That's one problem I'll avoid, for sure. I've always loathed shopping, and do it as little as I can. I never buy things on impulse and I never buy things online - except books. I buy only what I need and that's that.
I'm probably the opposite of the compulsive shopper - I'm a compulsive non-shopper. Any excuse not to go shopping and I'll seize it. That shirt will last a bit longer. I don't really need any more books. And I've quite enough stuff in the freezer.
My idea of hell would be spending an entire day at a shopping mall. But lots of people do that. Have they nothing better to do? Surely there's something more exciting than traipsing round shops looking for clothes?
I hate shopping for all sorts of reasons. It's hard to find what I want, in the size I want. Shop assistants are either surly and off-hand or over-attentive. I'm forced to listen to mindless musak. Or my favourite shop has closed and is now a Caffè Nero.
I've always been immune to adverts. I'm not tempted by rugged male models in Calvin Klein jackets or cut-price strawberry cheesecake from Sainsbury's. If I don't want them I'm not going to buy them. I tune out adverts like I tune out the football results.
So my wardrobe isn't full of unworn clothes I bought on impulse, and hated the moment I got home. There aren't dozens of unused kitchen gadgets gathering dust. And my credit card isn't permanently maxed out with reckless spending.
You and me could be twins
ReplyDeleteI don't mind shopping if I find something I love for a good price. I actually like shopping more now than when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteJohn: I know you're renowned for your scruffy clothes that urgently need replacing!
ReplyDeleteBijoux: Interesting that you enjoy shopping more now than when you were younger. Despite the musak and the surly assistants?
I am very much like you. I dislike shopping and prefer shopping online for what I need, mostly books, that too now to download on my kindle.
ReplyDeleteRamana: I have to go physically shopping for clothes as the sizes always vary and I can only be sure of a good fit by trying them on. If I ordered clothes online, I'd be forever returning them. But yes, I often order books online because there's no size problem!
ReplyDeleteRight at the moment I am having so much difficulty walking that even a quick trip to the supermarket leaves me exhausted and fed up so between that and my ethical opposition to excessive shopping and my financial limitations, well it's a long time since I have entered a shopping centre for leisure
ReplyDeleteKylie: I've never been to a shopping centre for pleasure. I just don't see the attraction. For me, a shopping centre is something to be in and out of as rapidly as possible, as soon as I've bought whatever I came for.
ReplyDeleteThere is an aspect of your reasoning which is questionable. See, by way of many examples, your reply to Kylie (not shopping for "pleasure"). I dare say Jean, with her take on life, would pick you up on it. As indeed do I.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to do things we don't particularly like. For some it's the washing up, for others it's cooking, for yet others it's shopping. Surely, at your age, rather than complaining that you don't like it you should make the most of it. Turn that what needs to be done into a pleasure instead of dwelling how little you enjoy it. Don't you enjoy meandering? Sometimes aimlessly? Don't you enjoy to maybe happening on a shirt or whatever floats your boat when not even looking? I could go on. I even enjoy cleaning the toilet - no bull. Because if I resented it the only person who'd be miserable would be me.
Nick, you so often luxuriate in the negative. You know what? I am looking forward to a post in which you wax lyrical over a little Robin in your back garden. Over a cat which left her paw prints in the driven snow of your lawn. A painting you particularly like hanging on your wall. Your favourite fruit, vegetable, chocolate. Anything that actually gives you joy rather than the endless grind of "woe is the world's and mine".
U
Ursula: I have tried to enjoy shopping, but I failed miserably. I love meandering aimlessly, but not in shopping malls. Oddly enough, I also enjoy those little household chores like cleaning the toilet and washing up.
ReplyDeleteI love robins and I love paw prints in the snow. I'm sure I've done posts about all the things I enjoy, but I'm happy to do another one. Watch this space!
I often think I could enjoy a day wandering around the shops but the reality soon breaks me. And all my good intentions to do my christmas shopping locally failed when my hospital appointment came up. God bless Amazon at times like that!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to find you blogging. It seems most of the bloggers on my list are either resting or have disappeared.
"I'm probably the opposite of the compulsive shopper - I'm a compulsive non-shopper"
ReplyDeleteI read that and felt a kinship.
as a matter of fact whether crude and thoughtless or not...
now that my nephews are both teenagers... I give money.
in pretty little boxes but still just money. they seem to love it.
they know I'm not a shopper and never was. this way I can at least relax and know that the gift will be used and appreciated!
Liz: Yes, an unfortunate time of the year to have your operation, from the Christmas shopping point of view!
ReplyDeleteI've been tempted occasionally to stop blogging - usually when inspiration is lacking - but I enjoy it too much to give it up.
Tammy: Very true. Money may be unimaginative but it will definitely be used and appreciated, unlike the Bumper Book of Royal Weddings or a box set of The Best of Alan Partridge.
ReplyDeleteI loathed shopping in France...unhelpful assistants, dreadful customer service...but in Costa Rica...and very recently in Guatemala...I have grown to like the fact that shop assistants will hunt the place out to find what I want and don't sulk if it does not materialise. Very relaxing.
ReplyDeleteI can understand the appeal of malls. We live in a small town, and years ago I had to drive to Albuquerque to pick up Kaitlin. I invited some of our summer students to come so we could all go to one of the big malls to look and shop. When we got there we agreed to meet at a certain place at a specific time. Then we all took off to explore. Five minutes later I met one of the kids in the bookstore, where we spent the rest of our time. We decided we weren't big on shopping.
ReplyDeleteI buy most of my things online, including clothes. If I like something, and it fits right, I buy several so I don't have to think about what to wear. The problem is solved for a good long time. :)
Helen: Sounds like Costa Rica is the place to be for a positive shopping experience.
ReplyDeleteJean: Browsing through a well-stocked bookstore is my idea of shopping. If you buy clothes successfully online, American sizes must be a lot more reliable than UK ones.
Thrift stores. Antique books, yarn shops. But never in malls. Can't bear malls. Photography shops. Old maps. Old railway paraphernalia. Old embroidery. Old knitting patterns. Piano sheet music which I play.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
www: Sounds like you've found plenty of alternatives to soulless shopping malls. Jenny likes poking around in junk shops to see if there are any hidden treasures!
ReplyDeleteI'm bored with shopping, I was never that keen on it. And shopping malls get me down. Unless, of course I actually really do need something in which case shopping malls are pretty good. But i can never understand and never have been able to understand why people go to them for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteJenny: We seem to have similar attitudes to shopping. If I can find any excuse for not going shopping, I jump on it!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a compulsive shopper but I have shopped mindlessly. Mostly on-line. I'm working on a 2018 project related to that.
ReplyDeleteAgent: Your shopping "project" sounds interesting. Do keep us informed!
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