Rainy Day in Mas Nou

Sun and rain alternate. It’s raining again today. Luckily, we didn’t plan anything special; however, we do want to go shopping.

Going to the mall or shopping during the rain actually has several reasons that make the bad weather more enjoyable. One advantage is that shopping centers provide a sheltered space where you don’t have to worry about rain, wind, or dampness. When it’s rainy outside, it’s often cozy inside, which encourages the desire to browse and shop.

Since many outdoor activities are canceled in the rain, people look for alternatives – and shopping becomes an attractive option. Who really enjoys golfing or hiking in pouring rain? For many of us (especially us women), shopping can lift our mood and serve as a distraction from the bad weather. Treating ourselves to new things or just wandering through stores can make a rainy day feel more positive. This can certainly be proven by studies, or I can personally confirm it:-)

However, shopping in bad weather has its downsides too. In particular, shopping to distract ourselves from rain or boredom can lead to reckless consumption. The browsing and relaxed atmosphere in the shopping center often tempt us to buy more than we planned – so-called impulse purchases – especially when the stores lure us with attractive offers. When shopping to boost our mood, we often end up spending more money than intended. We tend to indulge in things we don’t really need, which can quickly add up and lead to excessive or unplanned expenses.

Out of boredom or bad moods, we often buy things we later hardly use or even regret. This “frustration consumption” can lead to a problematic relationship with our finances. But we women do need everything we buy, right?

However, I can reassure you. We mainly bought food and beverages and filled up the fridge again. We first checked out the Spanish supermarket Mercadona, which is comparable to Aldi, but with a slightly broader and more regional selection. Then we visited the very well-stocked supermarket Esclat. 

The latter is a supermarket chain in Catalonia, particularly known for its regional products. Esclat stores often feature many local products from Catalonia, ranging from fresh vegetables to cheese and cold cuts. It’s akin to our Migros line “From the Region for the Region,” with the difference being that this store has a very large and interesting section for lovers of Spanish and Catalan wines. As we know, there is no alcohol in our Migros. 

Then we made a quick stop at Decathlon, and Hampi (you won’t believe it) bought ski gloves for the Costa Brava according to the season. Winter is surely coming.

Also, tonight we’ll have to miss the sunset, and likely tomorrow too, as the forecasts are not looking great.