Happy Deals!

Come weekends, we can see many youngsters thronging the malls. Every mall has at least one movie screen and few restaurants along with more shopping options. They have various men’s wear, women’s wear, kid’s wear, toys, video games, books, music, etc…

Actually, there is a general assumption that only women take lot of time in selecting their dresses. But these days, many guys outshine the women and get confused with the different International brands, different offers, colors, etc…The malls name it as “happy deals” and some brands give you a 30% off if you buy one and you get 40% off when you buy 2. Some give buy one and get one free.  

But, for whom are these happy deals? For the mall owners and shopkeepers! They increase the 30% in the price before they advertise the discount and you calculate mentally the (price - 30%) and feel happy that you have got them all in dream prices!

The various brands and offers lure the customers and they get entangled in the offers and find it difficult to swim in the ocean of dresses! When we have one or two, the choice is easy; but if the options are too many, we get confused. Some specifically go in for international brands and even don’t mind to ask, if the others are ‘local’.

When this is the state of adults, imagine the kids! They have so many options and these days, parents let the kids choose. Kids get distracted with the various dresses, toys and shop on their own. Just for paying the bills, they need their parents. May be we are instilling a very bad habit in kids by taking them to these malls and tempting them with more of these options. By doing so, they don’t understand the value of money and get mentally disturbed if parents don’t yield to their tantrums. Shopping and celebration is not bad but it should have some value. Like, if kids achieve something, they can have gifts. That way, they will know that they have to be proficient in something before they place their demand. These days, all kids want Ipad for playing games!

I am not against shopping, but I feel shopping for the need is very important. Not that, there is disparity in the society, but shopping shouldn’t be treated as a stress-buster and we shouldn’t indulge in a shopping spree.

Once we buy a couple of dresses, we shouldn’t fail to give away the old ones to the needy. The ones, which aren’t used in the last 4-5 months, can be given away and we too can find space for welcoming the new ones.

Enjoy life and celebrate. At the same time, value of money should always be in our minds as they say, Money is a good servant but a bad master!