It’s Not Just Shopping

I have a regular weekly appointment with a client in Downtown Manhattan. I tend to leave a little extra time to get there in case the subway is being wonky. If I get downtown too early, I’ll stop at the bank or pick up something I need in the drugstore, or I’ll sit on a bench and read my book or listen to music.

On the way there and back, I pass a discount store called Lot-Less Closeouts. It’s fun to glance in the window when I pass by. They have a lot of housewares and it always looks like useful stuff, even though I know I don’t need any of it.

Recently I got downtown too early and on a whim I decided to go into the discount store to see what else they had. As I wandered the aisles, I was amazed to see the variety of merchandise. And the store was a lot bigger than I expected. Beyond the housewares in the window and at the entrance, there were toiletries, cosmetics, clothes, more housewares, and a whole lot of attractive stuff.

Luckily I had to be somewhere in a little while so I didn’t stop and look at anything too closely. I considered myself lucky to escape there without buying anything. It was a little unsettling how much I was attracted to the merchandise.

Last week I passed the store from the other side of the street and I noticed what was written over the three picture windows:

It’s Not Just Shopping.

It’s An Addiction . . .

Become Addicted.

I found this slogan a bit terrifying.

I wrote a blog post 15 years ago called Drop Before You Shop. In it, I state that these are NOT good reasons to buy something:

• “Because it’s on sale.” (You can save even more money by NOT buying it).
• “Because I can always use another one of these.” (Not unless you’ve worn out the old one).
• “Because I’m bored, and getting something new is exciting.” (That kind of excitement wears off quickly. You’ll get longer-lasting excitement by spending your money on experiences, not things).

Stores like Lot-Less Closeouts play into this kind of mindset. Because you are (allegedly) buying these things at a discounted price, they become irresistible.

If you already have too much stuff at home (and face it, most of us do), then avoid these types of stores like the plague.