Shop until you drop? That's got to stop!

     Most of us give too much attention to material items. Everyday, we are bombarded with advertising on television, radio, and even in the movie theater, urging us to buy things.  The media makes us all "thing" crazy.  We are being brainwashed to be the perfect consumer.  Buy something today and tomorrow it's obsolete and you need the latest mode.  Take the iPad for example.  No sooner do you have the original iPad then the new and improved iPad 2 is released.  The media makes you feel as if you need to toss out the old and buy the new.

     But, here is the thing.  While you think that buying will make you happy, the reality is that it will not.  Happiness should not rely on constantly buying merchandise.  The reason is very simple.  The thrill of buying something new wears off very quickly.  How many times have you purchased something on an impulse then when you got home you said to yourself, "Why did I buy this?"  This has been me on more than one occasion.  Like, not too long ago, when my parents went to target and I was browsing in the dollar item section.  I filled up my cart with dozens of items from colored pencils to baskets, to last year's action figure.  "Only a dollar.  What a steal!" I thought.  When  I got home and unpacked by my
five items I realized that I really didn't need any of these things and I was just a victim of Targets clever marketing strategies.  Their placement of a dollar section right next to the entrance makes it very easy to start grabbing things the second you enter the store.   I regretted spending that money on what can best be described as useless junk which could have been saved in my bank, to eventually make a worthwhile purchase.

     The point is that shopping may be fun but it needs to be done in moderation.  As with most things, you need self-control. Thank you for reading this!