Redefining the Meaning of Wealth

I work in an area surrounded by trendy, expensive retail. Some of the fashions displayed in the store windows are somewhat interesting, but most of it you couldn’t pay me to take. But just because I can resist Robertson Blvd doesn’t mean I’m immune to the shopping bug.
Put me in the Westside Pavilion where there’s Ann Taylor, Macy’s, and Banana Republic, and I’m at risk for blowing the month’s rent money. For those not familiar with the LA area, Robertson Blvd is full of high-end, extremely expensive clothing boutiques and the Westside Pavilion is one of West LA’s nicest malls.

Seeing these high-end fashions each day on my lunch walk makes me ponder why people shop so much. I love to shop as well and I have a closet full of clothes to prove it, but when do you know you have enough? And how many more black tops can I buy? Being in an environment where so much shopping is going on can be rather tempting and can certainly test your will power. So while recently salivating at the Chanel store’s window display, it occurred to me that I should go shopping, but in my own closet. After all, I have tons of great clothes I never even get around to wearing, so why not start going through what I already own and see what little treasures I can find.

We may feel deprived when finances don’t allow us to go out and spend money on a new outfit, kitchen item, or the latest technical gadget, but most of us are not lacking when it comes to owning a bunch of “stuff”. And what is one of the big reasons we all want wealth in the first place? So we can buy a lot of “stuff”. So if you’re feeling like you want something new but either can’t or don’t want to spend the money, go shopping. But shop in your home, and I don’t mean on the internet or the Home Shopping Network. Shop in your closets, your cabinets, your drawers, and boxes in your attic you haven’t opened in years. You might end up finding it’s just as fun as a trip to the mall and you don’t even have to deal with the hassle of parking.