Sunday, August 12, 2007

Some men think women shop seven days a week, Ha! Shows how little they know! I am a woman and I shop only six days a week (excluding weekends). Let me calculate - yesterday I bought a bag, day before I bought another bag, day before that I tried a dress that made me look paunchy - which (for a change) I realized before I'd bought it for myself, so I bought it for my sister instead, and the day before that I do not remember, but hopefully it was as productive as yesterday. Today is the Sabbath Day so I shall rest from shopping (not that I am a Christian, but my husband's terrified looks invoke a pitying Christian in me today and I relent.)

If someone were to ask me why women shop so much more than men, I'd point them to research. I'd point them to the fact that women in the work force are discriminated against. They are generally shunted into lesser paying jobs, and for the same job they are paid lesser than men.

How does earning less make you spend more? Elementary: Take me for example. When I earned well as an investment banker, I saved so much money. For one, I had time to splurge only on the weekend in which I also had to catch up on sleep. And when I did venture out to shop, I had the company of well-heeled colleagues who I could not buy street-side watches called RoleK with. I realized good pay and debauchery just do not go together for women. I needed to join conversations about buying shares, and renting bigger rooms, saving for cars, etc - and as I was uninterested in aiming green paper at bosoms in dance bars, I had no choice but to save.

But now that I am a lowly paid, seldom-working journalist, the possibilities are endless. The piddly amount I earn is pocket money, so I spend it in the spirit of pocket money. I have bought several RoleKs. I have spent a whole month's salary on an original movie poster. I often buy heels on credit card in anticipation of a payment yet to arrive. I live on debt, I assume payments will clear: yes, I live the American dream.


p.s. Of course, women buy more only in quantity, not value. Men and their bluetooths and i-pods and unopened gadget boxes cover women and their Blahniks many times over.

11 comments:

Ekta said...

hahahah!
looveee ur post!!
and i sooo agree with u...in fact have blogged about almost the same thing...theres a saying someone told me recently.."when the going gets tough..the tough go shopping":-)
p.s:- i soo agre with u on ur p.s point!

Anonymous said...

I totally loved this post. One more point - women are lucky we can use retail therapy as a stress buster and we do not have to come home grouchy like men! What a small price to pay for marital harmony I'd submit! Sameera

IR said...

not only do women love shopping,
they can spend hours in a shop and not buy anything at all !

Anonymous said...

did i read that right??? you bought me a dress?!?!? or was that the last one?

The One said...

You are sooo funny!!!

Deliciously Alive said...

I am a woman who ABHORS shopping! :)

Pravin said...

Yeah, but then a woman buys stuff she doesn't even need!

Lidia said...

As a fellow journalist - i totally agree with you! There is no better way to live! Unfortunately ,like a man, i am similarly obsessed with gadgets and the like! So i have to save to get them!

Whatever you do, don't turn to the darkside (PR) otherwise i will personally hunt you down :P

-Amy

Iris said...

Enjoyed reading this post of yours, Anuja:-)
I totally agree with your given rationale... Hahaha!
I was a mad shopaholic too... to the extent that I would'nt get sleep if I didn't buy something i liked. Ha!
I am glad I am over it...
Shopping seems a pain now.

Rajneesh Dhar said...

shopping and women are synonymous and you have taken thsi statement to pinnacle, very humourous n light post espeacially in a world full of pain

udayan said...

Your post reminds me of mine. Only with another point of view :))

http://bandrawest.blogspot.com/2006/06/shopping-takes-you-to-hell.html

Nice writing ...