Blogpost #7: FOREVER 21...

What comes into your mind when you heard the word "SHOPPING MALLS"? Me? Mall of Asia and SM Bicutan . It's the nearest shopping mall from our house. For shopping, I prefer SM Bicutan because it's more comfortable to buy or to purchase item in a small shopping center. For the girls who loves to walk around the mall, I prefer Mall of Asia because of it's spacious place. 

  Once I declared a shopping day, I talked to my friends for their availability. First stop was to Forever 21.  We both know that this boutique sells expensive items, but for us its not about the price its about the quality and the trending fashion. 


 I'm a big fan of FOREVER 21!  Like any other lady, been shopping
 there for YEARS. It's two stories for crying out loud! 
 At times, the associates look all had it, grouchy and just plain 
 unhappy. But whenever I ask for assistance trying to find a specific  item or just have any questions, they have no problem dropping 
 whatever it is that they're doing to help.And theres so much 
 selections. Sometimes it can be a little messy with the sale items 
 being shoved to the back, but it's like a thrift store, you're sure to 
 find something. The customer service here is not that great. They 
 arent a lot of help, the cashier never has any reaction to their place. 
 Its not a restaurant to it's fine. 



 "This place is for rich people. " No. It's a place where you can buy whatever you want. In short, ALL IN ONE. As long as youknow how to handle your money, You can buy your wants here. For me, It's not about the price. It's about the quality that they gave and the ambiance of that place. It feels like your in a heven already. HAHA Something like you're in your dreamworld. Forever 21 is what you called "THE DREAMWORLD OF A SHOPAHOLIC" 

Blogpost #6 :Are Pinoys impulsive online shopper?

Online shopping is when you buy a product or a service over the internet. You can purchase almost anything online. The most popular item you can purchase through online is Women’s Apparel. For me, It's a nice idea having this.  You can easily buy the things that you want, just search it and find an online shop who is a reliable seller. How did you know if the seller is reliable? Just go to her or his profile and look for the proofs that he or she is not a bogus seller. 

 Internet plays a vital role in our lives. Internet was practically unknown to most people. However, the Internet has become the most powerful tool for people around the world.  Since technology is widespread, It has advantages to us. Nowadays, Internet makes our work easy. Have you ever try ONLINE SHOPPING?  If not, Let me introduce this to you.

According to the article I have read entitled  "Online Shopping: Safe, Savvy and Smart" by  Chinggay Labrador that online shopping is much more safer than shopping at malls especially when there is an occation like Christmas.. It  is very hard to shop in the mall because of many people. It's the easiest way when you don't have enough time for shopping.


Finding a reliable seller 

Safety is one factor you’ll want to check when Web-shopping—posting sensitive information like billing addresses and credit card numbers can make anyone wary, especially since scammers exist online. Legitimate sites and sellers you can trust, however, are relatively easy to spot. Watch for these telltale signs and signals to weed the good sites from the bad.

  Look for Feedbacks ,Sellers typically publish (good) reviews while collective sites like Amazon and eBay have a rating system where people post both positive and negative comments. “Customers always leave honest feedback,”  For me, Its the best way to know if the seller is a bogus or not. Next stop is, Look for the complete information.You’ll know you can trust a site when the seller’s complete details are posted—a mobile number, a landline number, e-mail address, and complete information on payment and delivery,” I already tried online shopping, its better to know the complete information about a certain site so that you can able to trust the seller. Next is, Word of mouth. Chances are, you know at least one person who’s had some success with online shopping—referrals are a great initiation into the World Wide Web. “Frequent online shoppers already know who to avoid and who to trust,”REFERRALS!!! Its better to have this. A friend or someone who tried to buy something to a certain site.Last is Straightforward return policies. “Reliable sellers always anticipate returns or refunds and assure their customers they won’t have a hard time when this happens,”

Figuring out the payment process

 First, Bank deposits, G-Cash, and Smart Money. For those wary about putting their bank information on the Web, these methods are pretty safe. Online sellers post their account numbers, and customers typically e-mail them a copy of the deposit slip once the transaction has been made. G-Cash and Smart Money go a step further since everything is done via mobile technology. It’s a good idea to check the account name—company name or brand names versus personal accounts are usually more legitimate since they’re more “official.” Second, Cash on delivery (COD). The safest method, paying for your goods only when you receive them in good condition leaves the customer worry-free. Not many sellers practice COD though, since deliveries can be inconvenient and usually involve an added expense because of third party couriers.Third is, Credit card. Sites that have a “Secure Server” icon are typically reliable—one way of checking is whether the site on your browser window starts with “https://”. Take note that when you do pay with your credit card, any information you have may be transmitted to a third party.Fourth is, PayPal. PayPal allows money transfers to be made over the net. You need to register for an account, which you then link up to a bank account or a credit card. This mode of payment is great for purchasing goods in international sites, since some shops restrict credit card purchases depending on one’s billing address. Sometimes, foreign transaction fees are added to the cost, ut PayPal is known or resolving any disputes in case any complaints are filed regarding bad transactions.

Getting your goods

The most exciting part of any online purchase is successfully getting your item! Make sure your goods get to you without any headaches by reading up on the different ways sellers deliver their wares, Registered Mail. Customers usually pay a separate shipping cost for this, although non-delivery of goods is sometimes risky and is usually a problem concerning the post office involved.Pick Up Points. Meeting up with a seller you’re unfamiliar with poses certain risks, so make sure you don’t go by yourself, send a messenger, or are well protected. Always have the contact information of your seller with you.Couriers. Xend Express, Air21, LBC, FedEx, and DHL are typically trustworthy and deliver goods in time for an added price. Each courier offers express options, which may cost higher but gets your goods to you much faster. Tracking numbers are also given so you’re certain about the delivery of your purchase.


ONLINE SHOPPING? Yes, it is the easiest way to buy items you want. Just click, click, and click. There you have it. EASY right? But I think it's also dangerous. Not all sellers are trustworthy . Nowadays, some bogus seller used this business to grabbed our money. They will not sent the items that we bought. Some seller used this business to kidnapped teens. So guys, be careful with this bogus sellers. Know the exact information about them and look for referrals. Hope I helped you guys.

Blogpost #5 :Tips for Shopaholic

I have made a research for this not only for others but especially for myself. Maybe it's about time to be practical . 

I AM A SHOPAHOLIC!!! I love buying clothes, yet I never have anything to wear. When I don't shop I feel irritated.I shop vintage, online and in stores. And it's not just the clothes. People laugh when I tell hem that I have a problem with shopping, but it is really serious. Thanks to the  J.D. Roth , who was the author of the article entitled  Are You a Shopaholic? Six Steps to Curb Compulsive Spending.

So let's start . First step is , Cut up your credit cards.  Do it today. No buts, JUST DO IT! What's the purpose of credit cards? For emergency? They're convenient? WOW, AMAZING.  If you have have a problem with compulsive spending, destroy your cards now. It can't help you. Second step is, Only carry cash. Don't use checkbook or even debit cards. Inconvenient right? That's it. Your goal is to beat your habit. You need to make sacrifices. If you carry cash, you will not buy many items because you know that your money is enough to buy a few stuffs. Third step is, Track every penny you spend. When I am in malls,I intentionally turned a blind eye to how much I was spending.But most of the time, I wasn’t even aware of how much I spent. Lunch everyday at Jollibee.How much could that possibly cost? How much I spent for my load. How about I spent for my fare going to school. Once I began to track my spending, certain patterns became clear. When I saw the patterns, I was able to act on them.  Fourth step is, Play mind games.For some people, money is not an emotional issue. They understand it intuitively. They’re able to make the smart choices without temptation to do otherwise. For most of us, though, money is more about mind than it is about math. For us, it can be useful to play tricks on ourselves. Fifth step is, Avoid temptation.The best way for me to avoid spending money  is not to enter on boutiques. If your weakness is dress, stay out of the boutiques like Forever 21 and Topshop. It can't ruin your plans not to spend money because of it's expensive items. If you tend to spend money at big department stores, then stay out of them. Avoid the places where you’d normally spend.Sixth step is, Ask for help. Beating an addiction can be tough when you’re going it alone. Seek support from your friends and family.Lastly, YOURSELF. You're the one who can help yourself.

All great tips. I especially identify with #5. My weakness was online shopping, so to curb impulse buys I unsubscribed from e-mail newsletters (“save 15% and get free shipping at zalora.com.ph) and shopping blogs. Ignorance is bliss.

Thanks to him, but I have a tip for a shopaholic.
I find that the best way to spend less is that when you see something that you want to buy, don’t buy it at that time. Go home and decide the next day if you still want it. When your away from the heavy advertising in stores, its amazing how clear your mind can be in deciding what you need and what you want.I hope this tips can help to us especially to the shopaholics out there. I know it's only an opinion but I think it can help us. Guys, Know our limitations and try to control your addiction.

Blogpost #4: Shopping Addiction: Men Vs. Women

When you go to the mall and look around, You will see people who are shopping. Most of them are girls. I have stumbled upon a question that the internet does not have an answer for: WHY DO GIRLS LOVE SHOPPING SO MUCH?



Last night , My mom said shopping is my addiction. "ADDICTION" she repeated.  Today, my friend asked me, "Why are you shopping so much" Without a thought,  My answers were : "I don't know, Maybe because I'm bored?" I know it's a common answer but why is it question mark? 

Are men shopaholic too? According to the article I have read entitled "Compulsive Male Shopper" by Jerry Kennard. 

"A recent study of shopping behavior, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, has revealed that as many as 1 in 20 Americans suffers from compulsive buying. The surprising discovery is that men are almost as likely to be compulsive shoppers.

  According to that article, men are reluctant to view their behavior as a problem but that the problem of compulsive shopping seems to begin during the teens or early 20s. Mens tends to collect  gadgets,technical items,books and cameras. I think they are not fan of collecting shirts. As long as they still have shirts to wear , they will not buy new shirt. it is their way to save money for their want.Modern men spend more money on impulse buys than women do.  Men can feel better about one thing :  While they end up spending more, it's a safe bet that they aren't shopping more than women.That’s because women are much more likely to search incessantly for the best deals, while men are happy to pay more just to be done with the task of shopping.

We tend to associate shopping with women more but clearly many people are afflicted with this addiction. There just aren’t as many movies about male shopping addicts, or TV shows, or books full of confessions about being a male shopaholic. I think a lot of it also has to do with the assumption that women are bad with money. 

Signs that you're a shopaholic.

THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!!! I think it's about time to know whether you're a Shopaholic or not. It can help us so that we can able to avoid this addiction.  I have read  an article entitled "7 signs you're shopaholic" by Renee Morad .



1. You have many unopened or tagged items in your closet


-Hmm. Having paper bags under the bed and you can't 

even remember what the item is. Weird  right? But somehow it's 

true. There's a time  that I  did not remove price tag to  the item I 

bought . So Am I certified shopaholic? Let's go to the next one.


2. You often purchase things you don't need or didn't plan to buy.

  -
 -I am easily tempted to the things you can do without.
.
 New heels and dress, even though you have already that item you

 still purchase it for collection. Instead of saving money, I used it to 

buy a new pair of shoes .



3. An argument or frustration sparks an urge to shop.

 - Sure, Buying a dress or something every now and then as  a pick-me-up is perfectly acceptable behavior. But, shopping every time something stresses you out or every time you feel down can mean your spending is beyond your control.

4. You experience a rush of excitement when you buy.

     -  Shopaholics experience a "high" or an adrenaline rush, not from owning something, but from the act of purchasing it. When you shop and purchase an item, the brain release dopamine. Over time, the rush of dopamine and the feelings of pleasure you experience become addictive.

5. Purchases are followed by feelings of remorse.

  -After purchasing items, you feel a strong sense of buyer’s remorse. But, the remorse isn’t enough for you to return the items or put your shopping on ice. If you can answer yes to “am I a shopaholic? help is available. You can seek out the help of a therapist, who can teach you ways to control your compulsive shopping.

6. You try to conceal your shopping habits.

  -Your friends and family have started noticing that you are spending beyond your means or that you go out to shop frequently.
To get them to leave you alone, you’ve started sneaking your purchases into the house or lying about the amount of time you spend shopping. If you are shopping online, you quickly close the browser window when someone walks by.

7. You feel anxious on the days you don’t shop.

-If you put aside things you once enjoyed to go to the mall, that is a sign of a serious problem. If your work starts suffering because you spend time browsing online stores instead of being productive, you’ll want to get help.

Is being a shopaholic truly an addiction?

The name itself gives the game away: ‘shopaholic’. Get it? Of course we do: by borrowing, as it does, from ‘alcoholic’, it deliberately implies that the two problems have something in common. 


For me, YES! Shopping is my biggest weakness. So when I read an article about the possibility of a pill to cure shopaholics, it was music to my ears. I spend thousands of pesos a month just to buy things I don't need and I think I have more than 10,000 pesos worth of unworn clothes in my wardrobe.  It started in my early teens, when I spent all my pocket on Mary Kay lipstick and eye liner. Sometimes, I envy my friend who shops for clothes that are practical, comfortable and durable. She buys them because she needs them, not because she lusts after them. And, more importantly , she wears the clothes she buys.



My wardrobe is full of beautiful items I never wear. I buy them thinking I'll sparkle down the high street in my fashionable wedges and maxi dress, but in reality My jeans and warehouse top are just, well, comfortable. I still have a paper bag under my bed, I bought last summer. Actually, I can't even remember what it looks like. HAHA...

 I know doesn't actually make my life better, it just fills my wardrobe with clothes that no one ever sees and makes me poorer. So if the shopping pill becomes available, I'll be the first to pop it. And in the meantime? I'll do my best to control my spending. Having a goal and saves money for Christmas vacation. 

Blogpost #1: Are you a shopaholic?

How often do you go to the mall? Everyone of us go to the mall to shop or to buy something what we want, but are you a normal shopper? or a shopaholic? Do you know what shopaholic is? Shopaholic is someone who likes to shop so much that they typically spend far more than they should. Though he or she has no idea if he or she has enough money to purchase that item but he or she will continue to buy what they want.

I had this kind of experience that really catch my attention to choose this topic. I don't know if I consider myself as a shopaholic or not. For me, It is my way in escaping stress and shopping is my passion. I love to buy new stuffs. Sometimes I get mad at my mom  whenever she don't buy whatever I want. Without hesitation, I never talked her so that she will buy it as a peace offering.Weird right? but having those stuffs makes me feel great. Shopping is the only thing that makes me feel better when I'm not okay. Sometimes, I found myself crying because I don't have enough money to buy new dress, I'll make a way to buy this. Instead of buying foods whenever I'm hungry, I'll saved so that I can buy now the dress but I go home with lots of paper bags. New pair of shoes, dress and clothes then lately I realized that I don't need that new stuffs but having that makes me feel happy. I asked myself. "AM I A SHOPAHOLIC?" Why I keep on doing these things? But only one question really bothers me, "Why do people keeps on shopping even though he or she don't have enough money to buy?" I starter to search an article about my question.

I've come up reading this article entitled "What Is Shopping Addiction?" by Elizabeth Hartney  "Oniomania, compulsive shopping, or what's more commonly referred to as shopping addiction, is perhaps the most socially reinforced of the behavioral addictions.We are surrounded by advertising, telling us that buying will make us happy. We are encouraged by politicians to spend as a way of boosting the economy. And we all want to have what those around us have –- consumerism has become a measure of our social worth." 

According to the article, Oniomania is technical term for compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as shopping addiction.It is their way in coping with stress to the point where they continue to shop excessively even when it is clearly having a negative impact on other areas of their life. As with other addictions, finances and relationship are damaged yet the shopping addicts feels unable to stop or even control their spending.

It's a nice  to know all about these things because I was able to share it with others and inform them what shopping addiction is. For more information, I suggest you to read this article,  " Compulsive Shopping- The Closeted Addiction " by Marcia G. Yerman. It is all about a girl who is certified shopaholic.

I think there are lot of things behind this topic. It's not just all about bad effects of shopping addiction, I know that this is an addiction that is very hard to overcome. There's always a reason why people keeps on buying whatever they want.I'm sure that my researchers will be beneficial not only to adults but also to students like me.