Home News Columnists Ian Robson

Shoppers sale-ing into financial storm

Dec 30 2007 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

ROLL up, roll up, for the bargain of a lifetime in the January sales. You can get two headaches for the price of one as — with thousands of others — you hit the shops.

You can be pushed out of the way in bulk as shoppers, in the rush for a bargain, forget the rules of decent behaviour.

And you can even spend more than you can afford and pay for the privilege on credit.

What is it about sales that turns ordinary men and women into lemmings, rushing headlong to the tills?

I suspect most purchases at the sales are not necessary.

Perhaps the old three-piece and carpet are perfectly serviceable for another year or two and don’t need to be replaced yet. Or perhaps you really don’t need the latest TV set with its bits and bobs.

And there is no need to buy yet another couple of shirts or those DVDs that will never be watched.

Economists argue that there are tough times ahead in 2008. Stores, they say, are offering unprecedented discounts to cushion themselves against the anticipated downturn.

So it makes no sense to spend, spend, spend with such gloomy forecasts.

Why not save, save, save instead to make sure there is something set aside for the rainy day that’s coming.

It might not be as exciting as joining the happy throng of shoppers but it is sensible household budgeting.

You can even save on the headache tablets.

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