Shop-a-what?

Are you a shopaholic? Do you live for the next sale, deal or bargain? I have a confession: I suck at shopping. If someone ever taught a course in this stuff for girls I missed it. I was probably down at the park playing basketball, baseball or hockey depending on the season. As I hit the teen years, I didn't spend much money on clothes, make up or nail polish. Nope, not me. By the time I hit high school, I needed go juice for that four wheeled ticket to freedom more than any pair of jeans.

I've never been much of a girly girl. More book oriented, sporty or techie would be much more descriptive of me. Don't get me wrong. I know how it's done and can play the game with the best of them. I just don't see the point in painting myself up every day for work. My geeky friends and colleagues know what I look like and respect me more for . . . *gasp* . . . my brain than my looks. I just don't see the point in using the stuff when it just wears away, smudges or washes off before I go to bed.

When it comes to clothes, I'm pretty lazy. I like comfort. I like durability. I like classic styles. Why spend $100 on a trendy pair of jeans that you wouldn't be caught dead wearing in 6 months? I can spend $20 on a pair I can wear for years and still look presentable. I'm not even going to talk (much) about what constitutes presentable for jeans in this day and age. If I can see your underwear or any part of your anatomy that shouldn't be showing: butt cracks, belly bulge, love handles, whatever . . . it's not presentable, but that's me.

What does all this have to do with shopping? Well, I shop like a guy. I know what I want I go in and buy it. End of story. I guess that's more hunting than shopping. I buy tech toys, gadgets, DVDs, books, and the like. I do some research, figure out what I want based on features, coolness or potential usefulness and only as an afterthought consider the cost. That is where my money goes. I've cut back A LOT in recent years, but there are times when I cannot resist the latest and greatest toy on the market. For instance, I have cell-phone envy. I'm in a tech world with a tech job. I see gadgets all the time and I want them because they are cool! Wow, you can check your email? Stock report? Traffic? And cook dinner with it? I have got to get me one of those!

Needless to say this means that I need to be aware of the money I spend. Tech toys can really add up fast. Especially in a world where as soon as you buy one something new comes out the next day. Now if I could just figure out how to have all of that and save for emergencies, the future and whatnot . . . I'd be in great shape. All I can say is that I'm working on it.