Sales, the Devil

If you are livin' in, so called, shopping paradise cities, you know this topic very well.
Living in this green, clean and small city with limited resources and things to do, shopping becomes the one that everyone may fall for.

From grocery shopping to luxury shopping, you will sooner or later run into this big sign, "SALES".
Yes, something is on "SALES", always.

With much better observation and practical thinking, Mrs. YL noticed that "Timberland" boutique in shopping mall near their place is always on SALES, all year long. (Yes, they even painted one wall with big "SALES" sign permanently. How nice!!!! )

Marketers claim different reasons.
Pre-holiday SALES,
Holiday SALES,
Post-Holiday SALES,
New Year SALES,
Midyear SALES,
Yearend SALES,
the Great Singapore Sales,
Moving out SALES,
Opening SALES,
Anniversary SALES,
and if they are running out of new name, they will simply announce “Crazy SALES” (I reckon, who is crazy in this case? Seller or buyer?)

Because of this devil sign 'SALES', we might end-up buying things more than we actually needs (familiar with this sign – buy 2 get 1 free?), throwing out the old but good staff because you bought the new one needlessly, applying for more credit cards, and could even worsen to some social problems if you are addicted to it.

Heard that shopping addiction is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions.
Besides, this demon sign ‘SALES’ is responsible for becoming shopaholics.
I found following quoted advice to prevent shopping binges from internet.

Quote//
· Pay for purchases by cash, check, debit card.
· Make a shopping list and only buy what is on the list.
· Destroy all credit cards except one to be used for emergency only.
· Avoid discount warehouses. Allocate only a certain amount of cash to be spent if you do visit one.
· "Window shop" only after stores have closed. If you do "look" during the day, leave your wallet at home.
· Avoid phoning in catalog orders and don't watch TV shopping channels.
· If you're traveling to visit friends or reltives, have your gifts wrapped and call the project finished; people tend to make more extraneous purchases when they shop outside their own communities.
· Take a walk or exercise when the urge to shop comes on.
Unquote//

As such, we must not fall for this devil sign..............

Lawrence: "Hey bro, Raoul is on sales! It's crazy here, man. 2 shirts for just $150!"
Mr. YL: "I am on my way! Oops! Damn!"

P.S. Mr. YL’s mom Madam Lwin is a shopping queen. Like mother, like son.