We’re almost at the one-month mark and stress levels are steadily rising. In times like these, I turn to online shopping to bring me inner peace. Sound familiar? We’re not alone. Amazon makes it so incredibly easy to spend money on necessities, fun stuff, beauty supplies, and clothing that sometimes I forget that I can even buy the things I need from the store. At the top of my list is skincare. Every time a new product launches, I find myself eyeing the page wondering if I can afford another moisturizer.
Retail therapy, as it’s often called, is more and more popular with the rise in online shopping’s convenience. Amazon has an easy app and layout to make shopping much more convenient and less stressful than buying in-store. We can calculate our total without mental math, know that with Prime, shipping is free, and even find alternatives to products that we bought at the store simply because it was the only option. I always try to justify my Amazon orders with thoughts like, “I might need this someday” or “It could come in handy.” In reality, most student orders have more to do with personal care than academics, but that is understandable.
Besides notebooks and pencils, most school supplies are reusable each year – you can bring the same backpack, reuse your folders, and bring your unused pens. But personal care is more complicated. We use toiletries constantly and need to replenish them. Many students don’t have their own car to use and the convenience factor of online shopping makes it tempting. We anticipate the email alerting us of a package delivery, and it keeps us motivated all week because we’re so excited to receive our orders. Skincare, haircare, phone cases, and jewelry are a small joy in everyday life, especially the everyday life of a college student. So have fun but don’t break your bank account (or your parents’)!
Caroline King - Staff Writer