How many of you went holiday shopping and bought yourself twice the amount of what you bought for others? The sale was too good. You just knew you would use it every day of your life if you get it right here, right now. You wanted to match your BFF with the gift you got them (so you can get the Pinterest-worthy Instagram picture). Trust me, I know. I went through it all this holiday season. What’s even worse? I picked up a job in retail. AKA: picked up a fat discount. You know that hole in the wallet? Yeah, it’s a gaping wound in mine. To understand us better, here are the common thoughts/logic a shopaholic has:
"But it’s on sale."
Oh honey, just stop yourself. Or don’t. I don’t care. I LOVE THE GAPING WOUND IN MY WALLET! It means my closet is fabulous. See, my mother taught me all my shopping ways. In the past 4 years that I have been working retail, I have never paid full price for anything that sits in my closet. I’m not kidding, absolutely nothing! I am that good. Thanks Martha. So yeah, if the sale is THAT GOOD (we aren’t talking 15-30% off here, no, I am talking the 40-75% honker deals) you get that piece and kill it.
"I’ve always wanted this!"
But this is everything isn’t it? Pink shoes with fluffy balls on the forefoot, I didn’t know these existed but I’VE ALWAYS WANTED THIS! Friends… come on. Let us at least be logical. Yes, those sound amazing and they'd probably look amazing the 2 times you wear them in your life. But be smart about this gaping wound in your wallet. Cheetah coat, must. Black booties, duh. Christian Louboutins, God help us all.
"I didn’t know my butt was capable of looking that good."
I won’t even try to stop you, go for it.
"This is a smart buy."
Will this make you smart? Like a cute pair of glasses that make you feel like the librarian you need to be for finals week. No friends, not this kind. But the kind you need in your house or in general just to get through life: Groceries, pens, notebooks, a wine opener… those kinds of things.
"This is stupid how cheap it is, I just have to buy it."
If I could give you shopaholics the sass face emoji right now, I would. What’s stupid is you opening your wallet up for that. SAVE THE GAPING WOUND!
" Coffee!"
Don’t deprive yourself.
"This would be cute for that one thing…"
HEY! Look at yourself! That one thing? ONE? ONE TIME! No. Put it down.
"This was so fun, I want one!"
If you associate something with joy and good times with friends, absolutely go and get it. Writing this is just reminding me how much I want to buy the game Twister. Every single time, no matter who with, I am on the floor dying laughing with my friends. That’s money well spent!
“Those shoes you can get anytime or this one-of-a-kind ring that is associated with this memory of us at the Farmer’s Market celebrating your 21st birthday?” –Significance
Get those things that are significant to you and bring you back to a memory you will hold onto forever. Maybe your memory isn’t exactly like this, but I have a ring that always brings me back to the weekend my grandma and mom came to Boise to visit me. We celebrated my grandma’s 82nd birthday and my 21st birthday. It was a tourist day in my town with my family and it was the day I realized I was in love with my best friend. I get to be reminded of that every morning when I put on my ring. The gaping wound in the wallet is no longer a wound.
"CASH IS FREE MONEY!"
There is no attachment, get rid of it.
Well I don’t think any of this was helpful because all I want to do now is go buy some things I wrote about (especially those fluff ball shoes). But at least you know someone sympathizes with you.
man running in forestPhoto by 
