I will be the first to admit that I am
absolutely a product of my generation. I love technology, gadgets,
social media and social networking- God forbid I should accidentally
leave my iPhone at home one day- the withdrawal from not being
connected to all of my friends and blogging platforms at the touch of
a button doesn't bear thinking about. To a large extent I find I am
influenced by the online community I have immersed myself in- I read
beauty blogs for makeup tips, fashion blogs for style inspiration,
and spend hours typing 'vintage' 'shabby chic' and 'ditsy floral'
into search bars, constantly trying to find the items I have seen
other people using, that I believe I need. I have grown up in an era
where everything is so accessible for magpies like me, who are always
on the look out for something new and shiny. Unfortunately, my search
for the perfect shade of red lipstick, the ultimate fanned out lashes
or the dress that sucks everything in has me gritting my teeth and
gulping down a lump in my throat every time my credit card bill hits
the door mat.
It started with a few things to boost
my credit rating. Then it was £100 here, £150 there, a trip away
(well deserved), a shopping spree (I've lost weight and NEED new
clothes), a Kindle (need one to read on the bus to work), a DSLR (for
taking arty farty pictures) and finally, my most extravagant
purchase, a Macbook (for writing articles like this, to go on the
blog.) Truth be told, the trip away was a wash out, the clothes from
my shopping spree are languishing in a drawer somewhere unworn and
ill fitting, the Kindle stays in my bag while I read blogs on my
phone on the bus to work, I end up taking all my pictures on
Instagram, and I already had a laptop at home that I simply needed to
buy a new charger for (but I do love my Macbook!) I am part of a
generation whose philosophy is “if it's broke, throw it away and
buy a new one.” Spending on credit cards and store cards is so
easy, as it doesn't feel like spending real money. I get lost in the
moment and justify meaningless purchases in the hope that they will
somehow improve or add to my life in a way that will bring me endless
happiness forever and ever. Then when I am home, and the euphoric
bliss of handing over plastic and walking away with crisp paper bags
full of purchases dulls to a niggling regret, I hate myself for
constantly living beyond my means and making it harder for myself to
ever be able to afford the really important things, like a
mortgage on my own home, or my wedding that keeps being put off due
to lack of funds. Am I just a shallow and impressionable individual,
or does the media have a large part to play in convincing people like
me that we want things we don't need?
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