Live to Shop

The first post and it feels like I've spent far to much time thinking about what to write. I've concluded that the reason I'm writing this blog is partly because I know there are thousands of women out there who feel the same and because I want to enhance on the main theme in my blog.

As a woman rapidly approaching 40 years of age I am married with two adorable young children, working 3 days a week and feeling constantly sucked into a world of which I have precious little time for myself. Me time, time to indulge, enjoy my hard earnt time and money, where I can treat myself and get high on life for the sake of satisfying a core need. Yes I am yet another woman that like to shop. Shopping Therapy is nothing new, men still don't understand it, women love to do it but the advent of online shopping has given us time starved shoppers an extra opportunity to browse and buy when we get a valuable 15 minutes late in the evening.

I thought I'd start by just giving you an idea of my favourie online shops, this will give you a good idea about what I like to buy:-

1. Boden - I have always liked the Boden Catalouge and been a fan for a few years. the website might not be the easiest in the world to use but I simply love their clothes. Also great for buying stuff for the kids. These guys are constantly sending me discount vouchers and offers which I just can't resist.

2. Jigsaw - Whilst the online shop has been withdrawn they have launched the www.kew-online.com brand and site which is slightly cheaper but still very good. I still try to pop in to Jigsaw when ever I can but find myself always thinking very carefully about prices as it can be expensive.

3. Marks and Spencer - Like many people I felt that for a few years they did a bad job of targetting my demographic. Clothes have always been high quality and good value but their styling was very conservative and 'frumpy'. However the last 18 months has seen a remarkable turnaround and I can honestly say this is once again one shop I always like to go to for a quick browse.

4. Next - this has been a long time favourite of mine but I think it has suffered a little of late, possibly as Marks and Spencer has been revived. I still like to look at the Catalouge but think the online shop needs improving. It always feels to slow and clunky compared to the glorious catalouge they produce.

5. Finally one of my favourite online hidden gems is a shopping comparison site called www.cubalaya.co.uk . I think it's new but I stumbled across it just before Christmas. there are lots of price comparison sites out there but this one has a nice feel to it, no useless adverts that feel irelevant and it turns up some real gems of online retailers you just couldn't find any where else.

I hope this blog will capture some of the joy I experience when I shop online and I hope other like minded people will tell me about their love of shopping and point me in the direction of great products and special offers or just highlight great things they have recently bought.