Thursday, September 13, 2007

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

I know I'm a loser - no post yesterday. I didn't have time on my lunch hour AND our internet is out again. I am beginning to hate our ISP. Grr.

BUT no internet meant that I had time to finish the book I started last week, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. It was a great read. The main character, Rebecca Blumwood is in over her head when it comes to her finances. She's maxed out every credit card she owns and has overdrawn her bank account. But despite all of this, can't stop spending money on unnecessary items (i.e. clothes and shoes). Don't get me wrong, I completely think clothes and shoes are NECESSARY items for women, but if I was that in debt I hope I would be able to control my shopping addiction better than Becky did. And it's not that Becky isn't aware that she has a problem. She just can't control it. If there were such a thing as Shopaholics Anonymous, she would be the perfect candidate.

She buys a book on cutting expenses and makes an effort to save where she can. Packing her own lunch, bringing her own coffee to work, making dinner instead of ordering in, visiting parks and museums for entertainment etc. But each attempt leads to spending more than she would have in the first place. For example she had to buy a thermos to hold her coffee from home because of course she didn't have one. When she goes to the museum she finds out it isn't free after all and instead of buying one admission ticket, she charges a season pass! And one of my favorite parts of the book is when she tries to make her own curry (the book claims you can make curry for 2 for under 5 quid). Well, she didn't have any of the spices needed for the recipe or the right type of pans. She also bought a cute apron. In total she ended up spending over 100 quid on this meal and didn't eat it because it was too spicy! Hilarious.

I don't want to give too much else away, but ladies if you haven't read this book yet - you should. I have to say it made me think twice about my own spending habits. When I was living paycheck to paycheck before my current job, I definitely was horrible with my money. I even had an overdraft protection account linked to my checking account that was supposed to be for emergencies, but I would max it out almost every week. At that time I also maxed out the one credit card I have (not counting store ones of course), and I am definitely paying for that now. Not fun. But now I am so much better and proud of myself for the money I've been putting towards my debts. I'll have one card paid off next paycheck and then I'm moving on to whittling down my smaller store cards. Yay!

So, next book on my agenda is Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin. I've heard from a few other bloggers how great it is, so I'm excited to pick it up tonight from the library (I even put it on reserve, I am such a library nerd!). I'm beginning to think we need to start the Bloggers Book Club that CDP mentioned awhile back. Who's in?

Oh, and in light of this post you need to read Libby's great post from yesterday whose title was a spinoff from this book. You can check it out HERE.

19 comments:

the fanny said...

I read that book a couple years ago and sighed a HUGE sigh of relief, because when I read about her (whilst fictional) shopping problems? It totally put my own into perspective! I'm not NEARLY that bad. :) There are a few more books in the series, too! Check them out!

Kristen said...

yeah a book club might be good. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm in. If you like chick lit my suggestion is anything by Jane Green. I love her stuff.

Anonymous said...

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is a great beach read!!! Too bad you were in the office, boo! And you have to love the British slang terms throughout the book :)

Anonymous said...

I loooove Sophie Kinsella's writing in general and it all started with this book! thanks for the shout out :) and oh EM GEE i would be so IN for a blogger book club!!! something borrowed...not sure if i read that one...but i did read either that or something blue.

enjoy!!

Anonymous said...

I love Jane Green. I just joined a book club...I'm not sure what we will do there but I'm excited. yay for reading...wow I'm a nerd too!

elysa said...

I have never read a fiction book (odd I know) but this sounds like something I might like. The book I am reading right now is really good but you don't get to know what it is yet haha because I was planning on doing a write up about it. :D

PS - I joined the 20 something bloggers thing on your sidebar.

cdp said...

Thanks for the tip. I've been contemplating the Shopaholic books but wasn't sure if I'd like them or not. I'll have to check this out.

I'm also in re. the blogger book club.

Also, second Molly re. Jane Green.

You're going to love the book!

DG said...

I am totally in to start a book club. I also agree with Molly - I LOVE Jane Green and I also just love to read chick lit like that :)

Unknown said...

i'm in re: the blogger book club. Emily Giffen books ROCK. and i love them...

sadly, i jsut couldn't get into the shopaholic books....its just annoyed me wayyy to much to read. the character, her selfishness and the constant reference to designers...it was just toooo much. and coming from me? yeah. thats hard to digest, i know.

but i still heart you, and consider myself queen of chick lit and other authors, so i'm happppppy to talk about new and diff boooks!

xo, bb

Clink said...

I'm in! I'm in!

And also, I loved Confessions of a Shopaholic. And the three subsequent Shopaholic books.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to have to pick up that book! And i'm so down for a book club, i may not have the time right now but once i graduate I intend to read several books. At once.

Angela said...

We'll let one day without a post slide, but let's not make this a habit, okay?

stilettoheights said...

Oh I will have to check it out, I just finished with Back Talk by Alex Richards, which was hilarious fun!!

Anna said...

Oh, so in. Loved the Shopaholic Books, and read them pretty much at the parallel times in my life: single spending girl, engaged then married girl, then girl with baby.


And yes, anything by Jane Green and you will LOVE Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin, plus, Baby Proof. Also anything by Jennifer Weiner, so fun!

Just finished two Jodie Piccoult books in a row--HEAVY, I need some chick lit to refresh, now.

Stephanie said...

Would love to join the book club! Not typically the type of books I read but who doesn't need something fun and entertaining once in a while!

k said...

sophie kinsella is awesome.
confessions of a shopaholic- first, classic
shopaholic takes manhattan- my least fave of the series, but still totally entertaining
shopaholic ties the knot- touching in addition to the usual funny
shopaholic & sister- unexpected and fun
shopaholic & baby- last one so far... a little mystery thrown into this one

kinsella's non-shopaholic books are great too- can you keep a secret and undomestic goddess. she also writes under the name madeleine wickham- haven't read those yet.

i just got something borrowed & something blue. i love chick lit!

k said...

how do i join the book club? is it ok that i'm 30-something?

Unknown said...

found your blog from Getting Single so I am starting from the beginning...and I am not sure if you will see this comment...but...
I am currently reading the 2nd book in the Shopaholic series...very cute!
I would totally do an online book club if someone started it...cute idea!