Why You Need A No-nonsense Shopping List!

‘Whoever said money can’t buy happiness obviously didn’t know where to go shopping!’ Shopping is a woman’s favorite sport. It’s almost like rugby- women enjoy the scuffle, the contest, the crazy crowds, the danger of being caught in a stampede of hysterical women, and finally- the sense of pure satisfaction and utmost joy when they finally land at the billing counter with their prized possessions! There’s nothing more exhilarating, exciting, and quite frankly cleansing, than picking up a bag and a credit card, and hitting the stores… with intention to splurge!

Though we lucky ladies love to shop, more often than not we feel like crap when the bill is added up, unless we’re looking to take revenge on an inattentive husband! What usually leads to over-spending on shopping trips is the assumption that if we don’t get it right now it may not be there in future. Now that is completely misguided. You do not need to purchase a yellow sundress in winter, just ‘because it outlined your waist perfectly! Come spring, you’re definite to find the same outfit in more colors and better styles. Another reason is falling prey to the deceptively worded and wonderfully inviting promotional offers and sales pitched advertised around the shop. Why even last week, I bought a triple pack of great-smelling, instantly effective carpet cleaner, and my home floor isn’t even carpeted!

It is these little bouts of extravagancy that lead women to often self-impose a shopping ban on themselves, leading to a disastrous down-slide in her mood and a consequently dangerous effect on her family. We are all shopaholics, so let’s not even try to get sober. What one must do is resort to this ingenious and quite in-complex idea of making a list. Be it shopping for grocery, gifts or even gardening equipment, writing down what is essential to our purchase helps stay focused, positive and firm on our wallet. There are umpteen grocery lists available on the internet to help you methodically shop for your monthly provisions without forgetting important stuff. But do not forget that pruning the list is vital, so you don’t end up buying half the shop in one go! Let me reiterate- you do not need carpet cleaner without a carpet (note to self)!

Even when you’re shopping for clothes, follow Tim Gunn’s rule- make a list of wardrobe essentials, be it just jeans, formal tops or an evening dress. Frankly it is a fabulous idea to write down what kind of outfit you want to buy, so you can go straight to that section, try on a few, buy what’s perfect and be completely content with your purchase! With our apparent passion for apparel, it is a regular scenario to go into a store and get lost in the beautiful, vibrant fabrics and dreams of delicate dresses that aren’t even our size. In a few hours we either end up loaded with tops we don’t need, depressed that we don’t fit into anything cute, or back again with our favorite kind of outfit that is already bursting through our closet! In my case, I have a crazy penchant for black tops- and every time I go shopping for a white skirt or cream pants to go with them, I just end up back home with more black tees and blouses! This is where a shopping list helps- kind of works like those blinders they put on the side of a horse’s eyes to help is stay on a straight path!