LAst saturday, my sister (ian) and I went to see a movie at greenbelt--i dont know why i had that adrenaline rush to watch the movie--deep inside i know there is something inside of me (maybe subliminal!) asking me to watch this movie and to just learn from whatever I will be getting from what I will see. The movie I mean is nothing but the famous---CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC!
Let me share the synopsis of this "feel-good" movie: In the glamorous world of New York City, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fischer) is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping –- a little too good, perhaps. She dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can’t quite get her foot in the door –- until ironically, she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company. As her dreams are finally coming true, she goes to ever more hilarious and extreme efforts to keep her past from ruining her future. Her problems with debts and shopping (too much!) made this movie a blast! The movie as a whole is pretty predictable but it was fun!
Okay, let's face it. Shopping can be fun! For me, its a therapy! But of course, when it gets out of hand, it can be too much...The movie clearly showed this sickening ode to consumerist greed comes just in time for the recession! Well, I'm not like the girl in the movie though--i feel that I am not yet (yet?!) in the borderline for this type of addiction (though I feel that I am progressing towards it--HEHEHEHE!). People who "shop 'till they drop" and run their credit cards up to the limit often have a shopping addiction. They believe that if they shop they will feel better. Compulsive shopping and spending generally makes a person feel worse. It is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions. Compulsive shopping or spending can be a seasonal balm for the depression, anxiety and loneliness. It also can occur when a person feels depressed, lonely and angry. Shopping and spending will not assure more love, bolster self-esteem, or heal the hurts, regrets, stress, and the problems of daily living. It generally makes these feelings worse because of the increased financial debt the person has obtained from compulsive shopping.
So, for the shopaholic addicts like me---what did I learned from this piece of movie? ( a lesson for all of us on materialism in this troubled time!)
- Avoid the stores that you love most unless you truly need something (believe me--ask yourself ten times ("do I need this?")before rushing to the cashier and swipping that mastercard!)
- If you truly do need to shop for new items, take a friend or family member shopping with you, and tell them to keep you in check. (at least someone to balance your decisions and your cravings before IT BECOMES AN ADDICTION!
- Pay for purchases by cash, check, debit card.
- Make a shopping list and only buy what is on the list.
- Avoid discount warehouses. Allocate only a certain amount of cash to be spent if you do visit one.
- "Window shop" only after stores have closed. If you do "look" during the day, leave your wallet at home.
- Avoid phoning in catalog orders and don't watch TV shopping channels.
- Take a walk or exercise when the urge to shop comes on.
Happy Shopping!
