After the great spending spree of Black Friday a couple of weeks ago, Christmas will soon be upon us, and the streets and shops have already become overcrowded with people on a shopping spree to buy presents for their friends and family. In these hard times, one would have thought that people would be vary of wasting money.
As if the the spending spree at Christmas is not enough, very soon the great sales will start and the shop till you drop culture will take on. People will flock in droves to the high streets to undergo a retail therapy through bargain hunting. But where is the money coming from?
People buy on tick by borrowing from banks, financial institutions or pawn brokers without thinking that the money borrowed has eventually to be paid with exorbitant interest charges. People will borrow more to pay the debt and thus the vicious circle will continue revolving. We go to sales for bargain hunting and come away with things which we did not need but we buy them because we think we have grabbed a bargain by getting them at a cheaper price.
One must haggle by asking for discounts and most of the time one can strike a bargain and come away with goods either at a lower price or receive additional benefits in cash or kind. It is indeed necessary to haggle for a bargain price otherwise we fork out much more than the item’s worth.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
