Recovering Shopaholic

Quite often, one of the things that people use to define me and my personality is my unfaltering desire to shop.  There are few things that make me as happy as wondering around whatever shops, shopping centres, supermarkets, even petrol station shops to see whats there and I what I might be able to buy.

Yesterday, I realised that this desire has totally gone.

After lunch with a friend, we went to Brent Cross, which has a pretty decent selection of shops.  More than ample for a make-up junkie such as myself.  I didn't buy a single thing.  I went into all the usual places and picked up a few things only to put them back a couple of minutes later.  I just wasn't inspired by anything.  If anything, I was more pissed off at all the people that are obviously doing their christmas shopping early and ultimately getting under my feet.

To describe my shopping style, I'm a moocher.  I think that has a different meaning in the UK than in the US so let me explain - I like to amble around, not walking slowly by any means (I'm always on a mission, if I have somewhere I'm going I want to get there as quickly as possible) but not being jostled out of the way by rude people, or elbowed so someone can get in front of me.  Mooching, by the UK definition is to just wander around and look at whats there.  Thats me.   A moocher.  You can't mooch before christmas.  For some reason as soon as those fairy lights and trees go up in our local monuments to consumerism people completely lose their heads - and manners!

I know that I'm going to have to go out and buy the remainder of my christmas presents at some point in the next few weeks and as a christmas-lover I'd normally be pretty excited at the prospect.

Lets just say the general shopping public are making it hard for me to be excited.

Comments

[Deb]

Here in the states we call that "browsing". Just flowing in and out of stores, having a look-see at things. I am not a moocher or a browser. I know what I want to get and do just that when shopping.

[Beth]

Deb - Hello! I hope you're well! We call it browsing too - or window shopping. Mooching is just another fun little term we have for it. I think the busier you are the less of a browser you are. A busy career-woman such as yourself has far more important things to do than amble around the shops, I'm hoping one day I can say the same :)

[Leah Vanessa]

I love browsing, but absolutely cannot do it with all the frantic masses running around the stores. It makes me irritable. Personally, I hate how commercial Christmas has become and usually just give everyone a hand drawn Christmas card and leave it at that.

[KennethSF]

I like window shopping, or mooching, as you might refer to it in the UK. It certainly costs less than an actual shopping spree.

[brandy]

I'm a browser too. Or a moocher, for you. I find that if I go and NEED TO BE IN A CERTAIN STORE AT A CERTAIN TIME, I just get stressed out. I like to set aside far more time than I need to shop, just so I can wander. And honestly, I usually find my best gifts when I least expect them from stores I haven't thought of... so there is a method to my madness I suppose.

[David]

I like to browse through the mall and shops, with the intent that "I'm just looking" but I end up always buying something. It's a real bad habit, but you should see my wardrobe!

What about online shopping? I know it's not the same and cant compare to the beautiful flourescant lighting or the irreplaceable ding of a register, but it could be as fun...