Okay, so I am finally writing again, and it's to confess to another addiction. This time, luckily for my waistline, it's not some new type of candy addiction. I am addicted to my local Target store. That's right, Target.
Two years ago the youth group at my church as so small that they met in the Starbucks at a local Target store. Because their meetings were only about an hour long, I saw no reason to drop off my eldest child and then leave only to have to return in 60 short minutes. And that's how it began. For over a year I spent an hour every Wednesday wandering around Target. Sometimes I shopped, sometimes, well, let's face it: I shopped every time.
After the format and size of youth group changed a little and we started meeting at the church again, my weekly visits ended. Or did they? I still found myself walking through those welcoming automatic doors on a regular basis, though probably not every week. I have to say I love the little $1 to $2.50 section at the front of the store. I always peruse that section, and more often than not, I find some $1 item I can't live without. Crazy, but true. It's like shopping at a garage sale where everything is new! The best of both worlds to someone who isn't in love with garage sales but loves a "good deal."
How bad can this addiction possibly be when I no longer have a weekly excuse? Bad enough. If we need something in my house, my solution is usually "they have that at Target!" Unless I've miscounted, I visited Target at least 4 times in August. Once, to my own credit, was at lunch, and I didn't buy anything. I just priced a few things and left. But I went back and spent $90 the next day. The bulk of this was for my daughter who made her middle school's volleyball team and needed some supplies. I did walk out with a small purchase for myself, but when the clearance rack has a reasonably cute dress marked $5.98, who can resist??? Not me!
The real downside? Obviously my Target bill not fun to pay each month. I came so close to paying it off after having almost completely cut myself off from the store for the month of July. And then I walked through the doors again. It's not like it's out of control, but it's never going to get completely paid off if every time I get within $50 of a zero balance I go and buy $100 (or more) worth of stuff again!
I can certainly avoid the store, and that seems the best way to overcome this addiction. Just like the M&M's, cold turkey is probably best. But, even having confessed my addiction, I'm not sure this one will be so easy to get over. As a family of four, there is always something we need. And, until that ends, my motto will remain "they have that at Target!"
