Story Time

To preface this story -- I gave up unnecessary shopping for the New Year. This is a hard one for me because I have realized I am very materialistic.

Anyways, Megan decided to work from home and asked me to go to Tjmaxx to get shampoo and conditioner. Of course I will go! I finally have an excuse to go to my favorite store! I eagerly drive there and I step inside after being away for what seemed like an eternity. And since I was in the store, I needed to browse to see the new trends.

Mistake #1- Going to the clothes section

I went through the clothes to browse. But geez, it's so expensive. Crazy how people pay $29.99 for sweaters. Thrifting has programmed me to always look for a good deal. So I decided to look at the deals...

Mistake #2- Going to the clearance section

Woahhh I found a colorful sweater that I had seen before. It used to be full price for a ridiculous amount that I wouldn't normally pay for, but I was willing to for this sweater. That day, I carried the sweater around me while I continued browsing until Megan saw it and told me it wasn't worth it. My older sister's opinion always weighs heavy into my decision, so I regretfully put it away. I left thinking about how I should've bought it AND HERE IT IS. NOW ON CLEARANCE. That's so annoying because I gave up shopping. Hmm...wouldn't hurt to try it on.

Mistake #3- Trying on the sweater

I tried it on, and it just looked like a 'Claire sweater'. Some of you will know exactly what that means. It was sooooooo cuteeeeee. Ughhhhh. I stared in the mirror thinking how weak it would be if I bought it. Hmmmmmm. Ehh not too weak if I just caved this once. So I decided to buy it.

I went and got shampoo and conditioner for Megan and waited in line. Ughhh the line was so long and people had carts full of clothes while I just had these 3 things. So I waited and waited and FINALLY I was summoned "cashier number 5, please." I walk up and ask the cashier to do separate transactions for the shampoo and conditioner (on Megan's card) and the sweater (on mine). She rings up the shampoo and conditioner and I pay and then she gets a phone call and answers. She starts bagging up everything and then pulls the phone away whispers "have a nice day." That was weird. I've never had a cashier answer her phone. I continue this thought as I leave until I am outside and realize that I never paid for the sweater!! I go back inside and see the long line. Oh heck no. I waited long enough for my little 3 items.

I get in the car and start thinking about this sweater.

Was it shoplifted? And worse, did I shoplift? I didn't mean to! Well, it's her fault because she wasn't paying attention and got distracted. And Tjmaxx isn't losing anything based on how much money they make. And you know what? Maybe God was giving me a 'God Wink' because I gave up shopping for the New Year and it's not shopping if it was a gift from God. Yeahhh, let's go with that.

I kept trying to rationalize this sweater, but I felt the sweater eyeing me from the passenger seat. At a red light, I threw the bag in the back.

I got home and told Megan the story. She called me 'weak' for breaking my New Year's resolution. Yeah, again, her opinion stung.

Wow. I am weak. I am weak for two reasons. 

1) I decided to buy the sweater
2) I didn't pay for the sweater

My friends were visiting for the weekend, so I spent the rest of the day preparing the house for their arrival, and for a little while, I forgot about the sweater. My friends showed up and I gave a tour of the house. I came to my room where the sweater stayed hanging in my closet...staring at me. Like confession, sometimes you feel better about your sins when you say them out loud to someone. So I told my friends about the sweater. They were laughing and comforted me saying "you didn't mean to" which is true, but if only they knew how hard my conscience was eating me alive. I told them how much it was affecting me and they told me to just go return the sweater.

Ummm no. I will not be returning this sweater. It is too cute.

So I went back to Tjmaxx and at least paid for the sweater. There was a part of me that was hoping the cashier would say "oh thank you for your honesty and don't worry about it *wink wink*," but I am happy that I rightfully paid for it. Now I can wear this sweater in peace.