Want and Need

I have friend who asked me how I can end up buying nothing when everyone is buying like crazy over sale items.

Well, I will say I enjoy shopping but I am not a person who will buy on impulse just because the item is on sale. Donya, my best friend from Taiwan is the first person who has described me as someone who is a good companion to shop. She has made a few interesting statement about me. I must say she is a good observant although we only shopped together probably less than 10 times.

1. "Li Li is fine to shop anywhere and will not feel bore even though she may not buy". Donya is right about it I guess this is due to I enjoyed seeing things from different ranges, it can be from premium range to anything you can find at the low end market. I am actually very open in giving myself an opportunity to know what is the "in" thing now in the market and the different product type that cater to different class and age group.

2. "Li Li is willing to give comments when shoppers need advice." I take this as a way to improve friendship. It is through all the arguments on colours, fashion sense etc, that we get to know each other taste better.

3. "If Li Li needs to buy, she will buy without hesitation and will do it really fast if the price is reasonably right." My belief is buy at the right time, right place and right price.

Donya is really a true friend who understands me in and out. I remembered on 1 occasion that I shopped with friends for Chinese New Year Clothes and shoes, they thought that I was either crazy or under some kind of stress.

We went from one shop to another for almost 3 hours and everyone bought something for themsleves and I was still empty handed. After taking a short coffee break, we entered a boutique shop where everyone was saying that they wanted to go somewhere else to look around first before deciding. So I decided that I would stay at the shop and we would meet 1 hour later. When we met again, they were shocked to see that I have bought 5 tops, 3 skirts and 3 pants in the same shop. Moved to the shoes shop next to it to buy 4 pairs of shoes. I spent about $650 in just two shops in less than 1 hour and completed my shopping for the day.

Come to think about it, I am glad I am always leveraging well between "Want" and "Need". I always spend on what I really need and fully utilize what I have bought. A "want" maybe just an implusive desire at that point and you may end up regretting having it. We need to be contented with what we have as more sometime does not necessarily mean good. Whatever we have, we need to feel blessed and be happy with it.

So I always tell my friends that my strategy in shopping is "Don't go shopping with an intention to buy, and you will end up getting what you like and need.