If you're happy and you know it don't go shopping

November 10, 2009

I rarely shop, weekly produce and monthly groceries aside. And of course the once a month family date night at Home Depot or Lowes doesn't count either. Damien takes care of our family's clothing and outdoor gear purchases and most of those are bought on-line with little or no involvement on my part (except to dole out the monthly budget).

I don't consider shopping fun, I consider it work. I'd seriously rather wash dishes or hang laundry. Shopping is a task that is better avoided or delegated. I can't wait till my children are old enough to drive and run errands to the store for me! But sometimes I can't avoid the inevitable - the kids need something that's not provided for in the clothing/gear budget, we run out of thread or gluesticks (heaven forbid!), or a household item needs to be replaced.

In these instances I have no choice but to go shopping, usually to either the craft/fabric/kitchen store complex (big box store types) or to Goodwill. The kids, unlike myself, love these excursions and bring along their change purses because "you never know". And when we go to Goodwill there's almost always something there that one of us either needs or wants and can afford. But even that is not without pitfall.

Take this week for example. The kids and I wanted to buy a funky striped sweater to cut up and craft with, oh... can't wait to show you those creations. I also need materials for Christmas gifts I'm making. Simple enough. Go to Goodwill, look around, see what there is, buy what we need, stay in budget, leave.

Thankfully I stuck to the budget and we left in decent time to make supper but I hadn't been prepared for the "I wants" that assaulted me when I got in the store. And I'm not talking about the kids!!

I'm usually very content with what I have. Because I don't watch tv, don't subscribe to magazines and don't read the catalogs that come in the door (6 were delivered today alone, that's obscene) I'm generally not aware of what's out there for goods. And I'm content that way. I have all the basic tools I need for preparing food, I have what I need of hand me down and discounted outdoor wear clothing, blankets for our beds, decent furniture, one pair of black dress shoes, the pantry is stocked, I have enough yarn for my current project and then some, I have a nice camera and computer, a sewing machine... oh my goodness the list could go on and on. What more could I want?

Well... I could want that fuzzy sweater I saw at the end of the aisle, the glassware with matching lids to replace the plastic in my cupboards, the funky red shoes that looked just so cute, the extra sheets for the beds, more vases to replace the ones I gave away with bouquets this summer. Turns out I could want a lot more. A lot more that I wasn't even aware of until I stepped into the store.

I was contented. I am contented but a word to the wise, shopping can really mess with your mind, proceed with caution and only if you are strong willed.

My birthday is coming up in less than a month and I'm wracking my brain trying to come up with a gift idea for Damien (we rarely surprise each other - too risky). I honestly can't think of anything I need or even want right now so maybe I should ask for a gift certificate to Goodwill!

Photos for this post are from Common Ground Fair, the last time I shopped "for recreation". Even then I didn't buy much other than food but I was very inspired about the things I could come home and make (smile).