I deal with stress or disappointment by shopping. Well, not really shopping. I can get quickly bored with simply browsing a store. So to be completely accurate I should say that I deal with stress or disappointment, or just mere boredom for that matter, by buying. For some reason spending money is very cathartic for me. There is a great emotional release for me in spending money. The release is even better if I am able to get a good deal on something. Buy one get one half off sales are like the ultimate high for me. That, and Children's Place Outlet sales at Park City. A good sale can sometimes make up for an entire bad week.
Plus I can SO easily rationalize my habit because, unlike some people who have shopping addictions, I only buy things we actually use. I saw a lady on Oprah once who had like 10 of the same shirts just in different colors. And you couldn't even walk through her house because she had so much stuff. I don't buy stuff just to buy stuff. I always buy things we actually need. Well, okay, I use the term "need" loosely. But I buy clothes for the kids and things for the house or sometimes I just go drop a wad of money on groceries at Costco.
But I'm what you might call a shopping bulimic. I go spend a bunch of money to make me feel happy but then later when I get home with all my goodies I start to feel bad about how much money I spent spend the next day taking half of it back.
At least that used to be how I dealt with stress. But economic times are turbulent. And although I LOVE spending money, and even though I try to convince my husband that I'm actually just doing my part to stimulate the economy, I also am a rational thinker and I pay the bills and I have put a self imposed limit on my spending as of late.
Which means I've had to find a new outlet for dealing with stress. And lately it's been food. I am not proud to admit this. Especially since we have been doing so well around here with the whole healthy eating thing. Before Christmas I lost 15 lbs. I've been working out rigorously. But sometimes chocolate just calls my name. I try to shun it. I try to ignore it. But I'm stuck at home. Because I can't go out anywhere or I'd end up spending money. And eventually, but late afternoon, I find myself giving in. Just a small piece of chocolate. Then maybe a bigger piece. Then to heck with it, I'll just eat the whole pan of brownies.
So which is the lesser of two evils? Do you think it would be wrong to take up a collection that would allow me to keep shopping?
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10 comments:
I don't know about the lesser of the two evils, but my solution to the eating thing. I don't buy anything snacky that I can eat and eat. That way I don't see it and if I still have a craving, let's face it, I'm too lazy to go to the store just to buy that particular thing.
I don't have the snacky munchy stuff around my house--I've always been amazed that Justin can stare at junk food and not inhale it. If it's in the house, it's gone. So my solution is that sometimes I have the ingredients on hand to make something, but I'm so darn lazy I never get around to it.
As for shopping, I think I'm the same way. And I've started thinking about uncluttering, just not buying stuff I don't really need, making less of an economic footprint. Yeah, I'm not helping the economy (yeah right! that would be more along the lines of less people in debt!) but I'm also making sure that I'm not a spendthrift and that I'm using the money Justin earns wisely. I have been thinking/reading about all of this in the past year--frugal stuff, being a wise steward of our belongings etc. I'm trying to bring less into the house so that I don't have to regret all those dollars going out when I dejunk. And I need to respect Justin's earning power and when he's gone from home, not just spend the money willy-nilly. That's the big one for me (since I wish he could just stay home ALL the time but that wouldn't pay bills would it?)
I wish I could help you, my sweet, but the only thing I can do is commiserate because I deal with stress the same way you do. And of course I always need what I buy, until I get home and I think, "Did I really spend $50 on that?!" (Which is why I had to go out to Sandy yesterday to return something.)
Maybe we can start some kind of support group.
I am so with you, a great sale is a natural high! And shoppiing always makes me feel better. I too stay home on a self imposed spending halt, but that has led to me baking treats more times in a week than our small family needs (I don't buy junk food either, but I can whip up many delicious treats in no time, evil cooking skillz).
Gosh, I don't know which vice is worse!
My stepmother's best friend is a person who has to buy something every day.
What a conundrum to be in ... chocolate is what is always calling my name.
Your blog made me laugh. I hate shopping hence why i have gained so much weight in the past 8 years maybe I should find another vice...I don't know what it would be but as of late my children are driving me to drink. ha ha
Get yourself some good quality dark chocolate like Lindt and don't settle for anything less than the best. You'll feel like you've had chocolate and you don't feel like eating the whole package. The cheap stuff isn't worth the calories.
In another life, a long time ago, I was a purchasing assistant for the Church. I loved that job... I got to spend money all day long, and none of it came out of my purse. (Think... your tithing dollars at work)
I go for the dark chocolate in those situations, because a little can go a long way...
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