confessions of a shopaholic

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella was a hilarious read, I must say. It was something the shopper in every girl could relate to. Of course, Rebecca Bloomwood is most extreme with her uncontrollable shopping addiction. Her knees weaken at the sight of branded shops and sale signs.

Unlike her, I’ve never been a sucker for brands, preferring instead to conquer items which excite or turn me on with their colours, texture, fabric and uniqueness. You don’t need to spend a bomb to feel and look good.

I love a good bargain. Just reflecting on how much I have saved vs how many I have acquired never fails to put a smile on my face. Who can ever deny the wonderful healing powers of a good retail therapy? Not me, definitely. Hell, I’m even happy to accompany someone shop. But at the end of the day, I am fully aware that these are simply material wants and that I shouldn’t go overboard (that’s the most important, isn’t it).

Still, it tickled me that Becky Bloomwood and I share a common vocabulary.


Investment

Definition in thefreedictionary.com:
the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit.

Definition in my dictionary:
the commitment of money to something that is believed to bring some worthwhile result.

There are a few clothing items that I count as basic investments:
Cardigans – I love cardigans. You can never have too many - you never know when you may need a particular one in future. It's like having a first aid kit ready. Not only do they keep me warm, they’re very useful in resuscitating a tired outfit. They rescue tube or sleeveless tops and dresses which otherwise would have been left deserted.
White tees – I can’t get enough of white t-shirts. V-neck, round-neck, puff-sleeved, and what-have-you’s… extremely versatile and lend sleeves to current or future outfits that come without them.
Sleeveless tops (good for layering) – Pair coloured ones with white tees that have too low a neckline or are too translucent for added colour and security (For the preservation of modesty too, heh)
Undergarments – Comfortable pretty ones make me feel good. Enough said.

I believe most of my investments are not mere indulgence but that they came about as a solution to a problem I face. The problem is, many pretty tops or dresses are cap-sleeved, sleeveless or tube… too revealing for me.

Wouldn’t it be silly of me then to keep to boring stuff just to stick within limits and deny the exciting variety that fall short of the ‘sleeve’ criteria?


Reward

Definition in my dictionary:
to ‘pat oneself on the back’ or ‘give oneself a much needed hug’ by permitting oneself the pleasure of an experience or owning an item.

If you look at the big picture, rewards are essential in achieving goals. Even a company rewards its staff for a job well done in an effort to show its appreciation, and hopefully motivate the staff to perform better. It is with that same concept that we should all allow ourselves to be rewarded once in a while as we work towards our pursuits in life. We deserve it.

And for all those moments when everything else seems too fail us, rewards can be a good way to comfort ourselves.


But Becky’s financial management ways are alarming. She chucks credit card statements, willing herself to believe that it is impossible to settle them since she never read them first place. She evades the bank, all the while further exceeding her overdraft. It’s so scary when something becomes an addiction… when one starts to lose control of discipline, the very guardian of one’s financial well-being.

So in these bad financial times that has given birth to the term “recessionista”, I am embarking on efforts to streamline my expenses.

But mind you, I plan to have fun saving.