowska