Hi! My name is Jennifer and I’m a shopaholic!
It may be very hard to picture me this way especially for most of my childhood friends. I was born in a family with limited resources. My Dad used to be a jobless, suicidal, alcoholic while I was growing up and it didn’t help that my Mom put me through private exclusive schools through scholarships. I was always scrimping on food and finding ways to earn a buck or two just so I can buy a decent meal. No wonder I used to be so thin back then to the point of developing an ulcer! While all that time, I was always surrounded by rich kids with all the trappings of a wealthy family — expensive toys, fancy bags and shoes, scrumptious lunches, unlimited number of cars, nannies, trips abroad, etc. I’ve sworn to myself that the moment I get to live my own life and earn my own keep, I will also have what they have. If only it were that simple.
So what started out as a simple desire to reward myself for being a good worker and a bread winner of my family turned into a bad habit to break. The moment I got my hands on my first ever Visa card when I was 22 years old, I couldn’t stop using it! If before I didn’t even know what Starbucks was, now, all kinds of gourmet coffee concoctions became regular affairs with the swipe of a card. And from expensive coffee, I turned to fine dining. And from there, I moved into designer clothes, bags & shoes. Now, I couldn’t stop charging for trips I’m not even sure I’d have the time for and impulsive buys that I know will just gather dust inside my drawers — expensive toys, DSLR cameras, handy cams, laptops, home entertainment systems & more! I totally get a heart attack the minute I see my credit card bills in the mail every month. A whopping Php80-100,000 every single time!!! *faints*
No wonder I totally related to Rebecca Bloomwood’s stories when I first read Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic. And now it’s gonna be in the theaters real soon!!! I can’t wait to see Rebecca’s character live on screen. She may be a credit card addict like me but she may just be able to inspire me to become a sazzy but debt-free shopaholic! Ah, we all can dream can’t we?
Catch “Confessions of a Shopaholic” in cinemas on February 18, 2009!