Retail Therapy
I’ve noticed something when it comes to spending money.
The more you spend, the easier it becomes to spend.
When I’m in “frugal mode” I tend to find it easier to stay in “frugal mode”.
When I’m in “non frugal mode”, it’s not so frugal.
LOL. Funny that!!!!
Anyway, while we were away, I was very much in “non frugal” mode. Not “stupid spending” mode but certainly “relaxed mode”.
I seem to be having trouble pulling myself out of “relaxed mode”.
And you know what?
I’m not sure I care! LOL. I guess that’s why it’s a “relaxed mode”. 
I’ll probably “care” later when I finally get our personal finances sorted out.
In the meantime, I really enjoyed our day out yesterday. Sometimes a bit of “retail therapy” is just what the doctor ordered.
For me anyway. I know not everyone enjoys shopping and that’s cool.
Mind you, it’s probably the WHAT that I bought that’s making me feel good more than just a random buying of “stuff”.
1. Bought the major Christmas present for the kids.
I can’t say what it is on here in case Lleyton happens to read this at school. It’s a load off my mind to have that done and it wasn’t as expensive as I thought (bonus!).
2. Had a picture (photographs with matting) that I bought at the Airlie Beach markets in the Whitsunday framed.
I am SO pleased that it didn’t take us months to get framed. The place even did it in the same day as we are from out of town. How nice is that? AND DH has already hung it on the wall in the lounge (an absolute MIRACLE!!!!) It is SO making me smile every time I see it there!
3. Our “impulse” buy of the day - a new TV for the lounge.
We decided a while ago that we would just go out and buy one. Our main TV is in the family room and I’ve never been a big one for having a TV in the lounge. BUT, now that the kids are using the Playstation more, it is handy to have a second TV.
At the time, we went to go and buy one and just couldn’t do it. Generally we like to shop around, pick up a bargain etc. Anyway, I spotted a 56cm flat screen in the Target catalogue that has a DVD player. Seemed like a reasonable price and Farmboy has been watching a lot more TV in the lounge of late as the chairs are more comfortable for his back and the 34cm we had in there isn’t all that great with his eye sight! And I would love to have access to a DVD player in the lounge so I can do my pilates on carpet.
They had 1 left so we just bought it. Didn’t really think about it much at all. Very unusual for us. :) DH set it up last night and we’re really enjoying it. I think even more so because it was an impulse buy.
The Good News Is….
We don’t live around shops so we don’t do this kind of thing very often.
Last night as we were putting up our picture and setting up the TV, we discussed our plans for the lounge. They include a new lounge suite (our current one is almost 10 years old and while it still looks reasonable, it was a cheap one and there is hardly any padding left in the seats). It was also bought for our old house (back then there were no plans to move) and doesn’t really fit in the new lounge (which is much smaller).
Anyway, our plans for the house are a topic for another post.
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Retail therapy for me is usually new books to read, after I’ve been to the library several times and come home with nothing worth reading, maybe a dvd, and new socks. I love new socks. Handbags too, but I could easily spend 3 months wages on bags and have to live on toast and vegemite, so I stay right away from bag shops.
Am so glad you enjoyed spending the money.. we adults commented recently how we never buy fun stuff for ourselves…… whereas kids have no qualms about doing just that if they save enough!!
Today I had the rare opportunity to bring son #1 home from school so took him into his fav. drum shop to buy a new “skin” and whilst he was having a “bash” on an electric set, wondered how on earth we let him play drums… !!! LOL!!!
Then wandered over to Koorong so he could spend a voucher he was given for his 14th birthday which he spent on CD’S… and then while listening to them in the car , I wondered why he chose the bands he did because all i could hear was guys screaming so called praise !!! yes showing my age again.. and i am not getting younger.!!
Then closer to home I asked if he wanted to go look for some shorts as nothing fits from last years supply.. and he walked into the shop with a smile across his face, pulled off 2 pairs of various patterns, tried them on and gave them the okay, then chose a tshirt that was reduced from $20 to $5 and in 15 mins flat we were soon in the sports shop selecting sport shoes….. and in less than 10mins walked to the car with 2 bagfuls of clothes!!
Usually it is such a chore with him, but he has mellowed recently and seems to be happy with “cheaper than designer” clothes again….. especially if he has a cool pair of shoes to show off to his mates at youth… ! He is a shoes boy!! I used to be a shoe girl and spent weeks of pay on shoes!!
Yes we went from one shop to another.. but it was lovely to see him cheery and thankful for everything… I felt like i had also made the effort when it was just the 2 of us and not with no 2 son in toe .. he went to stay over at a mates place.. phew!
So retail therapy worked today when i was spending on someone else.. but wait till I have to go shopping for me tomorrow and i may well decide its too hard and hopeless and stay home in the heat…. strange hey?
River - I love books too. As for handbags - well, those and shoes I’ve never really worried about until recently. Now….well, let’s just say that self discovery can sometimes be expensive!!!
Lynette - Sounds like a lovely day. I think many mothers find it easier (and often more fun) to spend money on their kids rather than themselves. Hope you can find something for you that makes you smile!