I have a confession to make: I hate to shop. Yes, I know that the stereotypical woman loves to shop for shoes, purses, makeup; the list could go on forever. I have never enjoyed shopping. I don’t really care if my shoes and purse match (as a matter of fact, I prefer to not carry a purse at all and wear my tennis shoes more often than any other pair.) I get most of my clothes from my sisters’ closets and my makeup from bargain bins. Shhh, don’t tell anyone, I am not a stereotypical woman.
I love to buy things for others, but hate to spend money on myself. My ideal shopping trip lasts long enough to run into a store, grab what I need (preferably when it is on sale) and run back out to the car. If I can accomplish this in 10 minutes or less, I am geared up for another such shopping trip, six months or so down the road…I don’t want to rush it or make it any type of habit.
One item I especially hate to purchase is a new purse. I normally find one every three years or so on clearance then use it until the zipper breaks, the bottom tears out or the straps can no longer be tied, taped or stapled. My current “saddle bag” as Keith calls it, is still intact, but after a bottle of Diet Coke spilled in at the school carnival, it tends to get sticky and attract bees.
Various friends have hosted purse parties and encourage me to abandon my old habits and find the perfect new fashion accessory. I admit I enjoy looking at all the pretty colors and styles but am shell-shocked by the price tags. If there are any husbands reading this story who have been told by their wives that the stylish new purse they carry cost less than $50, stop now, or I see an argument looming. The ugly truth is that unless a purse is purchased at the Salvation Army Thrift store, the price tag reads $65 or more. The not so conventional woman in me admits that I would rather have a $10 purse with $55 in the side zipper than a $65 animal print knapsack in which to carry Kleenex, lip balm and coupons.
I got my wish this weekend. Keith and I did some garage sale shopping and I found the purse deal of the century…stylish bags with name brands sold by a teenager with expensive taste and a short attention span for $5. I bought four and still spent less than I would have at Kohl’s big 40% off purse sale. Now I can confidently carry the purse to all the events I attend: basketball games, church, baseball games, work, garage sales, school, and feel like I made an attempt to be stylish. Then I can take the bag to the car, and shove it under the seat or throw it into the trunk without fear of ruining it and wasting the cost of a tank of gas.
I can’t be sure, but I think that my son’s basketball team was impressed by my cow print bag, as were the employees at Arby’s. My co-worker was impressed with the $5 price tag and Keith has already nicknamed it the Heifer. The kids will like it because it is big enough to hold all the stuff they don’t want to carry when we are on vacation and the faux cow hide matches the leather in my favorite tennis shoes quite well. If I ever decide to carry makeup with me, there is ample room. So far the stereotypical womanly purchase fits into my unconventional life quite well. Next week I hope to find a garage sale featuring a teenager with a size 8 ½ foot, a decent job and shoe fetish.
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