Why I'm avoiding the January Sales

I love the month of January! I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the start to a brand new year or because it’s my birthday month (therefore obviously associated with happiness and presents) or is it just because it’s such a nice word to look at? (Not sure why, but this makes a difference to me.)


The only thing affecting this month being so great is those wretched post-festive sales. Am I weird for loving fashion and being addicted to shopping yet hating the January sales with an absolute passion? It’s not that I couldn’t do with a good bargain, in fact finding one makes a days shopping completely worthwhile especially when you’re broke and trying to save and can only revert to window shopping to ease your retail cravings… But I can honestly say I’ve never found something in the sales that I’ve truly loved and thought getting up early and beating the fashion queues was worth it!

Am I shopping in the wrong place or am I just simply leaving it too late? I used to work in retail so know first hand that sometimes when the sales come along, so do the resurrections from that sale we had four years ago which, at full price, were about €55 to begin with and by this stage are worth approximately €1.50. And that’s being kind. So I’m pretty sure all stores are the same and drag the rags and remnants out from behind the scenes and onto the shop floor. And even though I try the odd time to root through the railings, I usually come out with the only item that is actually full price – just left in the wrong place by another customer. Cruel. :(

Now I’m sure there are some items that have been reduced from just before Christmas, I reckon I’m just shopping too late to find them. The thought, however, of getting up at 7am on St. Stephen’s day morning and lining up outside the nearest shopping centre just to be sure I get that jacket for 30% off is something I’m pretty sure I will never cave and do!

I saw a sign for ‘further reductions’ on a shop window today which I’m hoping signifies the end of the sale period coming fast. Let’s hope so!!