Does any of you DETEST shopping?

[aida2003]

I always read/hear ladies chatting about shopping: what they bought, what they're planning to buy or creating some ideas just to go shopping. Some guys also enjoy shopping if they into sports or Best Buy stuff. Then I read/hear about credit card debts, etc.

So, I'm wondering whether there are any people on this board that despise shopping? Or is it just me who cannot stand shopping? I'm not talking groceries, that's a necessity, IMO, unless you buy junk or pies every day/week.

Seriously, I'm 'allergic' to shopping.
If I get impulsive (yes, it occurs maybe 2-3 times a year), I'll go shopping and most of the time I'll be satisfied with my purchases. But if I need to go shopping (e.g. need an outfit for a special occasion or need something for my toddler), I'm pretty sure that I'll get frustrated and will find nothing suitable or if I buy something I'll return later.

My DH is pretty much the same way. We are OK to shop gardening supplies, groceries, but we avoid department stores, malls like plague. I think 90-95% of the time we buy what we NEED, not what we WANT. I think our biggest WANT is vacation and traveling only and the rest is based on needs.

Sometimes I feel guilty listening to my sister telling that she bought this or that or that she loves shopping for her baby son. We can afford many things and I suppose I should just make myself and go unwind once in a while, but I never do because I'm pretty sure I'll feel regrets later for wasting my time and money.

Do any of you feel something similar or know people who do? I know we do not fit in this consumer environment.

[LuxLiving]

I'm very similar, and I do think it's a blessing not to be so wrapped up in the affluenza that's been running rampant the last while here in the U.S.

I recently took FrugalSon and TheGrrl to a mall for an inexpensive date. I did shop and bought my Mother's Day gift for my mom and my Mom's birthday gift, but only because everything from the big wrapped baskety Christmas perfume/lotiony stuff was 50% off and I couldn't get it much cheaper anywhere else. Other than that time it had probably been 15 years or more since I had been to a mall.

That day they walked around for a couple of hours. I bought my gifts and then exited and went to the library and checked out some books.

Why make yourself shop??? No, there are better ways to unwind. Take a walk. Read to a child. Help a senior citizen w/a repair.

[PrincessPerky]

I like to people watch, and I like 'museums' I figure a store full of clothes is like a museum, pretty to look at, but I certainly don't want the job of taking care of all it!

Sheese, I don't dust what I have the last thing I need is another nicknak...and don't even mention more laundry, I have enough piled up here to fill the day (and yes i did laundry yesterday)

So I do like malls..for the people watching (sorry I know not the most PC habit) and I like to spend time letting the kids play with toys (certainly NOT going to buy them!). And occasionally I am in the mood to browse...

Course now a bookstore that I can spend hours in! Or worse a teacher store!

[vsjhoc]

Same here. I don't like drifting aimlessly around the mall or in the stores. I go with the aim of getting something specific and getting out as fast as possible, and I get really frustrated when I can't find what I want.

[Caoineag]

Bookstores I can lose hours in and I enjoy a 20 minute run through a video game store but otherwise, I am not big on stores. Online is where I do a lot of my shopping because I can buy what I need quickly and then do something that's actually fun.

Clothes shopping kills me. I can spend 6 hours clothing shopping and go home with 2 pieces. Ick.

[aida2003]

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

then exited and went to the library and checked out some books.

That's what I like, too, especially in cold weather. I'm happy spring is coming, so we'll be spending more time in the parks, playground, or just in our backyard with our daughter.

[aida2003]

Originally Posted by vsjhoc

I go with the aim of getting something specific and getting out as fast as possible, and I get really frustrated when I can't find what I want.

That's how I feel most of the time. And I try to delay my shopping as much as possible just to avoid going to a store. Stores present so many choices for one thing that it makes my head spin and then of course I feel very frustrated.
To be honest it makes me sometimes appreciate my childhood days in the ex-USSR where we had very few choices, so we HAD to be happy with things that we were lucky to find.

[simpleyme]

i have to shop for work so I have no desire to shop when I do not have to

I work with the public so I have no desire to watch people or interact with strangers in my spare time ( I do that all day i do not mind but I get my fill ) I just want to be home with my family ;-)

[cicy33]

I love to grocery shop but hate any other kind. especially hate shoe shopping!

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

i have to shop for work so I have no desire to shop when I do not have to

I work with the public so I have no desire to watch people or interact with strangers in my spare time ( I do that all day i do not mind but I get my fill ) I just want to be home with my family ;-)

As opposed to lil old stay at home me Even when I walk out my front door there is no one to see...they are all busy at work!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Who shops? It's a hateful thing.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by vsjhoc

I don't like drifting aimlessly around the mall or in the stores. I go with the aim of getting something specific

That's me, too. Years ago, we would go to the mall to have something to do on a weekend afternoon. That really lost it's appeal quite some time ago. I hardly ever go to a mall anymore. We do most shopping at Target or Wal-Mart and will only go there when we need something. We won't go just to browse or kill time. No more recreational shopping.

We will occasionally hit an outlet center with no specific needs in mind and I don't mind that so much. That becomes almost a challenge to see what great stuff we can find at terrific prices. We'll usually go to Lancaster, PA for a weekend each year (we went last month) and do some shopping. We also like Jersey Gardens, especially when we all need shoes.

I'm actually planning to shop this weekend. I want to go down to Atlantic City on Saturday and I have a $10 off coupon and a 15% off coupon for the Van Heusen outlet.

[maat55]

Before I got serious about budgeting and getting out of debt, my wife and I would blow 200 or more a weekend. Since I'VE started taking my financial health seriously, spending money even on things I need makes me queezy.

The though of going shopping, turns my stomach. I love to read educational books now, but I hate to pay full price for them.

[getforfree]

Originally Posted by cicy33

I love to grocery shop but hate any other kind. especially hate shoe shopping!

Me too.

I can spend an hour or so at the grocery store, comparing price per ounce, or matchin with coupons, or searching for coupons and flyers hiding there. But clothes, shoes and stuff, I hate it. I only go if I have to, like because the kids have outgrown their stuff, or my shoes or my pants got holes in them.

Today I went to PaylessShoes to pick up my online order, kids summer shoes, for which I had 30% off code and free shipping to the store, and didn't buy anything, just picked up my order, checked to make sure the shoes are ok, same sizes and all that.

Thank God, my size doens't change, so clothes and shoes last me decades, well my oldest clothes are over 10 yrs old, and I am 26.

I don't do any shopping unless I have a list of exactly what I need and plan ahead. Every February I shop clearance clothes for the next winter, and every September-october, I shop clearance for next summer. I watch the adds and go to the store only if I found a 75-80% off deal, and have a list of who needs what for the season.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by getforfree

Thank God, my size doens't change, so clothes and shoes last me decades, well my oldest clothes are over 10 yrs old, and I am 26.

This is one of those hidden costs of obesity that we never hear about. Constantly having to buy new clothes.

My size hasn't changed since high school and I'm 43. I have t-shirts in my drawer that I bought in 1985 on a trip to Israel. I have dress shirts that I inherited when my FIL died in 1993 because he and I wore the same size.

Eat healthy and exercise and you'll save money in so many ways.

[BCHGRL]

I can shop if I am one of 5 people in the store. I went shopping yesterday and nearly had an anxiety attack (Good Friday). Too many people, too much stuff, and not to mention parking battles. . . . . . .If we are in a recession you wouldn't know that from going to the stores. I'd much rather be at the beach (in my favorite secret spot where there are no people).

[project15]

Haha, just went shopping today with my wife and HATED it. We went to 5 stores, nothing fit at the first 4, and finally we just went to Kohl's and I bought like $200 worth of clothes and 2 hours of my time. Ugh...I was so cranky all day. Good thing I only go shopping every 2 years.

[cschin4]

Yes, I hate shopping. It is a total bore. I don't need anymore stuff. I am always amazed to drive by the mall and see tons of cars there on a beautiful warm, sunny day.
I especially despise clothes shopping. I really am not good at putting outfits together. Nothing seems to fit right, etc. However, every now and then I glance in the mirror and see a troll looking back so then I brace myself and go buy some new stuff!

[aida2003]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I especially despise clothes shopping.

Me too. I can handle shoes, though I don't like having a collection of them either, so I don't shop.

I see some ladies dressed sharp in our offices, but then I wonder how long do they shop each time, how much they spend and then I have no doubts they must frequent stores because each season there's a new fashion. I stick with classic clothes, so I haven't really shopped for a while except maternity clothes.