Today, I made the mistake of entering a mall. I have a friend getting married and her wedding shower is next weekend so I had to go buy a gift from her registry. I researched it online and headed in to the exact place it was located, selected it, and waited in line behind 4 people exchanging Christmas presents. What should have been a commando run was a long line and wait. I hate malls.
The last time I was in the mall was right before Christmas to pick up a Hot Topic gift card for my 16-year-old nephew. I hadn't been in a mall since the previous Christmas when I bought him a Hot Topic jacket. I still remember the clerk asking me if I had a "Hot Topic Member Card." Uh, no. Do I look like the Hot Topic demographic? I only have one hole in each ear and not a single tattoo and I've never colored my hair. I'm a married mother of two. (If you are unfamiliar with Hot Topic, check out their website: Hot Topic.) Not really marketed toward me. But my niece and nephew love it. It would be akin to what I remember "Spencer's Gifts" being when I was a teenager. Gosh, I'm old.
However, the mall trip left me realizing that I no longer have the art of window shopping. When I was a teenager, I had no money. I bought much of my own food, clothes, and personal toiletry items while living with my grandmother. That left little room for what most teenagers spent their discretionary income on - and I didn't get an allowance to speak of, I had to work for every dime. On the weekends, I would go with my friends to the mall and we could be there for hours without spending a dime. Now, I only go to stores when I need something specific and I rarely just "look around." I don't really have the time and I feel like if I'm there I should buy something. I do most of my gift buying at the holidays on Amazon because I want to avoid the crowds in the stores and it is easier for me to stick to my budget.
I miss window shopping. It's an art I need to remember. I do most of my window shopping on Amazon now, too. I just add things to my wishlist that I want. It also lets me prioritize what I want and share the list with people for gift giving occasions. But it's not the same as walking into a store and looking around and touching things, without needing to buy anything whatsoever.
Of course, the other part is I would go with my friends and I rarely shop with friends anymore. I haven't found anyone with my style and preferences and budget - all important in a friend who shops with you. Compatibility is important so you're not always shooting down the others preferences. Perhaps I should hunt for a "shopping buddy." Who knows?
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