It’s been a heck of a week. The Australian dollar hitting parity (experts say it may surpass and come up to AU$1.10 to US$1 this week), and tweets and blogs have been going crazy about shopping online from US stores. No prizes for guessing who else just had to jump on board and buy from the US.
*wave frantically* ME!
Thanks to the strong Aussie dollar, my budget for September has blown wide open, with purchases from Skinstore.com (a Clarisonic. Whee!), Shopbop (a Tory Burch wallet. Okay I needed one, since I’ve been reusing my old wallets. I can’t ever get expensive designer ones because they get so beaten up in my bag), Feelunique.com (Steam Cream, and free worldwide shipping), and other sites for other knick-knacks. I wasn’t the only one. My husband’s been going nuts shopping online too.
Hello? What about our mortgage?!
September budget. Way, way overboard.
After scouring Sephora.com for hours over the weekend for something to buy, just so I get free shipping (orders must be over US$50) and have them sent over here via HopShopGo, I realised something. I wasn’t actually buying something I needed. The feeling of “Oooh that’s nice, I want that one!” didn’t even reach me. I was simply throwing items into the shopping cart just because I thought it was cheap. The idea of shopping just because I simply HAD to keep taking advantage of the strong AUD, not because it was actually something I wanted, alarmed me. I immediately closed the webpage and stayed away from the computer since.
Sure, I could buy stuff from the US, ‘cos they sure as heck are a lot cheaper than getting them in Australia. But if I don’t need it, never really wanted it in the first place, aren’t I just spending frivilously, regardless of how cheap it is?
Case in point, my trip with Beetrice to Bangkok. Oh my goodness, things were so cheap there. Clothes, beauty products, etc. I shopped, I hoarded. I came home with an extra duffle bag just for my shopping. In the end, I hardly wore most of the shoes or clothes I bought because in the end, I found that they fit badly. My recent purchase from Victoria’s Secret? I found out that the so-called cashmere blend sweaters were 15% cashmere (instead of more), didn’t fit as well (even though I was meticulous and checked the sizing charts), and were made in China.
Here’s my point. Set a budget and stick to it. I know that the Aussie dollar is doing very well against the USD, but know what you want to buy, and stick to it. Don’t be like me and simply shop for the heck of it. Even if it’s Sephora. Because in the end, you’re the one who has to open that credit card statement and gasp at the huge bill (and the international transaction fees that go with each purchase).
Just like me.
PS: I bet you were hoping to find websites on where to shop when you read this, huh? Nah, my friends at Lilpil, Indulgent Reviews and The Plastic Diaries have already done such a good job at that. Go check them out, especially Lilpil‘s very informative post. Again, spend wisely!
Great post! I’m making a massive list of things I want, then I’ll sit on it for a while and reconsider at the end of the week =D
I have to ask, would I require an adapter if I were to buy a Clarisonic from Skinstore.com?
such wise advice Tine 🙂
I must admit I’m usually the first to go crazy with buying new products when the currency is up but I didn’t even bat an eye lash lash week when it hit parity.
I’m waiting on my UD naked palette and hmming and ahhing for some GOW goodies but that was it, no lemmings for new things whatsoever. I’m such a good girl *pats self on back*
Celina – you need to make sure you get the mia or plus version as they have international voltages on their chargers (the classic one don’t come with international voltage chargers for some strange reasons). You then just need a straight to slanted pin adapter to plug it into our sockets like you would if you were travelling overseas and you are set 🙂
Tee hee hee. Great post, Tine! Very, very wise indeed. I had the same revelation like you’ve had with Sephora, but mine’s with Kiss and Makeup NY. I’ve had stuff on my shopping cart since the past month but didn’t hit on that check out button to date, precisely because I kept on thinking “Do I really need another blush, even if it’s NARS?” Just like the Clarisonic, I was mulling on it for days on end, hence my annoying tweets on should I, shouldn’t I? Sticking to the budget is very, very important! But…occassionally…slip ups happen…sigh…..but I think I can forgive myself for the Clarisonic and the one body lotion purchase I made on Strawberrynet. Hehe…
Great Post! Found myself doing that last week. Then had the wake up call when I got around to my online banking & discovered just how much needs to be paid off the credit card this month 🙁
I think I also need to back away from the US websites & start focusing on xmas presents for my immediate family! At the rate I’m going I’ll be skint for the next 3 months – sigh.
I know what you mean! I’ve been doing the same thing! although I don’t regret it one bit, but I’m working on keeping myself under control for the next few months and only buy things that I really need. 😛
I don’t know if I should glad or pissed that I am no longer studying in Australia. Would love an excuse for that Clarisonic but the guilt!
Great post! My credit card is forever clogged up with purchases from Sephora. I am a total ‘add-to-basket’ addict.
Oh, and thank-you very much for the link to my blog 🙂