Tips from a shopaholic

I thought that it would be timely to put some tips out there for my fellow shopaholics! Yes, I am a self-confessed shopaholic.... and here are some things  that try and trip me up very time - hopefully it will help, and if not - then make you smile!

1) Pester Power

During researching for a marketing paper I was doing, I stumbled across something called pester power. You may not have known what it was called but I am sure you know what it is.... its the child that tugs at your shirt/dress/leg or a combo of those ;-) when they see something they like and say, "Mum, mum, mum can I have, can I have.... mum, mum...... aaaawwwww mum, mum what about this..... mum, mum, can I please.... I want this... please can I have.... puuulllllllleeeeeaaasssseee..." Unfortunately as they get older it doesn't stop - it is just more sophisticated but remains just as annoying. I won't tell you what I used to do my boys-needless to say that if they were pestering me it must have been in their minds... Anyway, did you know that there is actually research that shows that pester power contributes to sales of products - I know? Amazing isn't it - so tip number one - to get around it - leave the pesterer's home  - why? because if you are truly a shopaholic - you don't need the extra push - you already have the desire to shop for any reason down pat ;-)

2) Brand Power

During the same research I found that BOYs get stuck on brand names...and develop brand loyalty quite early on. At the time, I couldn't imagine that my sons would be smitten by this bug but some years later I am witnessing it first hand and am amazed at the power that a BRAND NAME has over them! Actually, having said that - my niece demonstrates the same loyalty ;-). Not sure if there is a way to get over this as I certainly shopped for bargains all the boys lives and still do regardless of the brand - so tip number two, like tip number one - leave the little precious home.

3)  Beware of the'Demand'

Before my recent trip to Aussie, I and asked what they wanted.... The list was short and specific and all it included was a pair of LOWER jeans and a LOWER t-shirt. They researched the internet for their mother so I could see what the brand looked like and off I went. I walked the length and breath of both Melbourne and Sydney looking for these LOWER jeans..... and nothing! So I tell the boys and they are okay because I assure them that despite their mother spending enough money in Australia to keep at least 1/2 dozen African orphans alive for years! I have enough for them. I get home and just last week I go into a surfing shop to check out these LOWER jeans, shirts, and singlets. I say to the young shop attendant - "I tried looking all over Aussie for these but couldn't find them". "Oh, no we don't sell these in Aussie - its a New Zealand brand". OK - cool - I'm a buy New Zealand made person so I check out the prices and I almost hit the floor in hysterics. Singlets for almost $100, and jean shorts (that means half of the pants are actually missing!) are pressing $200. The confused shop attendant looks at me and tells me that "stock has to be replenished all the time because it is just sooooo popular, with some styles selling out". Now I don't know who is behind this brand but good on them - they have created a little market that is allowing people - harrased parents among that number, to buy these rediculously priced items of clothing - so beware of the demand - no tip, just beware of the products that have created a sensation from nothing. Hopefully, just as Mossimo was king when I was younger - hopefully LOWER will become an acquired taste for the rich and famous and not a must-have-or-I-may-not-live item for the real people. Tip - wait for a decade for the brand to die down in popularity ;-) or..... buckle under pressure ;-)

4) Packaging is just fancy marketing

I was out shopping for a farewell gift for a friend/work colleague the other night and was dazzled by the beautfiul packaging of the gifts available. Based on the packaging alone I was ready to drop mula all over the place - starting with a pretty bottle of perfume covered in butterflies, to a wrapped up gift of products I would have never ever used! Luckily I had a voice of reason (thank you Mandy) with me who quickly snapped me out of it and reminded me about the packaging and kept looking for the contents of the product... and although what we got in the end was aesthetically pleasing to this visual learner - it was economical as well ;-) So tip number four - take someone who doesn't suffer from your kind of disorder to keep it real for you!

5) Keep your balance

As a shopaholic I know that the bottom line of an account is seen as something to circumnavigate...however as I have grown older that has changed.... There are few things in life I don't know - actually, there is a lot I don't know and more things I forget!! But my balance is not one of those things. Always know your balance shopaholics and keep to it...which I guess separates us from normal shoppers - the inability or difficulty to stop - but for everyone's sake - do it! My tips - If you need a credit card - get a look alike one - where you can use it like a credit card but its balance is what you actually have on that card. Try and use cash - as it reminds you all the time when you are running low and sometimes guides your spending like a budget does for normal people ;-) And whatever you do...keep your family on side this christmas and have money for the new year to start over. Money is one of the main causes of divorce and fights and christmas is already stressful enough without our little problem raising its pretty little head!! 

Happy bargain hunting!!

Yours in friendship, Mxox