Shopping

SHOPPING

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet I notice a remote control for a television set in her purse.
"Do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked.
"No," she replied. "But my husband refused to come shopping with me, so I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him."

Customer: May I try on that dress in the window, please?
Clerk: No, ma'am. You'll have to use the fitting room like everyone else.

In the frozen foods department of our local grocery store, I noticed a man shopping with his son. As I walked by, he checked something off his list, and I heard him whisper conspiratorially to the child, “You know, if we really mess this up, we’ll never
have to do it again.”

Vocabulary:

Tag                 label               cashier                     bargain         receipt           exchange      take back                   try on             advice                       shop assistant                     credit card                check                        cash              refund           size               sale

If you want to go shopping there are a number of things you have to consider. If you would like to find a bargain, you should make sure to go to a sale. The only problem with a sale is that it is sometimes hard to take back something once you buy it. Many stores also refuse to give a refund on anything you have bought. If you are looking for clothes, make sure to try them on, check the tag to make sure that it is a good size. Another good idea is to look at the label to see instructions for washing, etc. It's always a good idea to also ask the shop-assistant for advice. Finally, when you go to the cashier, you can usually pay by check or credit card if you don't have the cash. Never forget to get the receipt!

Do you agree or disagree with these statements?  Why?

1.       I love to go shopping.

2.       I often buy things that I don't really need.

3.       I often buy things that I didn't plan to buy.

4.       My friends would consider me a shopaholic.

5.       I have recently made a large purchase.

What do you think?

1. Less people suffer from compulsive buying than in the past.
2. According to the article, more women than men are shopaholics.
3. Shopaholics may also suffer from low self-esteem.
4. Both rich people and poor people suffer from compulsive buying.

Shopaholics

What is a shopaholic?
A shopaholic is someone who shops compulsively – someone who cannot stop themselves shopping. Just as an alcoholic craves the next drink, a shopaholic craves the next purchase. For them, money is like a drug: spending it gives them a high.

Is it a 21st century phenomenon?
It is easier to be a shopaholic these days than in the past because more people have a disposable income (spending money) nowadays. In addition to that, we now live in a consumer society - there are simply more goods available in the shops than there used to be.
However, shopaholics allegedly did exist in the past. Cases such as Marie Antoinette of France are cited. Other figures in history include Jackie Onassis, Imelda Marcos and Princess Diana, all of whom apparently manifested shopaholic symptoms.
Although no one knows exactly what causes the disorder it may have its roots in feelings of low self-esteem and insecurity – feelings which are not exclusive to the 21st century.

Is it something that only affects women?
According to some studies 1 in 20 people is a shopaholic and 9 out of 10 shopaholics are women. But these statistics can be misleading. Traditionally, if a man buys lots and lots of the same sort of thing he is labelled a ‘collector’ not a shopaholic. Is there really so much difference between, say, William Randolph Hearst (who collected antiques) and President Lincoln’s wife (who collected gloves)?
Generally speaking, female compulsive shoppers tend to buy clothes, shoes, make-up and CDs whereas male shopaholics tend to spend on clothes, shoes, electronic equipment and gadgets, CDs and books.

Are you a shopaholic or just a good customer?
Answer these questions to find out if you are suffering from the symptoms of a compulsive spending disorder.

1. Do you go shopping to cheer yourself up?
2. Do you frequently get into debt as a result of your shopping sprees?
3. Do you often buy things you will never use?
4. Have you tried to change your behaviour and failed?
5. Do you think your life would improve if you stopped shopping so much?

Can shopaholics be treated?
As yet there has been little research into this phenomenon. No cure has been found so far and clinical drug trials have revealed only that patients respond equally to the drugs and the placebos.
For the time being, the best course of action for a shopaholic seems to be to go shopping with a friend who will help them to control their compulsion to shop to excess.

Quick Quiz:

1. Just as an __________ craves the next drink, a shopaholic craves the next purchase.

2. For them, money is like a drug: spending it __________ them a high.

3. More people have a disposable __________ (spending money) nowadays.

4. There are simply more goods __________ in the shops than there used to be.

5. If a man buys lots and lots of the same sort of thing he is labelled a ‘collector’ __________ a shopaholic.

6. Male shopaholics tend to spend on clothes, shoes, electronic equipment and gadgets, CDs and __________.

7. As yet there has been little __________ into this phenomenon.