When I was in India, my parents would take me shopping and buy me new clothes to wear on my birthday. On the morning of my birthday, I would wake up to the smell of chaawal ki kheer being made. Mom would do some puja, which I would pretend to be very interested in, only because the end of the puja signified that I could attack the chaawal ki kheer.
Then I grew up, came to live in Singapore by myself, never did any puja, started disliking all sweet stuff including chaawal ki kheer. But the one thing I remembered to do was to buy new clothes for my birthday. Because if I didn't, I'd hear, "WHAT? No new clothes on your birthday?? WHAT?" repeated a million times over when my parents called to speak to me. Mom had tried to send me clothes once, but she gave up when she realised my taste in clothes had completely changed, and that her choice was not my choice anymore.
So this year, in the midst of exams and work, I forgot everything else. A day before my birthday, I remembered that I did not have any new clothes. Darn. I did not want to get scolded by my parents again so I decided to drop by Giordano, because it was almost 9 pm, and that was the closest to my house.
I quickly picked up a pair of pants to wear the next day. As the salesgirl processed my payment, she said cheerfully, "Come back on your birthday, miss, and get 20% off."
"Errr... it's tomorrow, actually." I smiled.
"OH!!! Errr... do you want me to... ?" She paused her processing process.
I thought about it. It made sense. I could come back and buy it the next day. I would still have new clothes on my birthday. I would not be able to wear anything new in the morning, but I could always... errr... sleep in my new pants. The whole 'new clothes on birthday' was really was no big deal to me, but I knew it was to my parents. I could also imagine Mom's shocked face, "WHAT? You did not wear something new on the morning of your birthday???"
Buying the pair of pants the next day and getting the 20% off seemed like the rational thing to do, but have you ever tried explaining rationality to Moms?
Sigh.
"No, it's okay. Please go ahead." I told the girl, and she went ahead with the payment, after giving me a very queer 'how dumb are you?' look.
So I got through my birthday and I got through my exams. As part of my post-exam celebrations, I decided to go on a shopping spree. It was a good day. Exams had just got over, Ian was in hospital, and my salary had just been credited. And that's when I realised that there were a lot of good people in the world who were willing to give me great discounts just because it was my birthday month.
They say shopping is Singapore's national pasttime. I have managed to not get too influenced by this pasttime over my last seven years and none months of living in Singapore. I don't run to every place that I hear has a discount. But of course, when I do shop, I go crazy. However, the best part about my shopping is that I am not brand-crazy. I buy what looks good on me, and not on my credit card profile. I refuse to be one of those girls who go, "Oooh! Blah-blah boots has a 1.03% off sale this week, and now the new leather-weird-unpronunceable-name-boots are now going for only $899.99! Oooh how cheap!"
Nonsense.
My flatmates think that I am super-rich. I think they're going by my shoes. "Sayesha, I think you need a third shoe-rack." One of them said to me sarcastically coupla days ago. I did not bother to explain. Yes, I buy shoes like mad, but I don't buy the insanely expensive kinds. My shoes gotta fit my feet and my budget. Of course, things like make-up have to be branded because you gotta buy the best quality stuff for your skin. But clothes and shoes have a limited life span, and it doesn't make sense to buy a dress for 900 bucks and matching shoes for 300 bucks. Especially when you can't even carry yourself in them, which happens when people buy branded stuff without a thought for whether it even looks good on them.
I'm glad I never fell for the Prada-Gucci-Zara-blah 'brand craze'. I'm glad that I have learnt to pamper myself within my budget.
And oh, periodical donation of clothes helps justify fresh buying sprees. ;)
This whole week, I have plundered many a place in Singapore using my birthday discount. I'm sure many places have already circulated "Watch out, she's coming!" memos to their staff. :/
Any Hang Ten fans in the house? I have 50% off till the end of the month. :D
Saturday, April 29, 2006
'Buy' the way
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47 comments:
OMG!!! I just woke up...and came here. Go Sayesha! Thankee for posting it. First again by chance. :D
YIPEEEEE!!! GOLD!!!!!
Hehehe..
Cool..even I used to and still love wearing new clothes.
I still wear the clothes that my sis sends and thankfully she still knows my taste in clothes":)
BTW, Silver after ages:)
"WHAT? You did not wear something new on the morning of your birthday???"
WHAT?! YOU DIDN'T??? Or did you? :P Haha.
$899.99 is CHEAP?! Man, they've money to throw or what?
I'm sure many places have already circulated "Watch out, she's coming!" memos to their staff. :D
LOL!!! Yes, yes. I went to Singapore in my dream and saw it written outside most shops, "Beware of that blogger Sayesha." :P
gee, shopping gets me crazy beyond my devils level of patience. when i first came to US, i made my presense felt in every decent mall.
now, i have my wardrobe filled with clothes untold.
geee..w.ay to go...
this is the post for a photo blog. where are the pics of your new acquisitions?? :P shopaholics unite!! :D
Chaawal ki kheer! Yummy :D
Morning of your birthday? Usually I sit for breakfast in my fave pyjamas and tee. And then freak out cos I am late for college cos of all the calls. PHEW! All relatives call in the morning. Grrr.
Brands! Heheee. I remember seeing a friend shedding a crazy 1000 bucks on a Benetton tee. And I thought, dude, that's your Dad's money! There are cheaper brands in the market man! Anyways.
That's smart. Clothes and shoes needn't be expensive, yes, they need to fit you and make you look comfortable. :)
Damn, why can't they have discounts on bookstores when it's my birthday? Whatever money I get, I will buy books like crazy! :D
The Girl
Chaa gayi re tu to!
Kya Sayesha....
You could have told the girl it was your birthday that day only.. sure they wouldn't have asked for your birth certificate sweets?!?!!
Totally agree with you on the branded thing.. When my friends come & tell me about the designer branded jeans they bought for 1500 bucks.. All I ask is.. how many years will you wear them??
"I'm glad that I have learnt to pamper myself within my budget"
Hehehehe.. that was cute :-)
Btw.. hows Ian now??? Would be getting him along to India or I think he's better off there only till your vacations end ;-) Lock him up in his hospital room only this time :p
Nice one but dunno why I felt you to be little senti senti while posting it.. err.. true?
Take care,
God Bless You,
Aarti
#World Girl,
Sheesh! You again? Now Ipanema Girl ka sara advance lautana padega! :/
#ROS,
Hehehe... I don't like anyone buying me clothes... but sometimes some things just click. I have a friend who gets me really pretty clothes from the US :P
#World Girl,
//WHAT?! YOU DIDN'T??? Or did you? :P Haha.
Offo I did re baba! :)
//$899.99 is CHEAP?! Man, they've money to throw or what?
I guess they do. Either that, or they're trying to do the whole 'prestige' thing. Bah!
//LOL!!! Yes, yes. I went to Singapore in my dream and saw it written outside most shops, "Beware of that blogger Sayesha." :P
Hehehe... maybe I should review them... then they will send me a crate of 24 dresses! :D
#Dharmu,
Hehehe... I donate my clothes periodically... that way, someone's gonna make use of them, and I can more more! Muahahaha! :D
#The Chosen One,
Hehehe... dun wanna show them in 2-D. Will only flaunt the 3-D version! :D
#Rohit,
Arre when I was in India, Mom used to wake me early in the morning for the puja... and then I'd dress up and do the puja and have my kheer, and then go to school :P
//Damn, why can't they have discounts on bookstores when it's my birthday?
Hehehe... Woh bhi ho jayega. I'm supposed to hire you in my team na? My company bookstore gives 15% off to employees! ;)
#Aarti,
//sure they wouldn't have asked for your birth certificate sweets?!?!!
Yes dear. You gotta show your IC to get such discounts :)
//When my friends come & tell me about the designer branded jeans they bought for 1500 bucks
Hehehe... My favourite pair of jeans cost me only 30 dollars... that's really cheap compared to the branded stuff here...
//Btw.. hows Ian now???
Ian's okay now... He made me go to uni this morning for my thesis work... hospital se bhi hukum chalata hai dhakkan! :/
//Nice one but dunno why I felt you to be little senti senti while posting it.. err.. true?
I miss my Mommy and Daddy! :(
Me too Say-esha, whenever any Puja was held at my home I waited for long to get the sweet dishes (prasad containing laddoos, sweets) that were offered after it. Quite a naughty thought ;-)
Some Indians in olden days used to go to the nearest studio to get their birthday pictures clicked.
Did u ever go like that?
Now after the invention of digicam, one can click his/her pics anytime anyday.
Wearing new clothes is a kind of ritual among Indians.
Had I been in Singapore, I would have had 12 birthdays in a year, for different shops, to get those discounts. :->
Now Ipanema Girl ka sara advance lautana padega!
MUAHAHAHAHAHA! :D
Hey, how do you prove that it really IS your birthday? Like hotwinter said, what if someone greedy (like...*ahem*...moi) tries to have tons of birthdays every year? :P
Sachchi?! Resume bhej dalun?
:D
Hi. :D I was caught up in..err..work all week, that's why the absence. Read the one about iPod and sorely missed having left a comment there. :(
And what's more, I don't shop at all. I'm the once in a blue moon shopper, and when I do, I usually go for brands when buying jeans. The problem with non-branded stuff on the streets that might be good is simple..I can't bargain to save myself. *sigh*
#Hotwinter,
Birthday pics in a studio? Hahaha! Never had anything like that (thank goodness!) :P
//Had I been in Singapore, I would have had 12 birthdays in a year, for different shops, to get those discounts. :->
Not possible, my dear. Gotta show your IC to get the discount. :D
#World Girl,
//Hey, how do you prove that it really IS your birthday?
Bacha you have to show your IC (which has your birthday printed on it) to get such discounts :)
#Rohit,
You wanna work in Singapore? Pehle yeh pakka kar le :)
#Shekhar,
Arre yaar! Kahan they aap? I was very surprised to see no comment from you on the 'Rain roof' bit in the ipod post. Well, you can always go back to old posts you missed and comment. I'll know cos I'll get them in my inbox. :)
Well, here there are no 'street shops' as such, and no chance of bargaining either, so I don't have that problem :)
Buying jeans is really tricky. Branded jeans are usually good, but the shapes can be all wrong. Your jeans must follow your exact body shape (at least for girls) and sometimes it takes a while before you find 'that perfect pair of jeans' which may or may not end up to be a branded one. :)
This is really dumb. You would/would have surely lie/lied to your parents in future/past. Really dumb...but ofcourse it made story telling.
hehe I did some impulse shopping yesterday! :D And all I could see around me was discount sales!
Sayesha, mera advance lauta de aur woh bhi sood samet. really disappointed in this service. Thinking of writing a blog entry on it now. ;)
aur tgwstw, jyaada fudak mat. as soon as management changes hands, things will get more efficient round here. and you and that rohit boy who's cheering you, can both go-to-hell.
i'm relegated to number 17? seven-teeeeeeeeeen? hai! yeh kya din aa gaye.
i've never been a huge fan of shopping. but the "new dress on birthday" thing works in my house too. so after my india trip, i keep one piece of clothing aside and open it only on my birthday. and my mom asks me on the phone "did you wear that green skirt??" awwww i miss my mommy toooo!!!!
Hahaha.
You wear make-up and all!
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
And sorry I forgot there's no summer in singapore - just like home!
Here the weather's SO awesomely pleasant - summer's here.
What? you did not wear something new on your birthday !!!
wow..grreat!!!...and if my mom will forget I'll say:
What?I'll not wear something new on my birthday???!!!.
and by hook or by crook..I'll make sure i have one..:D
Seller
you grabbed the gold!!!I'll hit back next time! *frosty nose look*
Sayesha
why did you post in the morning???? :((((( :P
#Sumit,
Wow, I did not know you were such an integral part of my family that you dictate what I tell my parents! :)
#Shub,
Hehehe... wait till it's July and the great Singapore Sale arrives! ;)
#Ipanema Girl,
Haan haan pahunch jayega waapas advance... apun principles wale khiladi hain... kya? :D
#Siddhu,
//You wear make-up and all!
Yes I do.
You mean you don't?????? :O :O :O
:D
#Neha,
Hehehe... now's the time to get pampered by parents... jab unse door rahegi tab tarsegi :)
//why did you post in the morning???? :((((( :P
Errr... uhhh... sorry?
:P
TGFI: Chal, chal, ab jealous mat ho. Agar meri kismat itni acchi hai toh main kya karoon? :P And agar main aur Rohit hell chale gaye, toh tere aane ki preparations kharab kar denge. Wahan par welcome bhi nahin hoga accha. Theek hai na? :P
Neha: Hahaha...subah-subah orkutting toh ho jaati hai, right? Scrap-scrap bhi khela jaata hai...but Sayesha ka blog nahin check hota, huh? :P
Sayesha, you post at whichever time you want...I'll just threaten my luck to be good...next time also, I'll be the first...hopefully. ;)
MUAHAHAHA. :D
seller
*stares*
huh! i give up orkutting! neha takes the challenge!..ab scrap scrap nahi..sayesha's world mein comment comment khela jayega!! :D:P:P beware!!!
sayesha
don't listen to the girl..I am younger so..meri mano..:P
Thats deing dumb again. I didnt dictate anything. I just supposed that you either would have lied or will lie:)
And your stories somehow make me feel you are good at making fool of others. :)
TGFI
Listen, don't get so enthusiastic, ok? I'm with The Girl. And you want us to go to hell? Thanks. Hum dono to bane hi Hell mein jane ke liye hain. :D
Neha:
Give up Orkutting? ROTFL! Ab Priya, Silky, Smriti, z00n aur 103821093820498 logon ka kya hoga jo har roz tere saath scrap-scrap khelte hain? :P Muahaha...bechari Neha.
Sayesha:
Age ko maaro goli. It all depends on...ahem...MERIT. And I'm more hard working, hai na, hai na? :P
#Neha,
What is scrap-scrap?? :O
#Sumit,
You think I am dumb. You've said it thrice already. I get your point. Happy now? :)
Did I ever say anywhere in my post that I never lie to my parents? And what has lying or not lying got to do with this post anyway? It's just a post about buying clothes. To me, it's not a big deal to go and buy some clothes if it makes my parents happy. So I do. Why are you so hell bent on making an issue out of what is a non-issue? Looks like you have issues, dude :)
//And your stories somehow make me feel you are good at making fool of others. :)
Hmmm... Looks like a lot of things about my blog seem to make you feel a lot of things. Can't change that, can I? Perhaps you shouldn't read a blog that belongs to a really 'dumb girl' who's 'good at making fool of others'. What say? :)
#Rohit,
Gosh you're also involved now? Aaj kal ke bache... ufff! ;)
#World Girl,
WHAT IS SCRAP-SCRAP??? :O Koi batayega??? :O
Scrap-scrap kucch nahin...aise hee ek bakwas si activity hai. One person leaves a message in the scrapbook of another and then, the other person replies back in the former's scrapbook. Saari-saari raat timepass aur chatting chalti hai...ask Neha. :P
Neha: Ab tera kya hoga without your scrap-scrap? :P Tera ek fan toh already mera muder karne ke liye ready hai. After all, you really ARE taking a sanyas from Orkut, right? :P
sayesha
Saari-saari raat timepass aur chatting chalti hai...ask Neha. :P
bilkul bikul..main toh kabhi kabhi aisa karti..almost nahi..:P..seller se pucho..yeh saari raat scrap scrap karti hai!! :P:P
HIHIHAHAHAHAHA..
u join orkut..will ya play scrap scrap? :D
seller
ab maine aisa bhi nahi kaha tha..give upfor the time being new post is placed in sayeshaz... :D
ab..u got?.. ;)
and afterall main apne fans ko dukhi nahi karoongi..:D
Rohit,
>TGFI
>Listen, don't get so enthusiastic, >ok? I'm with The Girl. And you want >us to go to hell? Thanks.
i was using "go to hell" in a very light sense..hope you didn't take offence. i meant to edit my comment but obviously, it was too early in the morning for me. ;)
no apologies to TGWSTW, tho. i can take some liberties with her. ;)
seller
one more ..sayesha won't mind.
grrrrrr grrrrr...you you you...mere scrap book mein aag laga diya???? grrrrrrrrr :P
Wow!!!
Sayesha...
Neha & the world seller are really increasing your blog demand haan :D
"Ian's okay now... He made me go to uni this morning for my thesis work... hospital se bhi hukum chalata hai dhakkan! :/"
LOL.. Dhakkan =)) hehehe
"I miss my Mommy and Daddy! :( "
Aawwww.. >:D< Jaadu ki jhaapi for u :D
Take care dear,
Aarti
TGFI
Oye, mujhe pata hai light sense mein tha. Don't worry, hum sab ek jaise hi hain. :P
Abey Neha, lagaoon ek khinch kar! You're telling this NOW when z000nie has already tried to murder me once?! Aage se clear kar diya kar pehle se. :P
mere scrap book mein aag laga diya???? grrrrrrrrr
Chal na...maine lagayi hai aag? I just informed someone that Neha, the angel will quit Orkutting.....and I barely managed to save myself. Ab apni scrap sambhal le...ja! :P
@TGFI: i can take some liberties with her.
Yeah, yeah, take as much liberty as you want...and I'll take away ALLLLL the gold...MUAHAHAHAHA! :D
Sayesha
Ab aisi baat to phone per hi ho sakti hai. :D
Will buzz in sometime.
Aur haan, I'm also involved. Ab college submissions thodi kam ho gayi hain kuch dinon ke liye, so I thought I'll support hamari pyari The Girl.
And, just because I'm 20, I can't be involved in it? :O
i didnt have anything new to wear on my Bday WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
and 3 shoe racks??? OMG
Sash.. kya karti hain itne juton ka??? mahine mein har pair ko ek hi baar pehanti hain kya... one thing i love about being a guy... a formal pair and a pair of sneakers.. throw in a pair of sandals for good effect and we are uber happy..
@ rohit..
all cool then. :) arre tu to wahi hai jisne mujhe ek baar bohat rulaya tha.... apni didi ke shaadi ke time ek post likhke. brought back so many memories for me.....:) lagta hai tu accha banda hai. tgwstw jaise logon ke saath kyu ghoom raha hai? they're not good company, you know....
@tgwstw
i have only 3 words for you
we will see.
july mein? great singapore sale? hehehe also happens to be my birthday month!! :)) is that bad luck or what?!
TGFI
Haan, achha banda to hun main. Muahahaa. :D
Maine rulaya tha? :O Uuuiiiiii
Chal.. Sorry bol deta hun. Waise mazaa aaya sun ke. :P Ab main itna roya hun Di ki shaadi ke baad to achha lagta hai sunke mere paas company thi. :D
Aur.. The Girl is not a good company? Prove yourself to be a better company, then "we will see". :P :D
seller:
laga do! but temporary sanyas kyun le liya? :O:O:O:O:O:O...z00nie @ shock again!!this time major waalaaa... ;)
holds my ear! never never..never m gonna say..*thinks*..what? kya nahi kehna mujhe? *still thinking*..anyway...neha offers the mighty world seller a white flower of peace...THE END. :D
Oye, TGFI! Ab tu mere friends ko mat bhadka! Rohit knows I'm good company, see, see! :P Kaan bharne band kar.
And about the gold, take it, take it. I'm gonna do some daan-punya. My first exam is approaching ;)
@Neha: Abey 6th ko exam hai...just a few days left. So, gotta prepare. That's why, bye-bye Orkutting. Z000nie ko shock se nikalne mein help karna. ;)
neha offers the mighty world seller a white flower of peace
Accepted! :D
damn.. I didnt know u got 50% off at hang ten this month!!! I bought a t-shirt there a little while back! :P haha. it doesnt really matter.. hang ten normally has some discount or the other throughout the year :D
I also have the new-dress-on-your-birthday thingy. This year, got to wear my new dress for my flight back to singapore :/ i hate birthdays on flight :( But i got a nice dress and lotsa presents from my parents so, me happy! :)
#World Girl, Neha
Achha bakwaas activity hai? No wonder, tum sab karte ho toh bakwaas hi hoga muahahaha! :D
#Ipanema Girl,
Sheesh, now people at Sayeshaz are apologising for their 'Go to hell's?? You guys need more drinks! :/
#Neha,
Scrapbook mein aag??? Wow, sounds interesting! Lekin World Girl ne bola ki bakwaas activity hai? :/
#Aarti,
Thanks for the jaadu ki jhappi, sweetheart! :)
#Rohit,
Band karo yeh sab formalities!!!!! :O
#World Girl,
Orkutting????? Hahahahah kya word hai! :D
#Rohit,
Theek hai... lekin tu pehle graduate toh kar le! :)
#Lalit,
Arre shoes ke bina toh Sash zinda nahin reh sakti... har maheene khareedna hi hai... compulsive :P
ps: Yeah, guys only need three pairs... so deprived! :D
#Ipanema Girl,
Arre I thought you were the samajhdaar one! Et tu Ipanemus?? :O
#Shubs,
Hahaha! Bad luck for the shops, good luck for you! Let's go shopping in July, what say? :D
#Rohit, Seller, Neha,
I refuse to get involved any more :D
#Macho Girl,
Sheesh! I have had three birthdays on flights!! I lost 2.5 hours of my birthday each time! :/
Why do you assume that people who can afford and therefore wear branded clothes automatically can't carry it off?
#Drops of Jupiter,
// Why do you assume that people who can afford and therefore wear branded clothes automatically can't carry it off?
I did not assume anything automatically. This is what I said:
Especially when you can't even carry yourself in them, which happens when people buy branded stuff without a thought for whether it even looks good on them.
I am talking about people who buy branded stuff for the sake of buying branded stuff, and do not even bother to see if they can carry them well. Just because you CAN afford it, doesn't mean you look GOOD in it, do you? ;)
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