I've never been the kind of guy who is addicted to shopping. In many ways, going shopping is more of a chore than a hobby, and it doesn't take that many crowds and lines to make me want to go home.
But there's something about the online bargain that has me hooked. Whether it's eBay, Craigslist or the awesome DealNews.com, I've found myself buying stuff I don't even need -- just because it's such a steal.
Take, for instance, the stainless steel multipurpose pocket survival tool I bought for $1. I've yet to use it, and in fact, it made my back sore after sitting on this piece of metal in my wallet. But it was only a buck. How could I not buy it?
Or those retro Chinese watches on eBay. Currently, I have five watches in my rotation, ranging from a family heirloom down to a 10-year-old Seiko. But I just couldn't say no to a sixth -- primarily because it was $12 and is shipping straight from Hong Kong. After all, the "Engrish" in the description is reason alone: "Stylish design make you outstanding."
I want to be outstanding!
The easy analysis is that I'm a shameless materialist, buying stuff I don't need, just for the thrill of the deal. The deeper point to be made is that my addictive personality is at least being satiated with $1 purchases here, $12 purchases there -- not through online gambling or expensive clothes I can't afford.
At worst, my addiction is costing me perhaps $15 per month, slowly filling up my home and office with L.E.D. headlamps, cell phone chargers, flexible mini tripods, counterfeit Bluetooth headsets and more.
I'm not really worried about it, I guess. I just wanted to let you know so you can stage an intervention if things get out of hand this holiday season.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
