Joe Doe’s six rules for Retail Therapy
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TASK #21: Retail Therapy
“Whoever said money can’t buy you happiness didn’t know where to shop.” Unknown
If women have one thing right, it’s the fact that shopping is fun. Not always, mind you, not when you’re shopping
because you HAVE to, like when you have to buy a gift for your significant other and you haven’t got the
idea what to buy, and you end up getting something that gets you a night on the couch.
But it’s fun when you’re shopping for yourself and you’re getting something you want–YOU WANT, DAMN IT. No matter how weird it is.
TASK:
Buy yourself something. Something for yourself. Something you want. Something not necessarily practical. Something that makes you feel good. But there are rules:
Rule 1. You can’t shop on-line or use a catalog or shop at HSN or QVC . You have to go somewhere. A store. A mall,
whatever.
Rule 2. Set a dollar limit. You ain’t getting a Ferrari no matter how much you want it. You can’t spend more than you can afford because you’ll feel bad after you buy whatever you’re going to buy and the point here isn’t to feel bad.
For me, I spent $200 (actually $165. I allotted myself $200 but I spend $165 on a used banjo). Measuring stick: the
amount you should spend should be the same as you bring to Vegas to lose.
Rule 3. Don’t run out and buy the first thing that you see. Shop a little. Slow down. For example, my first thought
went to getting a new wallet, which I need. But then I said, screw that. I can get my sister to send me a new wallet
on my next birthday.
So I sat down a drew up a list of things I wanted but I normally wouldn’t buy because there are other things–more
sensible things–that I need first. My new list had stuff on it like a Metallica hoodie, a billiard stick, a leather
bra for my car, a portable charger for my phone and other electronics, and leg weights. I opted for the banjo.
Rule 4. Pay with cash.
Rule 5. Go shopping by yourself.
Rule 6. Enjoy yourself.
Photos by Owen Byrne and courtesy of Joe Doe