Aug 10 2009
Do Your Impulses Control You?
What controls or triggers your internal impulse mechanism to spend cash on material things?
-Society/Peer Pressure?
-Necessity?
-Habit/Addiction?
For me, the ADD seemed to kick in to high gear as soon as I set foot inside a big box store, replete with all the bells, whistles and trinkets one could ever need. Hell, shopping was our form of entertainment. We told ourselves that we didn’t have the money to blow on movies or concerts so, instead, we’d blow our hard earned cash on all those things we convinced ourselves we NEEDED.
How many times to you think I bought tons of flower and vegetable seeds and other assorted gardening accoutrements because I was going to start that ever elusive garden this time!?
How many Betta fish do you think I longed to save from their dreary existence, confined in their plastic cups? ALL OF THEM!! (I was determined, or would kill them trying….)
Note: Never buy an ADD person a high-maintenance fish. Death will ensue.
And, in a reasonable world, you can only color your hair so many times in a one-week period. (Seven, if you’re really, really dedicated or can’t commit). At present, I’ve got at least 4 boxes of assorted shades on hand, one box of Shine stuff?!?!, and a bottle of punk blood red dye from Hot Topic. (At least THAT one wasn’t intended for me!).
How about socks? Fuh-freakin’-geddaboudit! You and I both know that the Sock Gnomes like to fuque with you every single time you change socks. So, in my attempt to quash these yarn-bearded nuisances, I’d just buy new socks. A round for the house. Socks x 4, in assorted shapes, colors and sizes. I mean, if they’re colorful, they’ll be easier to spot, right?
I won’t even go into the amount of food bought in fits of cooking glee that later got discarding in a fit of cleaning glee. Public television cooking shows have cost me a fortune over the years.
It’s the constant nagging power of suggestion brought to you by the folks on Madison Avenue, and the retail kings who hire them. We are compelled consciously AND subconsciously to buy, buy, buy, ad nauseum!
While I’ve broken most of my compulsive/impulsive shopping habits from yesteryear, I still cannot seem to go near a fabric, yarn or craft store. When I enter one, I am certain that I’m gonna knock out two gorgeous Vogue sweaters, 39 scarves-knit or crocheted, 5 knitted handbags with an array of embellishment and beadwork and at least 12 pieces of fabulous jewelry, all while I am working on the next “Ophelia”, never mind that I can’t paint.
Ophelia by John Waterhouse
Courtesy of Artmagick.com
It boils down to giving yourself a very swift, very succinct kick in the rear end. “Do I really, really, REALLY?! need this? Really?. You can use this question anywhere, anytime. Bookstore, mall, restaurants, convenience stores, etc. I mean, why continue living with the shame of frivolous spending when you CAN stop yourself?
Here are a few things I use to keep myself somewhat in check:
-Never, ever, ever browse. ALWAYS have a purpose when you enter a store.
-Go when you don’t feel like it! You’ll be more motivated to get the hell out of there as quick as possible!
-Think about how pathetic you feel already for buying the last round of stuff that still remains tagged, bagged and untouched in a closet or drawer.
Next time your impulses try to get the best of you, slap them upside head by taking a moment to pause, reflect and really examine just what the hell you are about to do. 
