What the HELL is it about "shopping"?

[FatCat]

Another method of saving: when we do go shopping, at the bottom of the receipt it tells you, "you saved $xx.xx today at SpendySpendy store!"... the money that it tells me I saved, I move into my savings.

I like it when the receipt says I saved $500-600 dollars and the total was like 20 or 30. It makes it too obvious they are faking the high prices to make you think you're getting a good deal. Or else I guess that I only buy things there that are about 95% off.

I don't feel like I "saved" any money. I just bought it at the price point that I'm willing to buy at.

[Latwell]

Another method of saving: when we do go shopping, at the bottom of the receipt it tells you, "you saved $xx.xx today at SpendySpendy store!"... the money that it tells me I saved, I move into my savings.

I like it when the receipt says I saved $500-600 dollars and the total was like 20 or 30. It makes it too obvious they are faking the high prices to make you think you're getting a good deal. Or else I guess that I only buy things there that are about 95% off.

I don't feel like I "saved" any money. I just bought it at the price point that I'm willing to buy at.

mm, good point. Kohls is one of those companies that claims something is on sale... yet it is always "on sale", so in reality it's just the actual price.

[PatStab]

I go shopping sometimes but not like I used to.  Anymore I do most of my shopping online. 
Now when we went to Florida I found all kinds of clearance stores.  I bought way to many Nike and New
Balance shoes for $40 a pair.  Those online are 3 times the price so it was worth it. I'm also in a large size
that I can only order, they don't carry them in the stores.

I have way to many clothes and have lost from an 18 to a 12 so have been shopping.  But I'm trying to limit to 3 or 4 items per size till I see where I end up.  I want to lose 13 more pounds and hope to

[use2betrix]

That's how people fall prey to the seduction of the store display and the emotional knee jerk reaction to impulse buy.  And goodbye, budget; hello, credit card debt.

Some people have incomes that they can "shop" without credit card debt. While your attitude is great for low income thrifty people, or those that want to retire early (not everyone's plan) some people have big enough incomes that they can shop and still get ahead.

I understand the general consensus of this site, but can a person who makes 50k really judge a person who makes 150k for going shopping a couple times a month? Even if they spend 10k a year on crap at the mall, they can still easily come out way ahead.

I joined this site because my spending needs work. I don't go to the mall and shop really, but more so other stuff. That being said, at 26 I make a lot of money so even if everything isn't right on point, I still come out ahead of most people that make half of what I do.

[FatCat]

Another method of saving: when we do go shopping, at the bottom of the receipt it tells you, "you saved $xx.xx today at SpendySpendy store!"... the money that it tells me I saved, I move into my savings.

I like it when the receipt says I saved $500-600 dollars and the total was like 20 or 30. It makes it too obvious they are faking the high prices to make you think you're getting a good deal. Or else I guess that I only buy things there that are about 95% off.

I don't feel like I "saved" any money. I just bought it at the price point that I'm willing to buy at.

mm, good point. Kohls is one of those companies that claims something is on sale... yet it is always "on sale", so in reality it's just the actual price.

Kohls is the worst about claiming you've saved a ton of money on the receipt. Krogers likes to do it too.

I understand the general consensus of this site, but can a person who makes 50k really judge a person who makes 150k for going shopping a couple times a month? Even if they spend 10k a year on crap at the mall, they can still easily come out way ahead.

Different people have different situations and different priorities and interests. A $10k shopping trip to the mall might cause financial hardship for one person and be barely noticeable for another. I think it's better to find ways to earn more than to keep trying to spend less. But on a forum about frugality you're going to find the mindset tends towards cutting back spending. And a lot of people tend to shop until they've maxed out their spending ability no matter if their income is $20k a year or $200k a year. As long as funds are available they will spend them.

But yes, if you make $150k, and spend like you make $70k and save the rest, then you're coming out better than someone who makes $50k. But someone who makes $50k while trying to save will think your lifestyle is really spendy.

[Retired To Win]

Some people have incomes that they can "shop" without credit card debt. While your attitude is great for low income thrifty people, or those that want to retire early (not everyone's plan) some people have big enough incomes that they can shop and still get ahead.

I understand the general consensus of this site, but can a person who makes 50k really judge a person who makes 150k for going shopping a couple times a month? Even if they spend 10k a year on crap at the mall, they can still easily come out way ahead.

I joined this site because my spending needs work. I don't go to the mall and shop really, but more so other stuff. That being said, at 26 I make a lot of money so even if everything isn't right on point, I still come out ahead of most people that make half of what I do.

I would say either you missed the point or I could have done a better job of stating it.  The premise of the original post is that shopping as entertainment is a piss poor way of passing the time.  And that has nothing to do with how much money one makes.

[Hadilly]

This blog posts explains why one person really loved shopping: http://recoveringshopaholic.com/is-shopping-your-only-hobby/

Not my addiction and glad of it.

[MBot]

After doing a year of no frivolous or unnecessary shopping, I realized two things: I can browse for free relaxation, and browsing is information-gathering.

1. I would still browse to have a way to "kill time" when I was near work but a meeting ended early, or if I came out of a stressful situation and didn't want to be still with my thoughts. If I didn't have a book with me or a podcast, it is good to occupy some time.

2. Buying a home repair item and doing a task (a rake and then raking leaves, or caulk and recalling the tub) is a typical "relaxation with a bit of productivity" that I do with my spouse. It's not just work, but an outing first, a chance to walk around together and talk about future possibilities while not having to buy anything. But when we do need a large item like a washer and dryer, we've already walked past them 20 times and aren't suckered by the frantic pace of the latest "sale". Se with baby stuff. Even before getting pregnant we'd gone through a few store departments, compared prices, looked at what we really "need" and realized most of it is not necessary.

3. Even if I browse at places like Value Village, I have a "list." Eg I needed to replace my Birkenstock sandals for about a year (one heel was completely worn, through cork and outsole); I'm always taking notes on the price for later when I'll buy them.  The same when I come across a $10 (instead of $40) sale on the one brand and style of jeans that always fits and wears well on me, I will buy 4 knowing I ont need to buy any more for years.

[FIRE me]

Oooooh, let's go to the mall and do some shopping.  NOT!!

Am I being too hardass about this?  What do you think about this whole topic?

I have a bad habit to confess, almost like recreational shopping. I like to browse a hot deals website. I don't make random impulse buys. But I watch for things on my “want” list.

My purchases include things like a high quality Bosch cordless drill and my one and only big screen HDTV. True, they were good deals, but it would have been more Mustachian to make do with my corded drill and my standard definition (with the free broadcast digital to analog converter) idiot box.

[MMMaybe]

Living in Asia, I have really gone off shopping.

Firstly I am too big for most of the clothes on offer. In the West, I am very average but here I am taller and my build is bigger than the tiny locals so I struggle. I literally tower over people at 5"5. Clothes on offer are skinny trousers in all kinds and sometimes start at XXS and top out at M. I'd be lucky to get my arm into those. I got a nervous giggle the other day, when I asked if they had non-skinny jeans.

The proportions of the clothes are all wrong too. Tops are too short as are sleeves and my big feet really are hard to fit, coming in at a massive European size 39. Its tough on the ego when you get told, We don't keep your size or more bluntly, you too big, ma'am. I am a US size 8/AUS 10-12 for the record :)

Secondly, service here is usually having someone tail you around the shop and stand right in front of what you are looking at. There are usually a disproportionate number of staff too, who are bored out of their minds. In my local Ace Hardware, I had 8 sales assistants working on getting me a automatic timer/testing it for me the other day. Plus there are usually people greeting you all over the store. Its hard to keep a low profile. I find it stressful to be honest.

So I am done with shopping, unless absolutely necessary :)

[pancakes]

  For me, it's a fascinating way to look at society.  What products are companies pushing?  What are consumers buying?  Is it clothes for very fancy occasions, or things that are more laid back?  Are items designed to impress others or are they personal and sentimental?

I like going to the shops for this reason too. Just as I like going to galleries and museums. I don't need to own everything that I see but I can enjoy seeing new things and learning more about the society that I live in. I'm a pretty visual person and enjoy seeing how others use colour, pattern and shape.

I do have a weakness for buying things while shopping on holidays though. I love buying interesting versions of everyday mundane items (that I 'need') on holidays and having my memories triggered each time I use them. It does help that as an Australian pretty much everything is also cheaper overseas. I try to buy plenty of clothes while on holidays too, they are generally better quality, easier to find my size and a lot less expensive than buying locally. I just got back from a trip where I bought 4 shirts, a pair of pants and a dress for less than I would spend on 1 good quality new item locally. My casual wear is now sorted for the next few years and the dress is nice enough to wear to work.

[MLKnits]

Pancakes, I thought I was alone in that kind of holiday shopping! I don't enjoy souvenirs of the classic type (eg hugely expensive, less-well-made versions of things you already own, but with place names slapped on) but often pick up items I need when I travel. My go-to small frying pan for the last decade has been one I bought in Rome, and my childhood dog's leash and collar came from Venice and Paris, respectively. Useful items with nice memories attached are win/win.

[nereo]

I understand the general consensus of this site, but can a person who makes 50k really judge a person who makes 150k for going shopping a couple times a month? Even if they spend 10k a year on crap at the mall, they can still easily come out way ahead.

I joined this site because my spending needs work. I don't go to the mall and shop really, but more so other stuff. That being said, at 26 I make a lot of money so even if everything isn't right on point, I still come out ahead of most people that make half of what I do.

I think the underlying message of MMM and of this forum in general is to spend your money only on things that increase your happiness.  Regardless of whether you make $50k or $150k, does a shopping spree a few times a month make you happier, and how long does that happiness last?  Is there another use for that money that would generate longer-lasting satisfaction?
These aren't rhetorical questions.  For some owning an exotic car or eating at a 3-star restaurant is worth the price.  That's their prerogative. Unfortunately for many, shopping is just a knee-jerk reaction influenced by advertising aimed at buying some temporary happiness, but too often that happiness is fleeting and results in nasty side effects like debt, working longer hours, and having more things to store and care for.

I would say there's less negative side effects of shopping for someone who has a high income; there's less risk because there's more income.  However, there positive effects are no different (and could perhaps be even less) than someone who earns 1/3 as much. 

[Arktinkerer]

I enjoy shopping from time to time:

When traveling I like to visit the grocery stores and see what items they have that we don't carry locally. 

Going to see the discount/closeout/return section of various stores can be worthwhile.

Flea markets/thrift stores/junk stores--I can find some useful items here.  One afternoon visiting a tourist trap of a town my wife and I made a game of going to antique/junk shops and seeing who could find the most hideous thing for sale.  I recall she won by finding a casserole dish with a lid that looked like babies trying to escape.  And, no, we didn't buy it!

Farmers markets are usually fun.  Even if I don't buy I like talking to the sellers about what they grow and their garden tips.

[FatCat]

Secondly, service here is usually having someone tail you around the shop and stand right in front of what you are looking at. There are usually a disproportionate number of staff too, who are bored out of their minds. In my local Ace Hardware, I had 8 sales assistants working on getting me a automatic timer/testing it for me the other day. Plus there are usually people greeting you all over the store. Its hard to keep a low profile. I find it stressful to be honest.

I noticed this in Asia. I don't like to have a personal shopping assistant. I think it puts more pressure on you to buy. Having 4 or 5 different girls fetching clothes for you to try on makes you feel obligated to buy something after causing such a ruckus. I think that's part of the reason why they have so many employees. Even if the store is full of customers I somehow still managed to get a personal shopping assistant. I thought it was really odd at first but it seems to be the normal shopping experience in some areas. I can see how some people come to the USA and think the customer service here is terrible if you're used to employees running around to help you shop as soon as you walk through the door.

The only place this happens in the states is in home improvement stores. If you walk in with a list, they'll have 3 or 4 guys running around collecting the items in a hurry sometimes.

[The_Captain]

As a teenager I grew up next to a mall. All the buses in the city mostly used that mall as one of the major hubs for transfers. So for a lot of my fellow teenagers going to the mall was a pretty common pastime, me included. But I didn't have a job through much of high school so I had very little money to spend, leaving me to mostly just wander around and look at stuff.

I think those years of looking but not buying were good exercise for my frugality muscles. To this day I can go to stores, look at goodies, and then just walk away from them, even if I've got the money to spend now. It certainly was a decent way to burn time as a teenager, and regularly hitting shops but not buying things is a great way to note trends like prices so that when you are looking to buy something you've got a bit more history on the pricing of said goods and can figure out good deals.

[Retired To Win]

...The only place this happens in the states is in home improvement stores. If you walk in with a list, they'll have 3 or 4 guys running around collecting the items in a hurry sometimes.

Really, that's your experience?!  It's certainly not mine.  I either have to fast walk across the aisle ends looking for an orange vest (or a red one depending on the store chain) or go to the pushbutton thingie in the middle of the aisle to summon someone to help me via the store's loudspeaker system.

[handsnhearts]

...The only place this happens in the states is in home improvement stores. If you walk in with a list, they'll have 3 or 4 guys running around collecting the items in a hurry sometimes.

Really, that's your experience?!  It's certainly not mine.  I either have to fast walk across the aisle ends looking for an orange vest (or a red one depending on the store chain) or go to the pushbutton thingie in the middle of the aisle to summon someone to help me via the store's loudspeaker system.

+1!  yeah, I can never find anyone there...

[FatCat]

...The only place this happens in the states is in home improvement stores. If you walk in with a list, they'll have 3 or 4 guys running around collecting the items in a hurry sometimes.

Really, that's your experience?!  It's certainly not mine.  I either have to fast walk across the aisle ends looking for an orange vest (or a red one depending on the store chain) or go to the pushbutton thingie in the middle of the aisle to summon someone to help me via the store's loudspeaker system.

It depends strongly on the store and the staffing and the time of day. Much of the time I have the same experience as you. Sometimes I get a small team of people fetching things. The last several times I've gone, I've ended up with a small team of people that start fetching things. I don't really want them doing it. They just start doing it because there is a lot of staff and barely any customers.

[cerebus]

I hate shopping especially in malls. These days I find them to be a sensory overload. I come out and I'm completely frazzled. It's definitely not my happy place anyway. 

[Retired To Win]

I hate shopping especially in malls. These days I find them to be a sensory overload. I come out and I'm completely frazzled. It's definitely not my happy place anyway.

I can honestly say I have not been to an indoor mall in possibly 2 years.  From time to time, I'll go to a Sears near me (in a mall).  But I'll go into the Sears through its own exterior entrance and never go into the mall itself.  I much prefer it that way.

[Stagleton]

Mall is great! Hot girls go there.