Myself and five friends us were sitting at home last Saturday night trying to figure out what to do. Someone suggested the local regional mall that had just added 40 additional stores and restaurants. We decided to go, because we could not think of anything else to do that night.
By the end of the evening we had spent about $500 (between the six of us) on a variety of frivolous items, food and drink. We used our credit cards and decided to throw caution to the wind and worry about the evenings expenses when the bill came. We had a nice time looking around the mall, eating, drinking and visting but I am sure the six of us will wonder if we really needed to spend all that money when the VISA/MasterCard bill come in.
Do you think alot of spending is a result of easy credit and boredom?
Full Version: Do you go shopping because of boredom ?
For sure. It's just like eating, people do it to soothe themselves.
I used to do this ALL THE TIME! Now I'm aware of the problem and either go to the library to check out books and movies or sit at home. If the urge is really bad I'll go to garage sales or 2nd hand kids clothing stores so if I spend $1.00 I'm not freaking out. I have a serious shopping problem that I have to constantly be aware of so this a daily issue with me. The mall is off limits until Christmas shopping time and even then I may just do it all online so I don't overspend. I know this is how most of my friends and myself have gotten ourselves in trouble financially!
Absolutely. I know a lot of people who go to shopping malls, Target, BestBuy, whatever, just because they're bored and want to look at cool stuff. A (wealthy) friend of mine recently bought an Ipod Nano, Gameboy Micro, and Motorola Razr on 3 separate impulse shopping trips.
Personally, I try to stay away from any unnecessary shopping trips. I admit though, I sometimes go along with friends on these trips. The trick is to not buy anything, but sometimes I find myself getting something to eat at the food court...
Personally, I try to stay away from any unnecessary shopping trips. I admit though, I sometimes go along with friends on these trips. The trick is to not buy anything, but sometimes I find myself getting something to eat at the food court...
If your prone to impulse shopping you should stay out of the mall.
(It's sort of similar to saying if you're an alcoholic you shouldn't hang out in bars.)
(It's sort of similar to saying if you're an alcoholic you shouldn't hang out in bars.)
I have a Walmart problem. Today I went in to get light bulbs, but some how convinced my self I needed a new fire extingusher too. It is worse for me at night because if I can't sleep, I drive to the Super Walmart as it is open 24/7 and impulse shop.
I can go through a mall, enjoy looking at everything, and come out with nothing. And the food doesn't tempt me at all- fatty, greasy, sugary and the portions are too big. But, given a few hours to kill, I'd rather settle in at home with a good book.
Like Athena I prefer reading to doing anything! My spouse complains b/c I don't like to go anywhere or do anything and my response is that no matter what you do or where you go is costs money (especially right now with gas prices as they are). I have a SIL who shops all the time and I have to hear constantly about all the great deals she finds on these shopping sprees. Finally I got steamed enough that when my MIL kept going on about her other DIL's great savings on all these items she finds, how much she saves, got for it 50% off, etc. I told my MIL yeah, but look how much I save by not shopping at all 100%!!!
DH and I typically spend at least one day on the weekend either at the mall, or stores, maybe even just driving around. We don't buy anything unless we need it. The last two weeks we didn't buy ANYTHING. I enjoy window shopping and am able to say "no" to things I don't really need.
I hate shopping so spending money on things I do not need is not a problem. When I go on vacation I almost never buy anything as I hate lugging things around. If you were to add up the cost of all my clothes I own, including shoes and coats, the amount would be under 500 dollars.
However...Instead of shopping when I am bored, I go for a drive. With the price of gas, it has gotten just as expensive as a day at the mall.
However...Instead of shopping when I am bored, I go for a drive. With the price of gas, it has gotten just as expensive as a day at the mall.
I am a careful, deliberate shopper. I often go to walk around the mall just to look at stuff. I have enough willpower to resist buying. I never buy clothes unless they are on the clearance rack with another additional percent discount like 30-50%. My one exception is shoes, I have small feet, so if I see something practical in my size I get it.
I like to look at makeup in Sephora. I enjoy testing out products. I only wish they acutally had samples of the stuff I want to try (they never have the Philosophy fragrance samples).
I like to look at makeup in Sephora. I enjoy testing out products. I only wish they acutally had samples of the stuff I want to try (they never have the Philosophy fragrance samples).
Malls......ugh......the Hoover of wallets & purses....
Flea markets & yard sales are my economical time killers. Set a limit in cash and stick to it.
Flea markets & yard sales are my economical time killers. Set a limit in cash and stick to it.
I used to 
Since filing chapter 7 this month as a result of this "hobby" I am watching every penny- shopping sales, buying used, cutting way back on extras. Reality check time for us...
Since filing chapter 7 this month as a result of this "hobby" I am watching every penny- shopping sales, buying used, cutting way back on extras. Reality check time for us...
When I was college age, I spent a lot of time and money hanging out at the mall. I still have hundreds of books purchased during that time, most purchased on a credit card. That credit card was never paid off until almost 18 years later. It was a millstone around my neck.
I got the easy college credit but loved Chinese food and hanging out in the malls when I was bored. I was also into video games (before it was cool) which was a cash drain--opening me up to rationalize using plastic for everything else there on my mall visits.
When I finally learned my lesson, I noticed how mall prices were inflated and how impulsive I really was. Once I found a few fulfilling relationships, the desire to be a "mall rat" quickly was quenched. However, the consequences of my spending were to follow me for a very long time afterwards.
I think that it is a pretty much fact nowadays that boredom leads to more shopping and eating. Retailers know this and cash in. We can't blame them for our choices, regardless of how impaired that one may be at the time. Having said all of this, in hindsight, the mall is the last place I would go to meet a woman!(Different topic lol) Funny how things change with time. There are many there, but not many of the thrifty way that appeases a man of my stature.
Clark
P.S. The converse would be true for a lady looking for a man IMHO. I freely admit that there were many times that I hung out there looking for creatures of the opposite sex. If you haven't figured that out yet. It was another rational I had for hanging out there.
I got the easy college credit but loved Chinese food and hanging out in the malls when I was bored. I was also into video games (before it was cool) which was a cash drain--opening me up to rationalize using plastic for everything else there on my mall visits.
When I finally learned my lesson, I noticed how mall prices were inflated and how impulsive I really was. Once I found a few fulfilling relationships, the desire to be a "mall rat" quickly was quenched. However, the consequences of my spending were to follow me for a very long time afterwards.
I think that it is a pretty much fact nowadays that boredom leads to more shopping and eating. Retailers know this and cash in. We can't blame them for our choices, regardless of how impaired that one may be at the time. Having said all of this, in hindsight, the mall is the last place I would go to meet a woman!(Different topic lol) Funny how things change with time. There are many there, but not many of the thrifty way that appeases a man of my stature.
Clark
P.S. The converse would be true for a lady looking for a man IMHO. I freely admit that there were many times that I hung out there looking for creatures of the opposite sex. If you haven't figured that out yet. It was another rational I had for hanging out there.
Going shopping but not buying anything works for me. I will hangout at a barnes and noble and read whole books and several magazines if I am really bored. They like people to hangout and dont care if you buy anything. Same can be done at a mall or wherever-Walk around, browse,etc. I mostly only buy things online anyway, but sometimes you can try them out in person.
Honestly, I am really too busy to ever be bored, BUT sometimes you just need a leisure break.
Edited to add: I do have to admit wasting money on eating though. I mean its easy to drop $100 on a meal, especially if you are paying for 2-3 people. In the past I definitely would spend a lot more on food than shopping for "stuff."
Honestly, I am really too busy to ever be bored, BUT sometimes you just need a leisure break.
Edited to add: I do have to admit wasting money on eating though. I mean its easy to drop $100 on a meal, especially if you are paying for 2-3 people. In the past I definitely would spend a lot more on food than shopping for "stuff."
QUOTE
The converse would be true for a lady looking for a man IMHO. I freely admit that there were many times that I hung out there looking for creatures of the opposite sex. If you haven't figured that out yet. It was another rational I had for hanging out there.
I would never think of going to the mall to meet the opposite sex. I can hang out at the mall for hours and not spend money, not even on food. Window shopping doesn't cost anything.
BTW...as a woman, I've discovered that all of the men are at the electronic/gadget stores. LOL I went into one looking to buy a phone the week or so after Christmas. I've never seen that many men before in one confined area. I thought to myself "hmmmmm....this must be where they all hang out".
I shop out of boredom, I am a stay at home mom and bored to death, so everyday we try to think of fun and exciting places to take my little one, then after we go there, I always end up at the stores...maybe I need to get a job, more like it!!
Oh yes - I shop out of boredom all the time. The problem is, shopping is an enjoyable activity for me. I'd rather shop than do anything else (ok besides eat and sleep). In the mall or online, it doesn't matter. I shop for fun. I include shopping in my monthly budget as if it were a bill. As long as I spend within my limits, I'm ok. When I catch something on clearance or at least 50% off, it really curbs the boredom and I have a blast!
I find often myself with an entire cart full of items when I go to Target! Funny thing is that I had only intended to buy 2-3 things. 
I agree with the statement of being too busy with other things these days than to be bored. I would rather be kayaking than in a mall any day. However, my previous post was a confession of my situation 15-20 years ago.
Good observation about the electronics store. Men's hobbies? have many zeros on the end. Electronics is the answer? lol if I were a woman, home depot at 7:00am on a Sunday morning if looking for the opposite sex. Chances are you could find an early rising, handy man that didn't binge drink the night before --at that time of the morning. Always exceptions to the rule but looking at the folks that time of the morning, I would say the exceptions would be few and far between. Of course it might be a married guy doing honey do's as was my case a number of years ago.
I'm like one of the previous posters, if I really have nothing better to do; going to Barnes and Nobles or books-a-million to browse is a cheap form of entertainment. However, these days with gas prices being what they are...I usually only go there for the purpose of purchasing an item. With free shipping and discounts, I often end up at home buying the books online.
I'm glad this thread was started. I would have never classified myself as a mall rat until my first post on the thread. I'm not anymore but self discovery is always an enlightening thing!
Clark
Good observation about the electronics store. Men's hobbies? have many zeros on the end. Electronics is the answer? lol if I were a woman, home depot at 7:00am on a Sunday morning if looking for the opposite sex. Chances are you could find an early rising, handy man that didn't binge drink the night before --at that time of the morning. Always exceptions to the rule but looking at the folks that time of the morning, I would say the exceptions would be few and far between. Of course it might be a married guy doing honey do's as was my case a number of years ago.
I'm like one of the previous posters, if I really have nothing better to do; going to Barnes and Nobles or books-a-million to browse is a cheap form of entertainment. However, these days with gas prices being what they are...I usually only go there for the purpose of purchasing an item. With free shipping and discounts, I often end up at home buying the books online.
I'm glad this thread was started. I would have never classified myself as a mall rat until my first post on the thread. I'm not anymore but self discovery is always an enlightening thing!
Clark
I used to 'window shop' all the time when I was bored with no money...but then for some reason I always brought something home. The mall is like my sanctuary, but now when I'm bored, I stay home. I realize that when I go to the mall on a whim I usually spend more than when I plan a trip to the mall.
One thing I don't do anymore is eat at the mall except if it's for a restaurant.
One thing I don't do anymore is eat at the mall except if it's for a restaurant.
I used to shop to for fulfillment. I now have hobbies that keep my mind occupied so I don't resort to frivolous spending.
QUOTE(Chubroach @ Oct 3 2005, 08:12 AM)
Myself and five friends us were sitting at home last Saturday night trying to figure out what to do. Someone suggested the local regional mall that had just added 40 additional stores and restaurants. We decided to go, because we could not think of anything else to do that night.
By the end of the evening we had spent about $500 (between the six of us) on a variety of frivolous items, food and drink. We used our credit cards and decided to throw caution to the wind and worry about the evenings expenses when the bill came. We had a nice time looking around the mall, eating, drinking and visting but I am sure the six of us will wonder if we really needed to spend all that money when the VISA/MasterCard bill come in.
Do you think alot of spending is a result of easy credit and boredom?
By the end of the evening we had spent about $500 (between the six of us) on a variety of frivolous items, food and drink. We used our credit cards and decided to throw caution to the wind and worry about the evenings expenses when the bill came. We had a nice time looking around the mall, eating, drinking and visting but I am sure the six of us will wonder if we really needed to spend all that money when the VISA/MasterCard bill come in.
Do you think alot of spending is a result of easy credit and boredom?
NO...
TV (100+ channels)
DVD's
VHS VIDEO's
CREDITBOARDS
EVEN THE RADIO
QUOTE(Athena53 @ Oct 3 2005, 08:30 PM)
I can go through a mall, enjoy looking at everything, and come out with nothing. And the food doesn't tempt me at all- fatty, greasy, sugary and the portions are too big. But, given a few hours to kill, I'd rather settle in at home with a good book.
OOOO
I GUESS I BETTER CHECK OUT THE MALL BETTER...
ALL THAT FATTY...GREASY...SUGARY...AND TOO BIG PORTIONS FOOD I'M MISSING!!!!!!
The car repair store is across the street from the mall so I went around the place kinda' lookin' here and there (WINDOW SHOPPING)...BUT DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING
Absolutely not. I refuse to spend money on small things, "just because." I rather think about the money i'm saving by NOT buying these small items and that alone makes me 500% happier. And i'm a tech junky!! lol. So it IS possible folks 
No, but I do tend to eat now out of boredom 
All kidding aside, I tend to pick things up along the way when shopping, but end up putting half back before I reach the checkout. I do find myself overspending sometimes, but of course, for 9 years, it's just been the 2 of us. Any extra was just that, play money, so we did just that, played.. I'm not a mall shopper, so my shopping usually consists of Wally World or Meijer.. I think I've been inside the mall 3-4x maybe in the last year.. My SIL OTOH, she would live in the mall if given the chance.
All kidding aside, I tend to pick things up along the way when shopping, but end up putting half back before I reach the checkout. I do find myself overspending sometimes, but of course, for 9 years, it's just been the 2 of us. Any extra was just that, play money, so we did just that, played.. I'm not a mall shopper, so my shopping usually consists of Wally World or Meijer.. I think I've been inside the mall 3-4x maybe in the last year.. My SIL OTOH, she would live in the mall if given the chance.
I am so, so, guilty of this. It's sick. Last week I drove to the car dealership and test-drove a new Charger because I was bored. I actually almost bought it, and I DON'T EVEN NEED A NEW CAR. My boredom almost cost me $25,000 
I'm usually fine during the week, because I work until 7:00 at night, and by the time I eat dinner it's too late to be "bored". Saturdays are my cleaning/going to the gym day, so Saturdays aren't usually a problem either. The problem is that I tend to get bored on Sundays, and since DH is watching football, I usually end up at the mall.
Luckily, I make a good living, so I'm not digging myself into a hole or anything, but I should really be investing my $$ instead of spending it on another Coach purse.
Sooo... any advice on what I should do to stop myself??
I'm usually fine during the week, because I work until 7:00 at night, and by the time I eat dinner it's too late to be "bored". Saturdays are my cleaning/going to the gym day, so Saturdays aren't usually a problem either. The problem is that I tend to get bored on Sundays, and since DH is watching football, I usually end up at the mall.
Luckily, I make a good living, so I'm not digging myself into a hole or anything, but I should really be investing my $$ instead of spending it on another Coach purse.
Sooo... any advice on what I should do to stop myself??
I used to do that a lot. Buying things I was sure I really needed. Then I racked up so much on credit cards I couldn't make the payments.
So now instead of shopping, I stay home and eat. Traded one addiction for another. Gotta do something about that. I'll bet Dr. Phil would love to get his hands on me.
So now instead of shopping, I stay home and eat. Traded one addiction for another. Gotta do something about that. I'll bet Dr. Phil would love to get his hands on me.
QUOTE(lilac59949 @ Oct 30 2005, 08:05 PM)
I used to do that a lot. Buying things I was sure I really needed. Then I racked up so much on credit cards I couldn't make the payments.
So now instead of shopping, I stay home and eat. Traded one addiction for another. Gotta do something about that. I'll bet Dr. Phil would love to get his hands on me.
So now instead of shopping, I stay home and eat. Traded one addiction for another. Gotta do something about that. I'll bet Dr. Phil would love to get his hands on me.
You will be shoveling that WHITE "GLOBAL WARMING" POLLUTION real soon!!!
That will take off some weight ("IF" that is a problem)
I used to all the time!!!!! Hence my 100% utilization, pre creditboards LOL
...I am a little better now (since I found cb)...Now I am pretty good about window shopping. If I see something I want I continue to way the pro's and cons in my head..Previously I would buy it and just deal with the consequences later. Now when I shop (I always charge and pay off in large installments) if the purchase is gonna affect my payments then I jut dont do it...cant mess with my utilization (LOL)
...I am a little better now (since I found cb)...Now I am pretty good about window shopping. If I see something I want I continue to way the pro's and cons in my head..Previously I would buy it and just deal with the consequences later. Now when I shop (I always charge and pay off in large installments) if the purchase is gonna affect my payments then I jut dont do it...cant mess with my utilization (LOL)
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