Something that is very common in the lives of the Gilmore Girls is their excessive shopping habits. Many fans of the show question how Lorelai was able to afford her fancy pantsuits and eating out for almost every meal while being a single mother and supporting herself and her daughter on an inn manager’s salary. There are times in the show where I believe it is subtly shown that it is not easy for them but it is never really a high point of the show. Loreali asked her parents for help with Rory’s tuition when she got into private school, and Rory asked for their help when she got into Yale. Now that is understandable because no regular family can afford private schools and ivy leagues in a one income household. When participating in my own occasion shopping sprees I also feel like I end up reflecting on if I actually needed any of this.
Since I was little, I have always enjoyed shopping. Fashion and clothes have been one of my biggest interests since I can remember and I have been known to have a few too many pairs of shoes. My grandmother used to take me to thrift stores to pick out high heels that never quite fit me just to entertain my asking. After I took those shoes back, I would go through her closet and put on fashion shows with her jewelry, fake crowns, and the occasional feather boa. For a long time, I thought I would go to fashion school and become a designer. Unfortunately my dreams came crashing down when I realized I had no artistic talent when it comes to sketching.
There’s an episode of Gilmore Girls where Rory is fresh into college and Lorelai is starting construction on her own inn. Desperate to see each other they try to think of something to do, soon they realize that they are both struggling with money and everything they enjoy costs money. One of them suggests window shopping, which is exactly what you think it is. Heading to the mall and just looking at all the pretty things through the glass windows. They became quickly bored and wondered why they thought this would have been a somewhat fun thing to do.
My excessive shopping days I find to be behind me now, at least for the moment. I’m trying to shift my thinking into buying the things that I need instead of buying everything I want when I see it. I’m trying to invest in those things at a better quality even if that means getting them at a slower pace. I find now that a lot of guilt follows when I make a purchase and I have to remind myself that I am allowed to spend the money that I make and not everything has to be sent to a far away savings account. I wonder if the Gilmore girls ever felt shopping guilt or if that is just something I’m left to face.
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