Vicarious Shopping

In October 2005, my 87-year-old mother lost her home and all of her worldly possessions in Hurricane Wilma in Florida, and the expense of putting someone's life back together, having her live with me for almost four months, and getting her re-situated in a new home was tremendous. Huge. It took its toll on my financial situation.

So lately when I go shopping I tend to live vicariously through whomever I shop with instead of spending my own money. Today I went shopping with my friend Barbara. Poor thing.
First we went to Aerosoles.

I said, "Barbara, those shoes are so beautiful! Why don't you try them on?" She did, and I thought they looked great.
"Get them! Why don't you get them?"
I don't know if she needed them. It doesn't matter--she needed to buy them.
"Get them! They're not expensive!"
And when we left there, she had bought 3 pairs; two she took with her, one on order.

Then we went to Talbot's. "Look at these sweaters! They're beautiful--and on sale. Buy them!"
She wanted to try them on first, but she liked them and wound up buying a jacket and two new shirts. I was having a great time!

Then we went to Pier 1. And she saw a rug in extremely unusual colors that would work with her decor. But she had no need whatsoever for the rug; her home is completely furnished.
"But look at the price! How can you pass up a deal like that?"
So Barbara had a lot of pressure on her, and almost caved in.
The fact is, she didn't want the rug, but I DID!
Okay, she didn't buy it--but I came "this close."

Vicarious living through others gives one the sense of buying with actually purchasing anything. You just don't clutter up your home with a bunch of unneeded "new things."
I went home greatly satisfied for having "bought" all this stuff, and she went home with honest-to-goodness, great-looking new things to put in her closet. It's a win-win situation!