Does retail therapy need to die a horrible death during the credit crunch?
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
We all go out shopping sometimes to get something when we feel miserable, but with todays financial climate, is that a good idea? Now were being told our jobs arent safe with downsizing and redundancy, that rainy day we all save for seems to be arriving.This just doesnt apply to the ladies, men do this to. cds, dvds, games, some designer clothes- buying something for ourselves at a time when were feeling low can cheer us up. Nothing wrong with buying the odd dvd at all, but how often do you get that urge to spend a month? It can really start to take its toll financially if its more than afew times a month. The newly released dvd will cost between £9-15, and buying four times a month is between £36-60 -alot just on dvds isnt it?
So would it be so bad to buy a expensive item once in awhile, or smaller, cheaper items more often? Depends on the item -That new Gibson Les paul at £1,500 might well be left on the shelf when previously it wouldve got picked up. Yes, its a Gibson guitar, but their cheaper Epiphone copies play just as well, its just the stigma of having the brand name that your paying for. 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 are the options? If you really cant live without the item in question, eating just baked beans for the next few montsh wont 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. Write down all the purchases you WANT, and get one a month and make those purchases last longer. Do you really need to buy it if your not gonna watch the dvd more than acouple of times a month? Do you really need another new outift to go out on the town when others left forgotten in your wardrobe will do?
Just because were being more careful not to waste our money doesnt mean an end to fun, we just have to choose our purchases more carefully. The only person making you buy the items are yourself.
