Doctors call it 'Oniomania'?

It has come to my attention that professors are beginning to see shopping as some sort of mental behaviour used by women to supress feelings they have about work, family and other stresses. One of the stresses that they suggested caused it was money worries. How ironic! You go and spend money so that you stop worrying about not having enough for rent. Oh yes. They've surely got the answer this time. They're even decided to give this sickness a name, 'Oniomania'. That's some rational thinking you have going on there Mr Scientist. Sounds like the name of an addiction to Omni (a bubbly wine) if you ask me.

Come On? Really? Shopping can be seen as a skill, a hobby, a leisurely activity for some. Some of us choose to shop to buy nice things, because we want nice things and because we can afford them. Others don't see it as their slice of cake, which I can kind of understand. The bewilderment of being pushed into a chain store like Dotti where they have so much to offer could scare a young adult from a rural community and the loud music blaring in stores such as Ice Design could have middle aged women racing out the door. Yes. It's a sad and suprising truth that even some men like shopping more than their mothers and sisters.

I am certain that I may spend a little bit too much on clothes. I am certain that I may influence some people to buy clothes occasionally. I am certain that I go a little over the top with fashionable presents for friends and family sometimes but that's not a problem for me. You see I buy all my own things. I don't take out loans to pay some credit card debt and I definitely don't ask family and friends for money. It's the way I work, to make sure I don't become dependent on these people and tools to pay for what I want.



You see there are three types of spenders.

There is the Smart spender; one who writes lists of what they need and rarely goes far away from the lists. They may stumble across something in a magazine and add it to the list but they won't impulse buy a $350 pair of Marc Jacobs heels just because they saw them in their size. These spenders rarely double up on an item and love their monthly fashion magazine fix.

There is the Indulgent spender; one who buys with compromise and only wants the best. They won't wait for the sale rack, if they see something they want... that they can afford, it's theirs. They rarely make lists but instead shop without much purpose or anything in mind. These shoppers will stock up on both chain stores pieces and designers brands such as Marc Jacobs and Alannah Hill.

There is the Sales spender; one who buys to save. This is the pot they put themselves into that makes them look irrational and sometimes even mental in the eyes of the 'experts'. It appears that these individuals will buy two pairs of sunglasses simply because its "buy one get one half price". They then end up with many items that they never wear because they only need the one.



So whichever spender you are; as long as you stay in your own moral guidelines and don't risk the rent you should go on shopping the way you are. Don't let any 'expert' tell you that you need to be hospitalised for this 'disorder' as you're only listening to your heart by buying that new pair of gladiator heels or aztec inspired tank.

Follow your heart & your wallet and you will always have a home


♥Clairzy