my shopping habits essay

Shopping - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Shopping refers to the activity of buying goods from stores or online platforms. Essays could explore the evolution of shopping habits, the rise of e-commerce, and its implications for traditional retail. This topic could also touch on consumer behavior, the psychology of shopping, and the impact of technology on retail experiences. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Shopping you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping

Online shopping can save a lot of time because there is no need to go to a physical shop. The consumers also can save fuel and money, as the fees of internet connection is lower compared to the fees of travelling by vehicles. According to Lombardo. C, online shopping makes comparing prices easy for everyone. Many online stores often sell the similar and same products. On the internet, buyers can easily check and compare prices with just a few clicks […]

Online Shopping Today

The Internet is one of the most significant modern day inventions. Many people would agree that the Internet has transformed nearly every aspect of life, including the way we talk, live, and especially the way we shop. Although many people still shop at physical stores due to the risk of errors and fraud in online purchase, the Internet is rapidly improving the online shopping experience and making a secure virtual environment for shoppers. Shopping online has become increasingly popular among […]

A Place i would Like to Visit again

A place I love to visit and why The world is embellished with colorful and mesmerizing places. Being a traveling lover, there are many places that I dream to visit but if I have to choose one, it would be “the global village Dubai”. It is claimed to be the world’s greatest tourist attraction and I love to visit here as it is a whole place itself including outdoor cultural, entertainment and shopping centers. The global village is located on […]

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E-commerce Online Shopping and Amazon

About E-commerce E-commerce means Electronic Commerce, it is an emerging type of recent trading and promoting tools where buyers have the ability to take part in all stages of a buying decision while stepping through those processes electronically as opposed to in conventionally a normal store (with a real catalogue). The method by which e-commerce helps the customers in the free use of product data, buying the selected items securely, and final settled payments. It is really a rising topic […]

Online Grocery Shopping

As people’s lives are being more and more oriented toward high-tech and a smart living, many researches were conducted showing the customer’s point of view regarding this issue, as well as the management issues that arise from adopting this trend. Researches and studies varied between identifying the triggers that encourage both customers and companies to enter this world, the effect of introducing online selling on the company’s management and the future of both the online shopping and the traditional shopping. […]

Changing Demographics Customer Service to Millennials

Today, customer service is facing a new challenge is has never taken on: Millennials. We here about Millennials everywhere we go, and it seems everyone has an opinion about them. Teens, and adults in their 20s and 30s are what is considered the Millennial Generation, also referred to as Millennials. This generation has been called things like lazy, narcissistic, and coddled. But Millennials have also been defined in positive ways too though. "They are generally regarded as being more open-minded, […]

Effects of Online Shopping on the Fashion Industry

Abstract Online shopping and its impact on the evolution fashion was examined, in the context of the cultural shift in consumers. Right now is considered the most crucial time where the consumers have the most desire to shop whenever and wherever. Millennials are also given the credit for causing the shift in traditional in-store shopping habits to now online shopping. Within the fashion/retail industry, there has been a disruption in the traditional retail process because of the advancement of technology. […]

Online Shopping Issues

The study assessed commonly occuring issues regarding selling and purchasing of goods online. It sought to apprehend Pakistani attitude about online shopping, it also encompasses their observable behavior that correlates to the online marketing world. Foreordained factors alter to shopper’s dependability to online grocery, it includes the quality of the products availed, shipping expenditure, shopper’s convenience, the risk involved and social media platform. With regards to the mention proportion, it show that the underlying issues constituting online shopping is the […]

Three Distinct Merchandise Units of Walmart

Products/Services Merchandise Walmart U.S. do most of their business in three distinct merchandise units. Most of their business is done in supercenters, discount stores, local markets and other small stores, as well online through their eCommerce websites. The grocery unit consists of meat, produce, natural & organics, deli & bakery, dairy, frozen foods, alcoholic beverages, and nonalcoholic beverages.. The grocery unit of merchandise also includes, baby products, domestic and household chemicals, paper goods, pet supplies, and consumables such as health […]

Online Shopping Vs Traditional One

According to France philosopher, Jean Baudrillard who believes that “the characteristic of our society is the condition that people consume as if it is the center of their life”. Another characteristic of a consumer society is that people often spend their money and sometimes their time by purchasing goods that not actually cover their needs. Considering the purpose of my research, first, I tried to gather as many as I could culturally data, and secondly, that I should start looking […]

Shopping Online is Better than Shopping in Mall

Online shopping has become the emerging trend for 2020, with the increasingly competitive global online marketplaces through Google, Social Media, and large companies such as Amazon. By the end of this year, the online market is expected to reach 4 trillion dollars. Online shopping gives consumers the ability to shop and purchase products in the comfort of their own homes with the ease of returning products they don't want. In this case study, we will discuss how online shopping started, […]

Costco: Unveiling the Retail Marvel that Redefines Shopping Experiences

In the ever-evolving tapestry of retail, Costco emerges as an undeniable force, redefining the conventional shopping paradigm. From its modest inception in 1976 to its current global dominance, Costco has morphed into a retail behemoth, captivating consumers with a shopping journey unlike any other. Central to Costco's allure is its distinctive membership model. The coveted membership not only grants access to a treasure trove of products but also cultivates a sense of belonging, forging a community of savvy shoppers seeking […]

Peapod: Pioneering the Online Grocery Shopping Experience

As a trailblazer in the online grocery delivery service space, Peapod was founded in 1989 and has grown in significance in the current digital era. Peapod's path from modest beginnings to become a big player in the online grocery shopping market is a reflection of how e-commerce has evolved and how customer behavior has changed. This article examines the background of Peapod, its business strategy, the difficulties it encountered, and how it affected grocery buying. Andrew and Thomas Parkinson, brothers, […]

Online Shopping of Women Apparels in India

Introduction The cutting edge for business today is E-commerce. E-commerce stands for electronic commerce. It means dealing in goods and services through the electronic media and internet. It relates to a website of the vendor, who sells products or services directly to the customers from portal using a digital shopping cart or digital shopping basket system and allows payment through credit card, debit card or EFT (Electronic fund transfer) payments. E-commerce or E-business involves carrying on a business with the […]

SRS Document for Online Shopping

The inspiration driving this wander is to make a utilitarian site for people to have the ability to both buy and offer items. Customers of this site will have the ability to make a record of items which will supply them with an easy to use interface to both purchase things recorded by various customers and pitch things to various customers. The fundamental essentials express that the customers will have the ability to securely enlist and manage their profiles. They […]

The Origins of Target: a Detailed Look at its Foundational History

The story of Target's rise to a dominant force in the retail industry is a tale rich with innovation, ambition, and consistent pursuit of excellence. Tracing back to the early 20th-century America, Target's evolution from modest beginnings to a leading retail giant is nothing short of remarkable. The origins of Target date back to 1902 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when George Draper Dayton founded the company that would eventually launch Target. Dayton, a visionary entrepreneur, infused his new venture with the […]

The Influence of Muzak on Modern Retail and Public Spaces

Muzak, often referred to as "elevator music," has evolved significantly since its inception in the early 20th century. Initially designed to provide background music in public spaces, Muzak has grown into a sophisticated tool used in modern retail and public environments to influence customer behavior and enhance the overall experience. The influence of Muzak on modern retail and public spaces is profound, impacting everything from customer satisfaction to sales performance, and demonstrating the power of music as a psychological tool […]

Consumer Value Stores: Evolution and Impact on Retail Industry

Consumer value stores, commonly referred to as CVS, have evolved dramatically from their modest beginnings as small, local stores offering basic household necessities at affordable prices. They’ve grown into a cornerstone of the retail landscape, serving millions of people daily. The idea behind these stores is simple but powerful: offer good value, make shopping convenient, and keep things accessible. As the retail environment and consumer expectations have changed over the years, CVS stores have adapted and expanded their services to […]

Maximizing Shopping with the Bealls Florida Credit Card

Within the domain of retail and consumer finance, store-branded credit cards have emerged as a pivotal instrument for nurturing customer allegiance and enriching the shopping milieu. The Bealls Florida Credit Card epitomizes this trend, proffering an array of advantages, rewards, and exclusive privileges crafted to delight patrons and optimize their savings. This exposition delves into the attributes and merits of the Bealls Florida Credit Card, elucidating its distinctive position amidst the competitive milieu of retail credit propositions. At its nucleus, […]

A Comparative Analysis of BJ’s and Costco: who Leads the Wholesale Club Shopping Race?

In the realm of wholesale club shopping, BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco stand as towering figures, each boasting its own set of strategies, offerings, and membership benefits. This comparative analysis seeks to shed light on the unique attributes and business models of these retail giants, providing insights into their operational nuances, customer experience, and market positioning. BJ's Wholesale Club, with its roots in the East Coast, offers a more localized shopping experience, often tailoring its product selections to the regional […]

Shopping for the Right DVD Player at Target: a Buyer’s Guide

In today's fast-paced digital era, the humble DVD player still holds a special place in the hearts of many movie enthusiasts and technophiles. Target, as a major retailer, offers a diverse range of DVD players that cater to various needs and preferences. This essay aims to guide shoppers through the selection process at Target, ensuring they find a DVD player that aligns with their specific requirements. Firstly, it's crucial to understand the different types of DVD players available at Target. […]

EBay: the Unlikely Hero of the Online Shopping Revolution

Let's take a stroll down memory lane to the mid-90s, a time when the internet was still a wild, uncharted territory. In this digital 'Wild West', a small, quirky website popped up - eBay. It wasn't just another dot-com; it was the start of a revolution. This isn't your typical corporate success story. It's about a platform that turned garages into gold mines and collectibles into cash. eBay wasn't just a company; it was, and still is, a phenomenon. Imagine, […]

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Juuls, Glossier, and thrift store clothes: 6 high schoolers on what they’re buying right now

Teen shopping habits, explained by teens.

If you buy something from a Vox link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

by Eliza Brooke

“I don’t want to support the whole ‘buy stuff to buy stuff’ mentality,” says Talia, a high school senior from Charlottesville, Virginia, “but then I end up doing that because we’ve all been socialized into the culture of buying things as a social activity or to release stress.”

For years, marketers and corporate executives have been talking about the most effective ways to sell stuff to millennials, who will soon become the country’s largest generation . But now big brands are trying to decode the psyches of Talia’s cohort: Gen Z. Loosely defined as people born between the mid-’90s and the early 2010s, this generation has never known a world without the internet or smartphones. For them, social media is second nature. And according to marketing experts, that very much shapes how they buy things, even in real life .

As a millennial and a retail reporter, I’ve always found the near-anthropological discussions of my peers’ spending habits to be mildly hilarious and fairly condescending . Then I realized that my own understanding of how today’s teenagers shop was just a reduction of headline topics. They’re into Juul vapes ? Fortnite upgrades ? Supreme ? Right, right, right.

So I talked to six high schoolers around the country about what they’re interested in buying right now and how they spend their money. Be warned: This is a series of snapshots, not a comprehensive survey. But some common threads did emerge over the course of our conversations.

Nearly every student I interviewed is into buying clothes at thrift stores, whether that’s because thrifting is cheap, because it helps you stand out from the crowd, or because it’s better for the environment. Some, like Talia, expressed deep wariness about capitalism and fast fashion, and enthusiasm for brands that prioritize diversity in their advertising. Pretty much everyone likes “retro” ’90s styles like mom jeans and scrunchies.

The way that teenagers shop now is totally different than before — brands and trends mostly gain steam over social media — and yet still very much the same. They make money babysitting or working jobs at the local mall, or they ask their parents to buy them things. They’re into clothes, makeup, and getting pizza with their friends.

Gen Z considers the brands they support to be a reflection of their values, and the products they buy a way of telling the world how they wish to be perceived. Teens: They’re just like us.

Nagely, 16, high school senior in New York City

What have you been shopping for recently?

Right now I’m spending my money on clothes and food. The school I go to is a fashion design high school, so I’m interested in shopping. If I want to look girly, I go to Forever 21, H&M, Gap. If I want to look more tomboy, I could still shop in those stores, but I could also go to a store like Urban Outfitters. Mind you, I prefer to find sales — I’m that person. Sales are the way. I’m a teen, I don’t have money!

I like to eat at Chipotle, and since I’m from New York and my school is in Manhattan, we have dollar pizza. It’s literally across the street from my school. I get a regular slice of cheese pizza, because that’s what the dollar pizza is. If you want toppings, that’s extra.

Since you go to a fashion high school, do students get more dressed up for class than at other schools?

The culture is to dress up when you want to. There’s no shame. I have friends at other schools who are like, “This isn’t a place to dress up. You’re going there for an education.”

There are people at my school who do grunge and preppy, but there are people that definitely dress up. They’ll wear ankle boots that are close to three or four inches high. I have a pair that I wear to school. They’re not the comfiest, but they’re cute.

What clothes are most popular at your school right now?

One style that’s trending is the ’90s look, the retro look. Everyone’s trying to wear mom jeans right now. People will be like, “Where did you get yours?” I tell them to go thrifting. You can get them for cheap. That’s my lane: cheap and cute!

The retro look is a major look, and so is the baddie look: skinny jeans, crop top, bodycon dresses. I’m giving you all the slang. It means you look like a bad bitch. You look really good.

What else is cool at your school?

Plaid pants. They’re coming back. You know the movie Clueless ? That plaid . Before school started, I bought a pair of plaid pants that are navy and yellow. The plaid wasn’t as big as the Clueless print, and the pants were flare. I love flare pants.

I don’t personally wear makeup, but all my friends do. Right now people who wear makeup, they have to wear highlighter. That’s the thing. Highlighter on your nose, cheekbones, arch of your eyebrows, upper lip — that’s where you put it.

What makeup brands do people like?

People used to hate on E.L.F., but it’s honestly good. People are realizing that now. For a cheap brand it still has good things. On the more expensive side, people are loving Fenty. A lot of people in my school will use that because it’s by Rihanna. I feel like the quality could be equal to a Target product, but because it’s Rihanna, they’re like, “I love it!”

One Fenty thing that my friends love a lot is the Trophy Wife highlighter. It’s gold. At my school, since there’s no shame, people love to look extra. I can’t lie, I’m one of those people. If I’m feeling it, who cares?

I have curly hair and so do a lot of people I know. Something that’s trending if you’re a person of color is going natural, meaning keeping your hair curly. I straighten my hair, but every time you straighten your hair, you’re killing your curls. Going natural is a trend — I see it on social media a lot. It’s like self-love.

Do you shop with money from a job, or do you get money from your parents?

Sometimes my parents will give me money. Lately what I’ve been doing is tutoring a kid. It’s not like a job where I get a steady amount of money, because sometimes his mom will be like, “He doesn’t have homework.” He’s 9 or 10. I usually do it twice a week for $12.50 an hour, so $25 a week.

Talia, 18, high school senior in Charlottesville, Virginia

What kinds of things do you buy most frequently?

Today I went out to brunch with friends and bought some stationery. That’s what I spend most of my money on: food as a social thing and stationery, office supplies, and books. I have a thing for notebooks. Sometimes I use them for school, and a lot of times I think I’m going to start journaling, but then I don’t want to mess them up so I don’t.

It’s complicated because I really like buying notebooks that I don’t usually end up using! I don’t want to support the whole “buy stuff to buy stuff” mentality, but then I end up doing that because we’ve all been socialized into the culture of buying things as a social activity or to release stress.

When did you start thinking critically about consumer culture?

I took a sociology class last year in high school, and we talked a lot about capitalism and consumerism and we watched a documentary called The True Cost . It was about the clothing industry and about how workers in developing countries are exploited for fast fashion. I’ve been trying really hard not to support that kind of thing. I’m still definitely not there yet. My sister’s been trying to go zero waste , which is really cool, but it’s so hard unless you’re making everything at home.

This past spring I read the book We Were Feminists Once by Andi Zeisler, and reading it definitely influenced a lot of my thoughts about consumerism and feminism in general. If you haven’t read it, I 100 percent recommend it.

She talks about how feminism as a movement has been commodified, and things like marketplace feminism — using feminism to sell products — and celebrity feminism, which is celebrities calling themselves feminists and immediately being seen as feminist icons but not necessarily being authorities. While I’m definitely still a feminist and supportive of most things feminist, I’ve become increasingly wary of products marketed as “feminist.”

So where do you buy clothing, if not at fast fashion stores?

Definitely Goodwill , but also I’ve been trying really hard not to shop for clothing because I do have a lot of clothes. I will admit that I bought some overalls from Old Navy. I had a coupon. If you have Old Navy Cash , you want to spend it.

Both of my parents are pretty crafty, so when I was younger my mom made all of my clothes. She doesn’t make the majority of them anymore, just a skirt or dress here and there. I feel like making clothes is a fun way to subvert capitalism while also being creative, so I sometimes sew things for myself. It’s also really fun to be able to wear something you’ve made. I use freezer paper — like wax paper but only waxy on one side — to make stencils for T-shirts. My two favorite things I’ve made are a romper and a pair of Converse I embroidered.

What products are really big at your school right now?

I’ve never Juuled , but a lot of people at my school do. Because it’s vaping, it’s less regulated than cigarettes, so it’s easier for kids to get. And it’s flavored, so it doesn’t taste the way a cigarette would taste. They’re technically illegal if you’re under 18.

People definitely use Juuls in the bathroom stalls at school. I feel like last year it was mostly freshmen and sophomores using them because upperclassmen were like, “That’s a freshman and sophomore thing. We’re too old for that.” I really don’t know why it’s a freshman and sophomore thing. Maybe it’s like, “We’re in high school now. I’m so mature.”

AJ, 17, high school senior in Newark, New Jersey

What are you spending your money on right now?

I usually spend it on clothes. That’s, to me, a necessity: clothes and shoes. If I have spare money, I’ll use it to go out with my girlfriend.

Where do you usually shop?

For clothes, I shop at a lot of urban-style stores, like Against All Odds. I usually get jerseys and jeans from there. I also go to Zumiez, Forever 21, H&M, PacSun. Online, I go to these little stores from the ads that pop up on Instagram.

For sneakers, I mainly go into side stores, like ones that are not mainstream. I like Vans and Nike — I just recently bought some Nikes. I can do Jordans for sure, and New Balance. When it comes to sneakers, it depends on how they look and the colorway. It doesn’t matter about the brand. Like recently I got some Sauconys — they were light pink on the back and the front was beige. I just loved it, because it was going to go great with my clothing.

Are there particular colors you’re into?

I mix it up, but I’m into bright colors. I have a pink hoodie and pink shirts — I like the way it looks. I tend to go for light colors, like all white, or summery, spring colors. That’s what helps you stand out. Black and gray are nice, but I prefer to stand out because I’m an energetic and loud person.

Do you have a job during the summer or school year, or do your parents give you money to go shopping?

I have a job part-time. I work at KicksUSA now. It’s like a Foot Locker. Before this, I was working at a Levi’s in the mall. My job is after school and on weekends. I play sports also. It’s hard to get free time, and when I have it, I try to enjoy it as much as possible.

When I go shopping, I usually just use the money I get from work. I have younger siblings, so my mom gives them an allowance. If I need anything, I’ll ask her.

What items do you see getting popular at your school?

The new Filas that came out. I personally wouldn’t wear them because I have big feet as it is.

Why do you think they got so popular?

One, because of the colors they come in. Two, because of social media. Three, because it’s just young people getting into them. The sneaker isn’t ugly, but it’s bulky. I wear a 12, so that’s not going to look great on me. Overall, it’s a nice sneaker. The material is nice, everything corresponds — and for us young people, if it’s on social media, that publicity gets out.

Gwyn, 15, high school sophomore in Boylston, Massachusetts

What’s cool at your school right now?

Birkenstocks — I got my first pair the summer of 2017. I didn’t really think they were cool at first, but then I started seeing them all over social media. A close friend got a pair and, after that, everyone got them. Everywhere in my Instagram feed, I would see famous people and regular people wearing them.

What’s the appeal of Birkenstocks?

I heard that they were really comfortable. They’re cute with a lot of outfits, and they’re fun to wear to the beach.

What else do you spend your money on?

Definitely just clothes. I like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle a lot, and I also shop at Urban Outfitters sometimes. Occasionally I’ll go to a mall, but usually I order stuff online. The mall near my house doesn’t have a lot of good stores, so it’s just more convenient to order them.

How do you pay when you’re shopping online?

I have the apps on my phone for the stores I like, and I have my mom set up an account with her credit card information. If I want to buy something, I’ll ask her if it’s okay. I have the Abercrombie, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Lilly Pulitzer, and Vineyard Vines apps.

Do you get that money from sources other than your mom?

Sometimes I babysit, but I don’t have a job yet. I’m thinking next summer I’ll probably get a job. I play sports, so it’s kind of difficult to work a job during the school year. I spend about $300 a month.

What inspires you to buy certain items?

I usually just look at what the people at my school are wearing, and if I think something’s cute I’ll go out and buy it. There are some instances where I see something on social media and get inspired by it. I mainly use Instagram — I have Snapchat, but Instagram is where I see most of that stuff. And sometimes on Vsco .

How do you use Vsco, as opposed to Instagram?

They have a lot of filters you can use and a lot of editing tools, and I feel like you’re more free to post whatever you want on Vsco. Not inappropriate stuff, but the stuff you don’t want to post on Instagram, you can post on Vsco. Usually on Instagram I’ll post pictures of myself with other people, but on Vsco I can post pictures of pretty things I see outdoors. People also post pictures of their outfits on Vsco, so that’s where I get a lot of inspiration.

Elisa, 16, high school junior in Chicago, Illinois

What products are big with your friends right now?

Glossier really got popular, particularly this spring when that no-makeup makeup look got popular. They have amazing products that focus on skincare, instead of focusing on the makeup portion of it. A lot of people started buying their lip gloss and then their Lidstar . Glossier is opening up a store on the North Side, so I’m going to go and pick up some more products, which I’m really excited about. I’ve had Boy Brow for three months, and it’s one of my favorite products. It’s the only thing I’ll use on my eyebrows now.

How did Glossier become popular?

I heard about Glossier on social media. I feel like it really represents the aesthetic of having great skin and an angelic aura around you. It’s pushing individuality and enhancing your own features without having to cake on a bunch of makeup. They do that through their models, who aren’t just women but also nonbinary and men. That’s something that I, along with a lot of my friends and peers, really admire, especially those of us who don’t get a lot of representation in the media.

Being Latinx and nonbinary and seeing Glossier’s products cater to others like me makes me want to purchase from them even more. They are inclusive, which expands their audience. Glossier always says “inspired by real life” and in real life, you can no longer only make products targeted for women because no reality is gendered. What the brand is doing is really admirable.

I noticed this spring that thrifting and wearing secondhand clothing became almost like a trend. Glossier and that look of developing your own style through someone else’s old clothing came hand-in-hand together. Glossier is about enhancing what you have, and that’s sort of what thrifting culture is all about. You can find pieces that really appeal to you instead of going into Forever 21.

Where do you get the money to go shopping?

Over the summer, I worked at Target while interning at the ACLU. I got a paycheck every three weeks, and put the majority in the bank and saved $20 or $15 of each paycheck for myself. That’s my spending and emergency money. During the school year, I don’t work or get an allowance; I ask for cash whenever I need it.

Aside from Glossier and thrifting, what else is trending at your school?

Bullet journals . People at my school like to focus on the importance of mental health. A lot of kids at my school are taking three or four APs at the same time, which is incredibly stressful. You’ll see people doodling and journaling during a free period.

A bullet journal is a plain journal, and you basically customize it to your life. I use it as a calendar to write down super important dates and birthdays. People use it for journaling and as a habit-tracker. That goes along with mental health awareness at my school — you’re finding what your bad habits are to change them, and maybe that will improve your mood.

Awareness of mental health at my school is coming from people getting extended time on their tests. A lot of people are getting extended time for severe anxiety. Or if they miss a lot of school because of depression or major anxiety, they’re making it known to the school and to their teachers, which I think is really brave of them to do.

Rishi, 16, high school junior in San Jose, California

What do you spend most of your money on?

I play tennis and run cross country, so most of my spending goes toward those two sports. I’m buying a lot of sneakers. I like buying clothes that allow me to play, so nylon fabrics and stuff like that. I’m one of those guys who spends money on athletic stuff rather than hypebeast stuff like Supreme.

What’s your sneaker brand of choice?

What products do you most see at school?

All those hypebeast items, like Supreme. Diamond Supply was in for a while. Off-White. I don’t find them particularly appealing because they’re quite plain — just one word on a shirt — but I guess it’s become a fad. I’ve heard from my friends at other schools about Juuls, but at our school the teachers are pretty strict about that.

Boba became a fad recently. There’s a boba shop within walking distance from our school, so that’s one place everyone goes, and there’s a shopping complex across the street with a Starbucks. We’re teenagers — we get hungry pretty easily.

What snacks and drinks do you buy?

Sports drinks, the ones with electrolytes. When it comes to food, I’m getting chips or something that my friends and I will share. In middle school everyone would get hot Cheetos. That was a thing back in the day. They don’t sell them at the vending machines in our high school.

Does shopping factor into your social life at all?

When we’re hanging out, the biggest thing we do is go eat somewhere, or go to a park, or someone’s home, or watch a movie. Maybe it’ll turn out that we get boba or some drink, but we don’t spend much time shopping.

How do you get money to shop?

I bought my Apple watch — so I can keep my fitness intact — by selling my old stuff. I sell my old tennis racquets that are in very good condition but I have no use for. When I have sports equipment in good condition, I can sell that off and get money. I don’t have an allowance because I prefer to just ask, “Can I have this?” when I want something. I find that much easier.

Where do you sell your stuff?

There’s some site that my mom knew — it’s called Nextdoor . I sold my robotics kit on there.

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Are your shopping habits problematic, what to do when shopping gets out of control..

Posted September 14, 2022 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

Do you shop ‘til you drop? Do you find yourself buying things impulsively, feeling good in the moment, and later regretting it...or find yourself clicking the buy now button into the wee hours, when you should be sleeping ? If so, you are not alone. Fuelled by fast fashion and flashy lifestyles celebrated on social media by smiling happy people and YouTube influencers unboxing their latest clothing, beauty, or home décor haul, or posing in front of flashy cars and indulging themselves in exotic locales, we are—or at least we appear to be—as the song says, living in a material world.

Wants versus needs

We all need certain things, and to get these things, we need to shop. We need clothing, food, transportation, social interaction, and perhaps other items, like computers, cell phones, tools, books, and other items to carry out our daily tasks and engage in pursuits that bring us joy. Many people find shopping pleasant and enjoyable and have developed a way to separate their wants from their needs. But for some, shopping behaviors can become problematic.

Recognizing a compulsive behavior

Some people turn to alcohol , drugs, or food to relax, soothe, or numb uncomfortable feelings or states of mind, like anxiety , stress, and low moods. Others seek comfort in enjoyable behaviors — like gambling or shopping — to take the edge off a bad day or provide a feel-good moment after a trying, stressful work shift. Just like the habitual use of substances, behaviors that numb unpleasant or uncomfortable feelings can also become problematic, with devastating impacts.

An individual with an addiction is someone who “…uses a substance, or engages in a behavior, for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeat the activity, despite detrimental consequences.” Repeated, compulsive shopping—“excessive preoccupation or p oor impulse control with shopping, and adverse consequences, like marital conflict and financial problems"—is not recognized as a clinical addiction but for some, it can result in similar outcomes.

When habitual shopping becomes problematic

Shopping can make us feel good in the moment; it can even make us feel as though we are elevating our status . The Mental Health America article, "Risky Business ," identifies several problematic shopping behaviors, including buying things to make you feel better, buying things you cannot afford, and accumulating debt as a result of shopping behaviors.

Problematic shopping takes many forms, from shopping sprees, repeated single extravagant purchases, or uncontrollable solitary online buying. While an occasional impulsive purchase or indulgence is not in itself problematic, impulsively shopping online — a growing concern since the start of the pandemic — virtually around the clock, and anywhere we can use an electronic device, definitely is. People engaging in problematic shopping often hide their purchases from others, and spend time thinking about or planning shopping that should be focused on work or life tasks. Another problematic shopping behavior, known as shopping bulimia, involves shopping, experiencing remorse and regret after the pleasant feelings of the purchase subside, and returning purchases — often for store credit — which only perpetuates the cycle.

If you think you have a problem

While the DSM does not recognize compulsive shopping or shopping bulimia as clinical addictions, these behaviors can leave us broke and detached from the people who care about us, mire us in low self-esteem , and lead us to settle for less in life and limit our potential for fulfillment and happiness .

If you recognize yourself and some of your own behaviors as problematic, congratulations: As a clinical psychologist, I can tell you without exception that awareness is the first step in breaking free of harmful behaviors.

To break away from problematic shopping — as with any habit or pattern that no longer serves you — you must first become aware and acknowledge that you have a problem. You can then choose to change. Start by becoming familiar with the triggers that lead to problem shopping. When you pay attention to the thoughts, moods, and sensations that set off the urge to shop, you begin to build awareness around your uncomfortable, uneasy, or distressing feelings.

With this awareness, self-compassion, and time, you can replace negative shopping behaviors with other activities that bring you a sense of calmness or well-being. If, as can be the case, your compulsive shopping has caused financial problems, you can begin to address these problems head-on. And if your shopping behaviors stem from deeper emotional issues or mental health conditions, you can seek the help of a mental health professional.

Breaking free of compulsive shopping

• Decide to change. Make a promise to yourself to eliminate a habit or pattern of behavior that no longer serves you.
• Build awareness about what triggers your urge to shop, and replace problematic shopping with other supportive activities, like walking in nature, reading, meeting with a friend, or meditating.
• Bring in compassion for yourself as you strive to make changes, and give yourself time to change.
• Develop healthy boundaries such as shopping only for what you need rather than what you want.
• Seek the help of a mental health professional if you are struggling to manage trauma , low mood, anxiety, or stress.

Monica Vermani, C. Psych., is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma, stress, mood and anxiety disorders, and the author of A Deeper Wellness .

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Lifestyle & Interests — Shopping

Shopping Essays

Writing an essay on shopping is important as it allows us to explore the impact of consumerism on society and the economy. It also helps us to understand the psychology behind consumer behavior and the role of marketing in shaping our shopping habits.

When writing an essay on shopping, it's important to begin with a clear thesis statement that outlines the main argument or point of view. This will help to provide direction and focus for the essay. It's also essential to conduct thorough research to gather evidence and support for your arguments. This may involve looking at consumer trends, economic data, and psychological studies related to shopping behavior.

Another important aspect of writing an essay on shopping is to consider the ethical and environmental implications of consumerism. This could involve discussing issues such as sweatshop labor, fast fashion, or the impact of excessive consumption on the environment. Including these perspectives can add depth and complexity to the essay.

When structuring the essay, it's important to use clear and logical organization. This may involve dividing the essay into different sections, such as an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or argument, with clear topic sentences and supporting evidence.

Finally, it's crucial to revise and edit the essay carefully to ensure clarity and coherence. This may involve checking for grammar and spelling errors, as well as refining the language and style to make the essay more engaging and persuasive.

What Makes a Good Shopping Essay Topics

When it comes to writing an essay about shopping, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good shopping essay topic should be interesting, relevant, and thought-provoking. To brainstorm and choose the perfect essay topic, consider your personal interests, current trends in the shopping industry, and potential impact on society. Additionally, think about the unique angle or perspective you can bring to the topic to make it stand out. A good essay topic should spark curiosity and inspire discussion.

Best Shopping Essay Topics

• The psychology of impulse buying
• The impact of influencer marketing on consumer behavior
• The rise of sustainable and ethical fashion
• The future of brick-and-mortar retail in the age of e-commerce
• The cultural significance of shopping malls
• The evolution of consumerism in the digital age
• The role of social media in shaping shopping trends
• The influence of celebrity endorsements on consumer choices
• The rise of subscription-based shopping services
• The effects of fast fashion on the environment
• The psychology of online shopping addiction
• The role of nostalgia in vintage shopping
• The impact of social media influencers on beauty standards
• The relationship between shopping habits and mental health
• The cultural differences in shopping traditions around the world
• The future of virtual reality in the shopping experience
• The impact of technology on the future of retail
• The role of consumer reviews in shaping buying decisions
• The ethical implications of luxury shopping
• The impact of COVID-19 on the retail industry

Shopping Essay Topics Prompts

• Imagine a world where all shopping is done through virtual reality. How would this change the shopping experience?
• Write a persuasive essay on the importance of supporting sustainable and ethical fashion brands.
• If you could create a new shopping trend, what would it be and why?
• Explore the cultural significance of shopping in different countries and how it reflects their values and traditions.
• Write a reflective essay on your own shopping habits and how they have evolved over time.

Choosing a unique and compelling shopping essay topic is essential for creating an engaging and insightful piece of writing. By considering current trends, personal interests, and potential impact, you can craft an essay that stands out and sparks meaningful discussion.

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My Year of No Shopping

By Ann Patchett

• Dec. 15, 2017

Nashville — The idea began in February 2009 over lunch with my friend Elissa, someone I like but rarely see. She walked into the restaurant wearing a fitted black coat with a high collar.

“Wow,” I said admiringly. “Some coat.”

She stroked the sleeve. “Yeah. I bought it at the end of my no-shopping year. I still feel a little bad about it.”

Elissa told me the story: After traveling for much of the previous year, she had decided she had enough stuff, or too much stuff. She made a pledge that for 12 months she wouldn’t buy shoes, clothes, purses or jewelry.

I was impressed by her discipline, but she shrugged it off. “It wasn’t hard.”

I did some small-scale experiments of my own, giving up shopping for Lent for a few years. I was always surprised by how much better it made me feel. But it wasn’t until last New Year’s Day that I decided to follow my friend’s example.

At the end of 2016, our country had swung in the direction of gold leaf, an ecstatic celebration of unfeeling billionaire-dom that kept me up at night. I couldn’t settle down to read or write, and in my anxiety I found myself mindlessly scrolling through two particular shopping websites, numbing my fears with pictures of shoes, clothes, purses and jewelry. I was trying to distract myself, but the distraction left me feeling worse, the way a late night in a bar smoking Winstons and drinking gin leaves you feeling worse. The unspoken question of shopping is “What do I need?” What I needed was less.

My plan had been to give up what Elissa gave up — things to wear — but a week into my no-shopping year, I bought a portable speaker. When I got it home I felt ridiculous. Shouldn’t “no shopping” include electronics?

I came up with my own arbitrary set of rules for the year. I wanted a plan that was serious but not so draconian that I would bail out in February, so while I couldn’t buy clothing or speakers, I could buy anything in the grocery store, including flowers. I could buy shampoo and printer cartridges and batteries but only after I’d run out of what I had. I could buy plane tickets and eat out in restaurants. I could buy books because I write books and I co-own a bookstore and books are my business. Could I have made it a full year without buying books? Absolutely. I could have used the library or read the books that were already in my house, but I didn’t; I bought books.

Gifts were the tough one for me. I’m a gift-giver, and I could see how gift shopping could become an easy loophole. I decided to give books as gifts, but I didn’t always keep to it. My editor married in 2017, and I wasn’t about to give him a book as a wedding present. Still, the frantic shopping for others needed to come to a halt. The idea that our affection and esteem must manifest itself in yet another sweater is reductive. Elissa said she gave people time, a certificate to watch their kids or clean their house. “That,” she told me, “turned out to be the hardest thing. Time is so valuable.”

I was raised Catholic and spent 12 years in a Catholic girls school. In the same way a child who grows up going to the symphony is more likely to enjoy classical music, and a child raised in a bilingual household is probably going to speak two languages, many children raised Catholic have a talent for self-denial. Even now my sister and I plan for Lent the way other people plan family vacations: What will we let go of? What good can we add?

My first few months of no shopping were full of gleeful discoveries. I ran out of lip balm early on and before making a decision about whether lip balm constituted a need, I looked in my desk drawers and coat pockets. I found five lip balms. Once I started digging around under the bathroom sink I realized I could probably run this experiment for three more years before using up all the lotion, soap and dental floss. It turns out I hadn’t thrown away the hair products and face creams I’d bought over the years and didn’t like; I’d just tossed them all under the sink.

I’m using them now, and they’re fine.

In March I wished I had a Fitbit, the new one that looked like a bracelet and didn’t need to be connected to a smartphone. For four days I really wanted a Fitbit. And then — poof! — I didn’t want one. I remember my parents trying to teach me this lesson when I was a child: If you want something, wait awhile. Chances are the feeling will pass.

The trick of no shopping isn’t just that you don’t buy things. You don’t shop . That means no trawling the sale section of the J. Crew website in idle moments. It means the catalogs go into the recycle bin unopened on the theory that if I don’t see it, I don’t want it. Halfway through the year I could go to a store with my mother and sister if they asked me. I could tell them if the dress they were trying on looked good without wishing I could try it on myself.

Not shopping saves an astonishing amount of time. In October, I interviewed Tom Hanks about his collection of short stories in front of 1,700 people in a Washington theater. Previously, I would have believed that such an occasion demanded a new dress and lost two days of my life looking for one. In fact, Tom Hanks had never seen any of my dresses, nor had the people in the audience. I went to my closet, picked out something weather appropriate and stuck it in my suitcase. Done.

I did a favor for a friend over the summer and she bought me a pair of tennis shoes. Her simple act of kindness thrilled me. Once I stopped looking for things to buy, I became tremendously grateful for the things I received. Had I been shopping this summer I would have told my friend, “You shouldn’t have,” and I would have meant it.

It doesn’t take so long for a craving to subside, be it for Winstons or gin or cupcakes. Once I got the hang of giving shopping up, it wasn’t much of a trick. The trickier part was living with the startling abundance that had become glaringly obvious when I stopped trying to get more. Once I could see what I already had, and what actually mattered, I was left with a feeling that was somewhere between sickened and humbled. When did I amass so many things, and did someone else need them?

If you stop thinking about what you might want, it’s a whole lot easier to see what other people don’t have. There’s a reason that just about every religion regards material belongings as an impediment to peace. This is why Siddhartha had to leave his palace to become the Buddha. This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor.” It’s why my friend Sister Nena, an 85-year-old Catholic nun, took a vow of poverty when she entered the convent at 18.

Sister Nena was my reading teacher when I was in the first grade, and in the years since, she has taught me considerably more. When I ask her if there’s anything she needs me to get for her, she shakes her head. “It’s all just stuff,” she says, meaning all of the things that aren’t God. If you’re in the market for genuine inspiration on this front, I urge you to read “ Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship ,” by Gregory Boyle, a book that shows what the platitudes of faith look like when they’re put into action.

The things we buy and buy and buy are like a thick coat of Vaseline smeared on glass: We can see some shapes out there, light and dark, but in our constant craving for what we may still want, we miss life’s details. It’s not as if I kept a ledger and took the money I didn’t spend on perfume and gave that money to the poor, but I came to a better understanding of money as something we earn and spend and save for the things we want and need. Once I was able to get past the want and be honest about the need, it was easier to give more of my money to people who could really use it.

For the record, I still have more than plenty. I know there is a vast difference between not buying things and not being able to buy things. Not shopping for a year hardly makes me one with the poor, but it has put me on the path of figuring out what I can do to help. I understand that buying things is the backbone of the economy and job growth. I appreciate all the people who shop in the bookstore. But taking some time off from consumerism isn’t going to make the financial markets collapse. If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution, I have to tell you: This one’s great.

What I still haven’t figured out is how the experiment ends. Do I just start shopping again? Shop less? I called Elissa. I hadn’t seen her in years. She told me that after she bought the black coat, she decided to re-up for another year.

“I realized I had too many decisions to make that were actually important,” she said. “There were people to help, things to do. Not shopping frees up a lot of space in your brain.”

So for now I’ll leave my pledge in place. Who knows how far I can go? In a country hellbent on selling us dresses and shirts with the shoulders cut out (though I like to think I wouldn’t have fallen for that one even if I had been shopping), it’s good to sit on the bench for a while. Or as the great social activist Dorothy Day liked to say, “The best thing to do with the best things in life is give them up.”

Ann Patchett is the author, most recently, of the novel “Commonwealth” and the co-owner of Parnassus Books.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion) , and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter .

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Sample answer 7.5

There is an assumption that age is the most significant  driver  of people’s shopping behaviors. However, I believe that there are other factors that influence people’s shopping habits no less than age does.

It is true that age somewhat  accounts for  how and why people select certain sorts of products over others. This is because different age groups often mean different needs. For instance, while young people tend to select  state-of-the-art  phones from competing brands such as Apple and Samsung, elder people often prefer products that are  adequate , providing basic functions such as contacting, entertainment, and photographing.

Financial condition is yet another vital factor that impacts people’s shopping styles. Take the example of phone selection again for consideration. Two people at exactly the same age who come from different family backgrounds probably make dramatically different choices. Therefore, those who live in wealthier families tend to choose an impressive device that reflects their social  status . Meanwhile, those whose family’s financial conditions are limited will likely  prioritize  a reasonably  priced  device.

Moreover, people’s shopping behaviors can also be influenced by their personalities. To illustrate this, the issue of phone  purchases  should be examined once more. Between two people at exactly the same age and with similar family backgrounds, one can follow the trend and purchase a  cutting-edge  device, while the other may  opt for   minimalism  and select an  ordinary  phone instead.

In conclusion, it is my view that age is only one of many factors that strongly impacts how and why people buy particular products over others. Other factors include financial condition and character tendencies.

263 words – Band 7.5

Highlight Vocabulary

• Driver (of something)  [n]: one of the main things that influence something or cause it to make progress
• Account for something  [v] = explain [v]: to be the explanation or cause of something
• State-of-the-art  [adj]: using the most modern or advanced techniques or methods; as good as it can be at the present time
• Adequate  [adj]: enough in quantity, or good enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need
• Status  [n]: the social or professional position of somebody/something in relation to others.
• Prioritize something  [v]: to treat something as being more important than other things
• Price  [v] (transitive, usually passive, intransitive): to fix the price of something at a particular level . E.g.:  The main courses are all reasonably priced. These goods are priced too high. Their printers are competitively priced.
• Purchase  [n]: the act or process of buying something
• Cutting-edge  [adj]: at the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something
• Opt for/against something  [v]: to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action
• Minimalism  [n]: a style of art, music or design that uses very simple ideas or a very small number of simple elements
• Ordinary  [adj]: not unusual or different in any way
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Shopping Habits Essay

• Author Kimberly Ball
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Disclaimer: This paper has been submitted by a student. This is not a sample of the work written by professional academic writers.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this work are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of StudySaurus.

The purpose of this report is to present the findings of a survey into students’ shopping habits due to the fact there are many advertisements which are also often targeted at teenagers. The survey was conducted among twelve students in class II.AG.

As far as the first question about the preference of buying clothes and shoes online or in the shopping centre, well over three quarters of the students said they rather bought clothes and shoes in the shopping centre than online. Moving on to the second question about how many hours per week did they spend by shopping, a half of the students said they spent by shopping between zero and one hour per week. However, just over 40% of the students answered they spent two to three hours by shopping and just under 10% four to five hours per week.

With regard to the sum which students spend per month on the clothes, approximately two thirds of students said they spent 0-40 euros. The remaining students said they spent 40-80 euros. No one spend on the clothes more than eighty euros per month.

Regarding time when students go shopping, just under 10% of them said they did it between 2 and 4 p.m. while just under 60% said they went shopping between 4 and 6 p.m. and a third of them between 6 to 8 p.m. Turning to the final question, a quarter of students replied that they liked to spend the most on some gadgets and electronics, while a half of the students said they liked to spend the most on the clothes and shoes and a quarter said they liked to spend the most on others.

In conclusion, it appears that some students don´t do shopping very often and they don’ t spend as much money. Most students don’ t spend much on clothes, mainly boys, but they like to spend the most on the gadgets and the electronics which are often more expensive than clothes. Additionally, girls go shopping more often than boys and so they also spend more money.

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Essay 152 – People’s shopping habits depend on the age group

Gt writing task 2 / essay sample # 152.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people believe that people’s shopping habits depend more on the age group they belong to than any other factors.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

Shopping is the mainstay of our consumer culture, and some people think that shopping preference of people is determined primarily by their age. In this case, while I embrace the notion, I believe that apart from age, there are other important factors in shaping shopping habits.

It goes without saying that age is a major determinant of consumer behaviour. The purchasing preferences of youth significantly differ from that of middle-aged or old people. A recent study carried out in this field has revealed that 57 per cent of those aged 16-36 think organic products to be crucial compared to 32 per cent of those aged over 50. The study has also shown that young people are bold enough to try new fashion items while old people prirotise comfort over style. Thus, age does influence shopping habits.

However, there are several other factors, which are as important as age groups while determining shopping habits. First of all, most men consumers and women consumers view shopping differently as an activity. According to Bloomberg, women would rather continue to shop in hope of searching for a perfect solution, while men would rather like to get in, get what they require, and get out fast. Secondly, lifestyle is another key factor to consider. Lifestyle is a view, and a way in which people remain in society. The shopping habit is highly influenced by the lifestyle of a consumer. For instance, when an individual adopts a healthy lifestyle, then the food he or she purchases will relate to healthy alternatives to engineered food. Last but not least, occupation of an individual also influences consumer behavior. Consumers tend to buy products that are appropriate to their profession. For example, an architect would buy clothes according to his profession while a labor will have a different purchase pattern.

To recapitulate, it proves to be logical to assume that shopping habits are influenced by age, gender, lifestyle, occupation, and many other factors. To put emphasis on any one of these factors as the most important determinant would be exaggerated.

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Buying things on the Internet (Corrected essay)

Buying things on the Internet, such as books, air tickets and groceries, is becoming more and more popular. Do the advantages of shopping in this way outweigh the disadvantages?

WRITING   TASK  2

You   should   spend   about  40  minutes   on   this   task.

Write   about   the   following   topic.  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write   at   least  250  words. 

---------------------------- 

Sample essay written by Nguyen Yen

In recent years, there has been a growing trend that people tend to buy things on the Internet. This present both pros and cos, however, in my opinion, its benefits are much more significant than the drawbacks.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend that people tend to buy things on the Internet in online shopping . This present both pros and cos cons , however, in my opinion, its benefits are much more significant than the drawbacks.

The phrase “buy things on the Internet” is already used in the essay topic. Try to shorten it by using a suitable buzzword, such as “online shopping”

Words such as 'people' and 'ideas' have the potential to be vague. So, avoid saying “people tend to” if possible.

The second sentence in the introduction has too many commas. Break it into two simple sentences if necessary.

On the one hand, shopping online online shopping brings to the consumers some disadvatages. Initially, since people are unable to touch or to see the products they want to buy in reality, it is always hard for them to examine the quality of these products. As a result, they might purchase the items with poor quality. In addition to that, as the consumers do not feel happy with the items they had bought online, they tend to abandon these products or dont do not use them at all. This is definitely a watse waste of money. Moreover, buyings thing on the Internet often makes people confused since there are a great number of shops on the Internet. To be specific, the buyers might see the same products in several shops, but the prices for these items can be very different, ranging from reasonable to prohibitedly expensive price . Consequently, they will not know which products they should purchase.

The second sentence is too wordy, due to the fact that the words “ people ”, “ they ”, and “ them ” all have been used despite being unnecessary. Since the main focus here is the products, not the people using them, I suggest rewriting the whole sentence into passive voice .

Avoid using contraction (“ don’t ”) in an academic context.

The ideas and sentence structures being used here are kinda repetitive. Regarding of online shopping, there are many issues that are worth mentioning ( shipment delays, misleading online marketing, annoying advertises, etc)

On the other hand, I am of the opinion that shopping online online shopping brings people a number of benefits. First, shopping online online shopping allows the consumers to browse for products and checking comparing the prices between these online shops. In this way, people can make a better decision to buy what they like after taking prices, sizes and models of the products into consideration. To speak From my experience, I used to buy an elegant dress es at virtual shop s , which was cheaper compared to that of some shops near my houses. Second, buyings things on the Internet helps people save a great deal of time. That is to say, since people nowadays are often so caught up with work and study, shopping online online shopping is a wise choice which doesn’t does not require them to go the the stores. With a click of mouse With just a click , they can buy the things they need and the shippers will deliver their products to the customers as soon as possible. Third, since there is a high demand of buying things online, many people can realize their dream of starting up their own business and achieve success in the long rub run. This can be seen as a positive trend because it creates good job opportunities for the people and thereby help people to improve their income and well-being. This also contributes to boost ing the economy of a nation in general l .

While the second body paragraph is very long (216 words!), its quaility doesn’t appear much better than the first one. Try to write only 70 words, you will definitely see an improvement.

Many idioms are introduced in this paragraph: “a great deal of time”, “in the long run”, “to be caught up”, “to take in consideration”, “with just a click”. However, the attempt to use them isn’t really succesful, due to some spelling mistakes.

The vocabulary is kinda limitted here. However, there are a variety of connectives (“on the one hand”, , “first”, “in this way”, “thereby”, etc).

In conclusion, although buyings things on the Internet exerts some adverse aspects, the advantages can justify these.

Too short and unconvincing. Need to give more emphasis.

Words: 418 words

Overall: 6.5

Task Response: 7

✓ addresses all parts of the task (the essay has answer the required question, and write more than 250 words) ✓ presents a clear position throughout the response ✓ presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

Coherence and Cohesion: 7

✓ logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout ✓ uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use ✓ presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

Lexical Resource: 6

✓ uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task ✓ attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy (the writer uses very few topic-related words. And when they are used, mistakes are presented “shopping online” ) ✓ makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 6

✓ uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms ✓ makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication (lots of the article “the” are missing, so I cannot give a 7 score here)

----------------------------------------------------------

This essay is corrected by  Anh Tran  -   Let's Write Something Group .

---------------------

Other sample essay

With the advent of technological advancement, 21st century has witnessed a boom in e-commerce. The number of online shopping websites is increasing exponentially. Shopping online has its upsides and downsides but the positives of this technological blessing far outweighs its negatives.

Firstly, online shopping saves one from travel and traffic problems. I live in the outskirts of Karachi and commuting to the city for buying stuff is not an easy task for me. Further, Karachi is an overly-populated city with the worst traffic situation, all this makes it more difficult to travel. This problem is hugely resolved by the e-buying facility. Everything is simply a click away, whether it is groceries, air tickets, clothes or books. Whatever I order is duly received at my doorstep, without my having to embark on long, hectic shopping-trips.

Secondly, buying things on the internet provides you with a wide range of options. Consider yourself in a gigantic super-mart having access to every type of item you can imagine! On the internet there is no physical space limitation, therefore the variety available for a single item is endless. Also, there are countless websites where you can compare product prices, specifications, extra features, deals and a lot more. One such website is Compare.Pk, where you can select an item and compare it with similar items of other brands for specifications and prices. All this not only provides convenience to customers but also exposes them to a very huge market for buying the most appropriate item.

In conclusion, it can be unambiguously agreed upon that the advancement in e-buying has resulted in convenience for buyers. One only has to select and order an item and it arrives at his doorstep. Also, the available options for a single commodity are endless, so that a person can compare and buy the best.

(Written by Narmeen Habib )

Corrected Essay:

With the advent of technological advancement, 21st century has witnessed a boom in e-commerce the number of online shopping websites is increasing exponentially. Shopping online has its upsides and downsides but the positives of this technological blessing far outweighs its negatives .   The positive impacts on online shopping undermine its negative sides because the advanced technology can save our time and give more options for purchasing .

The opening paragraph does not contain a clear thesis statement. It is important to tell what you are going to talk about and where you are positioning on the views.

Phrases ‘ a boom in e commerce’ and ‘ is increasing exponentially’ have similar meaning. It is better to keep it in short, but clear sentence.

Firstly, online shopping saves one from travel and traffic problems. Online shopping does not require people to travel . I live in the outskirts of Karachi and commuting to the city for buying stuff is not an easy task for me. Further, Karachi is an overly-populated city with the worst traffic situation, all this makes it more difficult to travel.   As living in Karachi, an over-populated city with its congestion problems, many citizens like me have to overcome difficult situation only for buying stuff in the city centre .  This problem is hugely resolved by the e-buying facility. Everything is simply a click away, whether it is groceries, air tickets, clothes or books. Whatever I order is duly received at my doorstep, without my having to embark on long, hectic shopping-trips .   This platform enables consumers to experience shopping activities in simple ways. Take the biggest e-commerce in the word, eBay which provides wide varieties of products, for example. As a student, I often ordered books, air tickets, and fashion items. Likewise, many housewives in my neighbourhood prefer to purchase groceries through this website. If eBay was never exist before, buyers like us might have to spend longer times taking long trips to get our shopping lists. This example tells about how an effective shopping is advantageous as a time saver.

Firstly is ommited as the topic sentence is not too clear enough to represent the main idea.

The use of ‘I’ in your example does not cover people’ problems in general, so I have changed ‘I’ into ‘ many citizen like me’

Everything is simply a click away needs to be elaborated . Please see the changes.

You only mention groceries, air tickets, clothes or books without giving explanation. If you want to score higher, it is your task to present your ideas in details. I have made some detailed explanations with this.

Secondly, Another benefit is that buying things items on the internet serves unlimited choices provides you with a wide range of options . Consider yourself in a gigantic super-mart having access to every type of item you can imagine! On the internet there is no physical space limitation, therefore the variety available for a single item is endless. Also, there are countless websites where you can compare product prices, specifications, extra features, and deals and a lot more . One such website is Compare.Pk, where you can select an item and compare it with similar items of other brands for specifications and prices. All this not only provides convenience to customers but also exposes them to a very huge market for buying the most appropriate item.

You need to link both main ideas in the first sentence using transitional phrase. But remember, reliance too much on this will score you lower. Use them when necessary .

The word ‘ things’ is a weak lexical resource. It is better to use some alternative vocabs like stuff, items, daily needs , etc.

A wide range of options have been mentioned in the intro, you need to paraphase it. Serves unlimited choices.

You do not need to use exclamation mark. Present your sentence in a smooth way.

Consider yourself in a gigantic super-mart having access to every type of item you can imagine!. This sentence also does not make a sense.

And a lot more is vague. You’d better omit this phrase.

In conclusion, it can be unambiguously agreed upon it is true that the advancement in e-buying has resulted in convenience for buyers. One only has to select and order an item and it arrives at his doorstep. Also, the available options for a single commodity are endless, so that a person can compare and buy the best.

You have to summarise your main points and reiterate your opinion. Some ideas presented are sidetrack.

Your opinion does not state your opinion clearly.

It can be unambiguously agreed upon is counted as 6 words. It is always good to be succinct and keep straight to the point.  

Let me give you an example of this: In conclusion, the disadvantages of e-commerce trend are overshadowed by the benefits resulting from modern technology. I am convinced that online shopping is one of great innovations of people doing transaction as it reduces time and provides more options.

Overall: 7.0

·         Task Response: 7

✓ addresses all parts of the task (the author wrote 303 words)

✗ presents a clear position throughout the response (the way you present your idea in the intro is too generic)

✓ presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

·         Coherence and Cohesion: 6

✓ arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression

✓ uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical

✓ may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately

✗  uses paragraphing, but not always logically ( missing links between intro and conclusion)

Lexical Resource: 7

✓ uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision

✓ uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation

✓ may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 7

✓ uses a variety of complex structures

✓ has produces frequent error-free sentences

✓ has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

 -----------------------

This essay is corrected by  Eddy Suaib .

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My mom taught me how to save thousands a year with a simple shopping strategy

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• My mom taught me to never buy anything if it's not on sale, and I've saved a ton this way.
• My credit cards have special offers that reduce the price of purchases at different stores.
• I avoid impulse shopping — when I want something, I wait until later to buy it.

When my mom started having kids, she left her job in the insurance industry to be a stay-at-home mom. She spent her time not only taking care of my brother and me but also managing the household.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from her over the years was the importance of keeping an eye on your budget and limiting your spending to what you could afford.

From an early age, I noticed that my mom never bought anything unless it was on sale. When I asked her about this, she said that buying things at full price was a guaranteed way to lose thousands of dollars a year. Even when there was an item that I really wanted, she reminded me that there was a good chance it'd go on sale one day soon. Usually, she was right.

Because of her, I got good at coupon clipping and installing different browser apps that could alert me to savings when I did any online shopping.

Over the years, this lesson has saved me thousands of dollars — here's how.

1. I track the sales offered by different retailers

When it comes to clothing and accessories, my mom taught me to follow the 20% off rule. We normally won't buy an item unless it's at least 20% off. Since most retailers run sales weekly or monthly, there are a variety of ways that we keep an eye out for our favorite items to go on sale.

We subscribe to the retailer's email notifications. While it can get annoying hearing from a store every day, often it's the best way to find out about a mega sale it's running. If you do this for a few months, you start to see a pattern. One retailer we love usually runs sales in the same order. It will start off offering 20% off everything on their website and then a week later offer 40% off. Every six weeks, it will do a 50% off offer for 24 hours. That's when we make all of our purchases from that retailer.

2. I use browser extensions to get every coupon I can

We also hunt for savings using browser apps like Honey or GetJam , which show you coupon codes and links to other websites where the same item is on sale.

I'll also check with my credit card companies to see if they are offering any discounts since some credit cards offer promo codes from merchants to cardholders. For example, my Capital One credit card has a shopping browser extension that shares available discounts with you when you shop online.

My CapitalOne business credit card also offers deals and discounts from a variety of vendors that I often use for my business needs.

3. I pay attention to a store's policies

Often, retailers offer a discount code to first-time shoppers. Before we buy at a store for the first time, we'll look on its website to see if it is offering a one-time discount code if we subscribe to its email communication.

In the past, we've even emailed customer service to ask companies if there are any active discount codes available, sales coming up, or if the company is open to price matching based on a competitor's pricing. Sometimes, we get a no, but occasionally, companies will offer 20% off just for taking the time to reach out.

Some retailers even offer price adjustments for items bought in a 30- or 60-day time frame. We save all of our receipts, and if a sale pops up during that timeframe, we will reach out and ask for a price adjustment. This saves us hundreds of dollars a year. For example, I recently bought an item that was 20% off, and this week it was 50% off. I asked for a price adjustment and was able to get a $50 refund.

4. I avoid impulse shopping

Whenever I go shopping, I keep my mom's lesson in the back of my head. It allows me to refrain from impulse shopping. Instead of grabbing an item while I'm in the store, I'll take a picture of it and wait until it goes on sale.

Quite often, as the weeks pass, I find myself no longer interested in the item anyway. This has helped shape my shopping habits, because I rarely ever leave a store with an item in my hand. For online shopping, most items stay in the cart until the sale happens, and when it does, I reassess what I actually still want.

Last month, on my birthday, I walked into an expensive store and bought a sweatshirt at full price. This was one of the few times I've done this. I felt so guilty about this — it felt like I was wasting money. I absolutely was, because three weeks later, the sweatshirt went on sale for 30% off. Thankfully, I was able to go back to the store and ask for a price adjustment.

• Main content

Shopping as positive trend and new hobby. Discuss.

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For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
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• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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Around the world it is likely that more adults will work from and more children will study from home as computer technology become cheaper and more accessible. Do you think it is a negative or a positive development?

Nowadays we see an increase in social problems involving teenagers. many people believe that it is because parents spend more time at work and less with their children. do you agree or disagree, some people do not mind to spend their leisure time with their colleagues while some people prefer to keep their private life separate from their work life. discuss both views and give your opinion., some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. discuss both these views and give your own opinion., many people believe that social networking sites (such as facebook) have had a huge negative impact on both individuals and society. to what extent do you agree or disagree.

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• Beginner A1

Shopping habits

This lesson plan for teachers of teenagers and adults at CEF level A1 and ESOL level 1 explores the theme of shopping and food. Students will have an opportunity to develop their reading and writing skills.  

Shopping and food

CEF Level A1 / ESOL entry level 1

50-60 minutes

• To develop speaking skills by describing and giving simple opinions of shops
• To develop writing skills by producing a short text about a shop
• To develop reading skills by processing information about a text on shopping habits
• Teachers' notes
• Student worksheets

The plans and worksheets are downloadable and in pdf format

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Shopping Habits

Very helpful materials, thanks so much!

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The resource and audio file on the LearnEnglish website has been removed permanently. We have changed the lesson plan to reflect this. There is still a listening focus in the plan, but this is now given as a 'live listening' exercise. I hope you and your students enjoy the new plan about shopping habits! 

TeachingEnglish

PLEASE WE NEED THE AUDIO…

PLEASE WE NEED THE AUDIO FILE :(

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Essay on My Habits

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Habits in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Habits

Introduction.

Habits are routine behaviors that we perform regularly. They can be good, like brushing our teeth, or bad, like biting our nails. I have several habits that shape my daily life.

Good Habits

I have a few good habits. I wake up early in the morning, which helps me start my day positively. I also love reading books, which improves my knowledge and imagination.

Everyone has some bad habits, and so do I. Sometimes, I procrastinate on my homework, which isn’t good for my studies. I am trying to overcome this habit.

Habits play a crucial role in our lives. They shape our health, productivity, and happiness. It’s important to cultivate good habits and get rid of the bad ones.

250 Words Essay on My Habits

Habits are the building blocks of our character, shaping our daily routines and, ultimately, our lives. They can be powerful tools for self-improvement, or they can act as obstacles that hinder our progress. As a college student, my habits have evolved over time, reflecting the complexity of my academic and personal journey.

Academic Habits

My academic habits are a blend of discipline, curiosity, and resilience. I have a strict study schedule, dedicating specific hours each day to each subject. This routine has helped me maintain a consistent academic performance. However, it’s not just about rote learning; I also cultivate the habit of critical thinking. I constantly question, analyze, and synthesize information, a habit that has deepened my understanding of the subjects.

Physical Habits

Physical habits play a crucial role in my well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep are non-negotiable aspects of my daily routine. These habits not only keep me physically fit but also boost my mental agility, enhancing my overall academic performance.

Social Habits

My social habits are about maintaining a balance between solitude and companionship. While I value my alone time for introspection and self-growth, I also understand the importance of social interactions. Engaging in meaningful conversations, participating in group activities, and volunteering are habits that have enriched my college experience.

In conclusion, my habits are a reflection of my commitment to personal growth and academic excellence. They are the outcome of conscious choices, driven by the desire to make the most of my college years. As I continue to evolve, I am certain that my habits will, too, adapt to serve my changing needs and aspirations.

500 Words Essay on My Habits

Introduction to my habits.

Habits, the regular tendencies or practices that one engages in, are often seen as a reflection of one’s character. They serve as a mirror, reflecting our personality, values, and lifestyle. As a college student, I have cultivated a set of habits that I believe contribute significantly to my personal and academic growth.

Embracing the Morning

I am an ardent believer in the power of mornings. I have made it a habit to rise early, usually around 5 a.m. This practice provides me with a quiet, uninterrupted space to plan my day, meditate, and engage in a brief exercise routine. The tranquility of the morning hours helps me to start my day with a clear mind and a calm spirit.

Continuous Learning

The habit of continuous learning is another cornerstone of my lifestyle. I dedicate a portion of my day to reading, be it academic literature, novels, or news articles. This habit not only broadens my knowledge but also helps me to develop critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around me and my place within it.

Self-Care and Wellness

In the hustle and bustle of college life, self-care is a habit that is often overlooked but is of paramount importance. I make it a point to engage in activities that nourish my body, mind, and spirit. This includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. Additionally, I engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga, which help to maintain my mental well-being.

Time Management

Time is a precious resource, and managing it effectively is a habit I have deliberately cultivated. I use various tools and techniques, such as to-do lists and time blocking, to ensure that I make the most of my day. This habit has increased my productivity and reduced stress, allowing me to balance my academic responsibilities with leisure and relaxation.

Reflection and Gratitude

Each day, before I retire to bed, I spend a few moments reflecting on the day’s events. I consider the lessons learned, the achievements made, and the challenges faced. This habit of reflection helps me to grow and evolve continually. Alongside reflection, I practice gratitude, acknowledging the positive aspects of my life. This habit has cultivated a positive outlook and has significantly improved my overall happiness and satisfaction.

In conclusion, my habits serve as the framework for my daily life. They are the building blocks that shape my character, influence my actions, and guide my journey towards personal and academic growth. While these habits have been beneficial, I am aware of the need for flexibility and adaptation, as change is a constant part of life. As I continue to grow and evolve, I am open to cultivating new habits that contribute positively to my life’s journey.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Health and Food Habits
• Essay on Food Habits
• Essay on Habits

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Ielts writing task 2 sample 721 - many people nowadays regard shopping as a hobby, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, in the past, shopping was a routine domestic task. many people nowadays regard it as a hobby..

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19 Little Habits And Routines That Might've Helped Older Adults Live Well Into Their 90s And Beyond, According To Their Family Members

"My grandfather is 99 years old, and he would tell you it's God's doing. But I think this has a lot to do with it..."

BuzzFeed Staff

Maybe luck and genetics allow some people to win the longevity lottery, but perhaps habits and lifestyle choices also factor into the equation. So, I asked members of the BuzzFeed Community with loved ones who have lived long and happy lives to tell me their "secrets" to longevity. Here's what they (and some Redditors) said.

1. "My grandmother is currently 97, and she is showing no signs of slowing down. She says her secret is going for daily walks and just not stopping. She's an impressive woman, and she's also very positive most of the time."

— u/Woodland-Echo

2. "My grandma lived to be 92, and she always had something to look forward to or something she wanted to see. By the time she saw it, she had put another thing on the calendar for which to get excited."

3. "she stayed curious about the world and people. she tried new things well into her 90s (such as soft shoe tap dancing). even though she had gone blind and wasn't very agile, she still made a point of trying new things.".

4. "My great aunt is 102, going on 103 and still living it up. She lived through the end of WWI, the Spanish influenza, and WWII. She ended up catching COVID last year but barely had symptoms. She still lives independently, does her cooking and gardening, and hosts lunch parties for some of her much younger friends. She also has a laptop and a smartphone and regularly sends me WhatsApp messages."

— u/Ari85213

5. "My mother is 86 years old. She still mows her lawns and takes care of all her house-keeping at both homes she owns. I really think she will make it another 10 to 15 years."

6. "For my grandmother who lived well into her 90s, I think the lifestyle of walking everywhere and living in a close-knit community contributed a lot to her longevity and health."

— u/IcyPapaya8758

7. "The women on my dad's side of the family have all lived between 95 and 100 years. My grandmother's routine included daily crossword puzzles, reading physical books, one-mile walks, and a whole grapefruit for breakfast."

8. "My grandmother is 100 years old. She drinks wine every day. She loves life, and I think that's the secret."

— u/Affectionate_Bid4704

9. "My grandfather lived to be 99 years old, and his favorite meal was steak with french fries."

10. "My grandmother is 93. She's originally from the Middle East but immigrated to the US about forty years ago or so. She walks anywhere from three to five miles per day, goes to Zumba class three times per week, and still wears heels."

— u/disjointed_chameleon

11. "My grandma is 103 and still with us. She says what keeps her going is ice cream — every single day. She says eating healthy is important, but so is being happy. So have that scoop of ice cream after dinner."

— henrymeg95

12. "My grandfather lived to be 93. He would eat half of a raw onion with lunch and supper as if it were an apple. I told him I’m telling my kids that’s what kept him healthy and alive all those years. He got a kick out of that, but I’m really convinced that’s what it was."

— vthomfos19

13. "My gran was 104 when she died. The secret, she said, was 'a tot a whiskey in her morning cuppa.'"

14. "My grandmother never exercised one day in her entire life. She loved her sugary treats and her glass of wine with her food. She lived in a country with intense sunlight every day of the year. She lived to 102, and her sister (who also smoked when she was young) is going strong at 104 years old."

— u/ILoveitNot

15. "My grandmother lived to be 100. She had plenty of family around, and she was a very pleasant person, so everyone wanted to visit her all the time. Her oldest daughter (my aunt) had five children. They had children, and then those children had children of their own. So my grandmother got to spend time with lots of her great-grandkids."

— u/Chickadee12345

16. "My grandma is 92 and still perfectly healthy. She gardens, lives alone, drives, cooks, and still manages all her affairs (such as finances, taxes, home repairs, etc.). She loves Netflix and using her iPad and iPhone, too. She plays cards with her friends three times per week and says that's what keeps her mind sharp. She's amazing, and I want to be like her when I'm that age!"

— u/MPD1987

17. "My grandpa is 99, and he would say his longevity is God's doing. I think, however, his daily walks have a lot to do with it. If the weather doesn't cooperate, he uses his little floor foot pedals. He has to use a walker now, but he still goes out every day if he can."

18. "my grandma will be 95 in july, and she swears that staying active is the reason for her health. she travels two hours each way with my mom every sunday to go dancing. she continues to work in the yard as well.".

19. And finally, "I asked my great grandma once about her secret. She looked me dead in my eyes and said, 'sex.' She's still kicking it at 99."

— Queen_Love

Do you have a loved one who has lived to be a centenarian — or close to it? Tell us about their unique lifestyle choices and habits that might contribute to a long and happy life, or leave your comments in this anonymous form.

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