World Shopping Day is celebrated on November, 11. That means it’s time to look around and shop until you drop.
This day in 2009 Chinese Company “Alibaba Group”, Aliexrpess.com particularly, decided to sell 50% of its resources with discounts. The organizers planned that it would become an annual event, when an offered sale would be so great, which would be impossible to refuse. They were right. Other large Chinese internet sites have joined this ‘big sale day” very quickly and this day has become a perfect day to make good and cheap purchases.
Get to know what type of shopper you are. Do this quiz and see the results.
Get ready for another quiz checking your shopping vocabulary.
Shop until you drop?
Reading
Before reading the text, could you define a person who is shopaholic? Now get the information from the article and see if you are right. If your level of English is A2, you might want to read the simplified version on the right, although it’s always great to challenge yourself.
Are clearance sales your kryptonite? Do you fantasize about buying things you don’t need but really, really want? Take the quiz and find out how you score on the shopaholic scale!
Are You A Shopaholic?
Ever find yourself in a maze of shopping bags, wondering if your retail adventures are just a bit of retail therapy or something more? You might chuckle at the term ‘shopaholic,’ but this light-hearted label can hide a more challenging reality: compulsive buying. It’s all fun and games until your closet is bursting at the seams with items you don’t recall purchasing, and your bank account seems to be on a permanent diet.
The question isn’t just whether you need another pair of shoes or another gadget; it’s about understanding the fine line between a harmless splurge and an addiction. It’s about recognizing when the thrill of the purchase becomes the main event, and you’re riding the dopamine wave all the way to the cashier. Here, my friend, is where you need to ask yourself: are your shopping habits the good kind of ‘extra,’ or are they edging into shopaholic territory?
Well, it’s time to cart your curiosity over to the BrainFall quiz and find out just how much of a shopaholic you may be. Slide those credit cards back into your wallet for a minute and take this test that could reveal more about your shopping tendencies than the latest flash sale. Keep your receipt, you might be in for a few surprises!
Diagnosing Your Shopping Fever
Recognizing the Shopaholic Symptoms
You know you’re in deep when:
- Your heart does the cha-cha whenever a sale email pings your inbox.
- Euphoria lifts you up like a helium balloon during every purchase but leaves you deflated when the bill arrives.
- Those sneaky piles of never-worn clothes whisper sweet nothings from your closet.
Emotional indicators:
- Shopping feels like your comfy blanket for stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Guilt, and its evil twin, shame, crash your shopping spree afterparty.
In short, if your shopping habits are giving your wallet an identity crisis and your emotions a roller coaster ticket, it might be time to chat with a mental health professional who understands the difference between retail therapy and retail chaos.
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Buy-it-itis
Imagine this:
- You spot that pair of shoes—you know, the ones that promise you happiness rivaling a puppy’s first snow day.
- Euphoria shoots through the roof as you swipe your card, buy button, or tap to pay.
- Guilt creeps in like a ninja while you carry the shopping bags that feel heavier with each step.
- “I’ll do better next time,” you chant, yet the cycle repeats, each mishap chipping away at your mental sanctuary.
Pro tip: Keep track of your moods pre- and post-shopping escapade. Spot a pattern? It might be compulsive shopping wearing a trench coat and pretending to be your hobby.
Caught red-handed? Don’t worry, your secret’s safe here. But take a leisurely stroll over to find out if you’re really a shopaholic, or if you just have a zest for ‘spending with style’.
Tackling the Shopocalypse
You didn’t just stumble upon the latest fashion sale, but a sale of strategies to kick that buying binge to the curb. You, my dear shop-warrior, are about to embark on an epic quest to slay the dragon of shopping excess.
The Wallet-friendly Workout Plan
Start flexing your financial muscles! It’s time to evaluate your bank statements with the intensity of a personal trainer scrutinizing a bagel. Grab a pen and some highlighters, and start marking those non-essential spends. Now, craft a budget that fits your income like spandex – comfortable but with no room for splurges. Regularly track your spending, and if that leather jacket whispers sweet nothings to your wallet, walk away. Maybe consider financial counseling if you find your money-management skills are more flabby than fit.
Retail Rehab and Coping Without Copious Consumption
Cold turkey on shopping? Shudder at the thought. But it’s retail rehab time! Swap out impulse buys with coping strategies like taking a walk, or maybe even look into therapy if retail therapy has been more foe than friend. Self-control isn’t just for superheroes – you’ve got this power too. If needed, seek shopping addiction treatment to help refill your arsenal. Some might find relief in antidepressant medications to manage underlying mood disorders driving their shopping. Remember, fighting off the urge to shop is like karate for your credit score – it strengthens with practice.
Summary of the text for A2-level students
The simplified version
Here’s a simplified and shorter version of the article for A2 level learners. Click to unfold the text.
Are You a Shopaholic?
Do you love shopping sales? Do you often buy things you don’t really need? Take a quiz and find out if you’re a shopaholic!
What Is a Shopaholic?
Being a shopaholic means shopping too much, even when you don’t need or can’t afford things. It feels fun at first, but it can lead to problems like no space in your closet or an empty bank account.
Ask yourself: Is shopping just a fun treat, or is it becoming a problem?
Signs You Might Be a Shopaholic
- You feel very happy when you shop but guilty after.
- You buy things to feel better when you’re sad, stressed, or bored.
- Your closet has clothes you’ve never worn.
If this sounds like you, it might help to talk to someone, like a counselor, who can help you.
How Shopping Can Affect Your Feelings
Here’s how it happens:
- You see something you really want and buy it.
- You feel excited and happy.
- Later, you feel guilty or regret it.
- You promise to stop but shop again anyway.
Try to notice how you feel before and after shopping. Do you shop when you feel sad or bored?
Tips to Control Shopping
- Make a budget. Plan how much you can spend and stick to it.
- Track your spending. Write down what you buy.
- Walk away from temptation. If you see something you want, wait a day before buying it.
- Find new habits. Go for a walk or try a hobby instead of shopping.
- Get support. If shopping feels like a big problem, talk to a professional or join a support group.
Remember, you’re not alone, and you can change your habits with practice!
Comprehension check
Answer the following questions:
Comprehension Questions
- What is a shopaholic?
a) Someone who works in a shop.
b) Someone who shops too much, even when they don’t need to.
c) Someone who doesn’t like shopping. - What is one sign of being a shopaholic?
a) Feeling happy after shopping.
b) Buying only things you need.
c) Feeling guilty after buying something. - What might cause someone to shop too much?
a) They are bored or stressed.
b) They need more clothes.
c) They want to save money. - What can happen if someone shops too much?
a) They feel proud of their purchases.
b) Their bank account might have less money.
c) They will always wear everything they buy. - What is one tip for controlling shopping habits?
a) Always shop during sales.
b) Walk away and wait before buying something.
c) Buy everything you like immediately. - Who can help if shopping becomes a big problem?
a) A professional counselor.
b) A friend who likes shopping.
c) A salesperson at the mall.
Check yourself
Correct Answers:
- b) Someone who shops too much, even when they don’t need to.
- c) Feeling guilty after buying something.
- a) They are bored or stressed.
- b) Their bank account might have less money.
- b) Walk away and wait before buying something.
- a) A professional counselor.
