. . . with Target. I think in the past five years Target has dramatically improved their clothing styles, which is a problem at this point because I’m on the ‘diet’. Luckily for me, I haven’t bought a new pair of dress/work shoes in forever and actually needed a new pair, and bought those and bypassed the clothing section entirely. We call that a WIN.
Just a pair of socks? Or the first step down a slippery slope?
It’s been a bad week. First, my iPhone got stolen. The shock of it didn’t really sink in for a couple of days. After investigating the options for replacing the phone, I started to realize that it was a much bigger expense than I first realized. This, after spending several days cancelling all my credit cards and changing passwords to my email accounts and mobile apps. By Monday, I started to feel really bummed out, depressed even, discouraged with people in general. Yet I had to go to Target — we were out of laundry detergent and tooth paste!
In I walked through those sliding glass doors, to find pink hearts and sparkly shamrocks all over the place at what my husband calls the “Dollar Trap”. Immediately, I gravitated toward these pink and red heart socks, and somehow, they slipped into my shopping cart.
Okay, after my instictive grab to throw them in the basket, I realized: I’m not supposed to be buying clothes.
Give me a break! They’re one dollar! Really, with the crappy week I’ve had, it’s a miracle I’m not indulging in something far worse…
And so I debated, as I pushed the cart through the laundry and toiletry aisles. By the time I reached the check stand, I was even more irritated. The clerk in front of me was aggressively selling the man in front of me to sign up for a Target credit card. It took a really long time (especially since the man didn’t seem to speak English all too well). I even had time to run back and pick up some glue sticks I forgot… and
he
was
still
fillling
out
the form…
You get it. By the time I found another — quicker — cashier, I simply didn’t care anymore. I bought the socks.
Really? This is supposed to make me happy? They’re cute and kind of fun… but did I just sell myself out — for a dollar?
At least I didn’t get the shamrock ones, too.
What would you do? Should I return the socks?
Or just keep them and move on?
Grace – A Year (Almost) Without Shopping
It’s official – I made it through Week One and I’ve only got 51 more to go. What was I thinking? I wonder especially because I’m neither a frequent shopper nor much of a fashion follower. I ended up with a subscription to W magazine last year and every time it arrived I thought, “What am I going to do with this?” My husband and I joked that it was sent by my mom or brother as a subtle reminder to step it up a notch, but regardless, I enjoyed my fashion peek while it lasted.
So how did I get through the first week? I told my oldest daughter, Margaret (she’s seven going on 35), all about the “diet” (not a top 10 word at home, but I made an exception) and she kept me honest over the weekend. We went shopping for her new sneakers and leggings at three stores (Target, the Gap and Macy’s). I kept stopping to admire random things that I wanted to look at and maybe, even purchase. Um, but that’s right, “You CAN’T” she reminded me at EVERY second, glance or even, “ooh, isn’t this cute!” comment.
We made it through shopping hell, but not without a million questions, “Can you get new shoes? What if your feet grow? How about underwear or bras? Your socks – you love socks and (most important), can you buy ME new clothes?” Yes, yes, and yes. Thankfully, Margaret doesn’t need anything right now, because she is all business about the apparel diet.
I was left thinking after we got home – Why the sudden urge to purchase? I wish I were 2 or 3 sizes smaller (third baby = 3x the weight) and have enough “big girl” clothes to last until I am 60+, but I kept seeing things that would be perfect for the fall/winter and hell, even for a tropical vacation (that we aren’t taking!). The shopping trip left me with some “consumerish” things to think about and more important, a lot more money in my bank account. Thanks Margaret!
It’s just about the end of week one of this “unemployment” business. I can tell the days are just going to blend together and that there is no such thing as “hump day” in my new world. Even my young son said to me on Monday morning as I was dropping him off at school, “Mommy – we don’t have to rush out of the car”. Right. My sentiment exactly. Mommy doesn’t have a job! Of course I silently replied to him, as I am quite sure that he has not mentally registered that Mommy seems to be around the house MUCH more now. Or that Mommy seems to be wearing her pajamas all day.
Which gets me to the point about our apparel diet? Are we allowed to purchase new pj’s? Is this part of the “new underwear” clause? If underwear is an approved purchase over this year long haul, are night-night clothes okay too? Of course if this is allowed, I will be sure to head straight to TARGET and avoid J.Crew at all costs.
TARGET – Affordable and fashionable. And at this point, the former descriptive is all I care about.
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