as a recreational sport or a way to pass the time when you are bored? One of the best ways to spend less is only go shopping when you absolutely need something. How many members have cut out shopping as a pasttime? Do you miss it?

What a good question!! I used to shop for fun when I dropped off dd for preschool four years ago. I don't do that anymore. Now when I drop off ds for preschool now, I work out, clean the house, get some writing projects done or play here! It's free and so much more rewarding in the end. I haven't cut it out completely, that's why I can't say I miss it. I just feel more balanced because I'm using my time more wisely.

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Never have. I find shopping a most uncomfortable experience. So, of course, I look like cr**. Can't let that bother me. I do have money in the bank.

I used to do the recreational shopping a lot. Now I am much better and only do that about once every other week, sometimes less than that. I just don't have the time anymore with two young kids. Plus I can't really shop when I have both of them during the day so that helps me to stay out of the stores too.

So I probably go once every two weeks when both my good friend and I can schedule it in.

Sandra

I've cut out the recreational shopping big time! I can't believe how much money I wasted on buying stuff just because it was on sale or I thought I "needed" it. Now, It's almost a rush for me to go to Target, WalMart, or the mall, see things I would have bought previously and walk away. It's a great feeling leaving the store and knowing that I just refused to spend that $65 bucks that my Target (unnecessary) purchases would have cost me months ago. And, if I'm out with a friend, I almost feel bad that she's still caught up in that shopping rat race and glad it's not me handing over the debit card for all those purchases.

I never really enjoyed shopping as a recreational sport. I only shop when i absolutely have to, bec. i don't enjoy it. So ... I don't miss it bec. i've never been that way. This is one of the reasons it is harder to pay down our debt, bec. we really are not shoppaholics.

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I don't like shopping but for us to go anywhere, being in a rural area, shopping and eating out is almost ALWAYS involved. And that is an adjustment for us. So we're looking around and seeing what we can do more local. More biking and more hiking. We did get a season pass to a l"ocal" (1 1/2 hours away) theme park but with gas prices going up who knows how much we'll use that. And then next winter we hope to get season passes for the local ski resort. I just have to remember to be organized and planned well enough to take our food!

I don't think it was a sport for me but I tended to wander into the girls or toys section of Target. I try to stay out of there! Today I did buy a couple tops for my youngest.

Really I have will power so I still go shopping for fun or really its more for exercise but still I have no problem hitting the mall for a few hours letting my DD play and walking out empty handed.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

I came to a realization this past weekend on this very subject...I went with a friend of mine and while I enjoyed going with my friend, I did not enjoy just browsing stores for un-needed and un-wanted items. I guess the decision between needs and wants take the "fun" out of shopping when you realize that you don't really NEED something. I felt good though because I didn't come home with a ton of things that I would feel guilty about later, however I did think about all the other things that I could have done that day then spend hours and hours in stores watching her shop...