Hellooo Loverrr!

Still with me?
Well if you are, you are either like me or you know someone who is…

Someone who gets a glimpse of something shiny and new or just irresistible out of the corner of your eye and you just have to take a further look.

Someone who has an eye for a bargain and will always think of someone who would benefit from the purchase.

Do you (almost) have a bag in every colour, pants in every style and shoes for every occasion?

Do you have things in your cupboards that you haven’t even worn or used but you know you will, one day…

Do you get off on the sheer high of the acquisition?

And yet, we are made feel guilty for our pleasure!

How many of us have dumped shopping bags or shoeboxes before we get home?

Most of us, that’s who!

Shopping’s fun, that’s why we do it.

And yet, it can get us into sooo much trouble…

The Credit card bills and late payments, less grocery money because you’ve spent it on make-up, juggling final notices and car payments and worrying about the rent or mortgage. Stress, Stress, Stress!

These things are NOT FUN!

Well, I’m here to tell you that shopping is NOT a bad thing.

O.k., I will admit that problems can and do arise but, with a bit of forward planning and strategy, we can all enjoy that urge inside us to purchase!

WE CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

Hiding the evidence

I came home yesterday as pleased as punch with myself.
I have successfully bought myself 2 outfits and two pairs of boots for a hundred and twenty bucks!
Unbelievable I know, a store was closing down and were getting rid of pieces as low as ten dollars each...
A tunic style top, pants, long sleeve shirt dress, leggings, another black top and the two pairs of boots, one black and the other tan.Amazing!
Imagine my joy!
Anyway, I also bought some things for presents to put away for people, bought myself a coffee and was quite chuffed until I got home and realized the hubby was home!
Shit!
It's not like I was worried about getting in trouble for my splurge ( ok, well maybe a little ) it was more that I was so excited and wanted the feeling to last and not be squashed by the negatives of "Where is the room in the budget..?"
"Nice for some of us to be out shopping while the rest of us work", "You don't see me out buying new clothes" In the gruff Dad type tone, yadda yadda yadda, you know the spiel.

I just wanted to bask for a while in high of the purchase and be proud for a while of the great deal hunter that I was.I don't know about you, but I love the thrill of the discount buy and the smell of new fabric and the sweetness of the store attendant as she slips your new things into an enviro bag.
So...
I hid them.
I was like a little kid, squishing everything into one bag and shoving them under the picnic rug in the boot of my car until later, when I planned to sneak them into the house and disperse them into drawers and cupboard to be later referred to as 'that old thing' or, 'I got it for ten bucks ages ago...'

Later in the evening, the kids are in bed, the dishes are done and I'm starting to lounge in front of the telly. Hubby comes out and hands me a wine and comments that he's in need of some new shirts and shorts and wouldn't be nice to have time to shop...
I smile and nod my head and murmur that I could have a look for him after work one day during the week and switch to talking about upcoming events, totally nonplussed.

The next morning...

I've juggled the morning chaos hour, made lunches, gotten ready for work, scrambled to get out the door on time to get the kids to school and to go to work and I go to get into the front seat of the car and...

On the front drivers seat is my huge bag with all my beautiful things folded neatly and perched upright, leaning on the steering wheel!

BUSTED!

I laughed out loud and then drove off wondering what I'll say tonight....