Finding a Bargain

Why is that we like demonstrating our skill in obtaining a bargain? At times our £35.00 shirt bought for £4.99 is far more attractive proposition than one bought at full price. I wonder if there is a sliding scale that people apply to bargains.

Does a £500.00 dress bought for £300.00 give as much pleasure as a £50.00 skirt bought for £30.00? Who would you be able to tell about your £500.00 dress?

Do you get pleasure by being able to demonstrate that you are able to recognise a bargain when it is presented to you? Do you feel more superior because you were able to snap the bargain up against all the competition?

I have just asked the opinion of Gerry, Pinar and Tracy – all ladies working in Etc’s administration and research. Their collected thoughts on the question of bargains include:

• Saving money
• A bargain brings a smile to your face.
• It brings a sense of achievement.
• It is very fulfilling.
• You like to think that you have put one over the shopkeeper.

I thank them for their comments. It is always useful to have some insight!

Sometimes you are allowed to return sale bargains. You may not like the colour, the shape or the fit. You may already have one – but could not resist the thrill of a bargain. All you need is the receipt and proof of purchase.

How are you going to be able to return your eleven plus child if he or she does not live up to your expectations? You won’t have much proof of purchase – other than the birth certificate. You may have significant bills accumulated along the way – for example a trip to America – but I am not sure how authentic this type of proof of purchase would be in an appeal situation.

You are in a very tricky position because you can not blame your child for not doing well in the examination. It can not be your child’s fault. It must be that `they’ changed the paper. It can’t be your child’s school at fault because eight other children from the same class did pass. It certainly can’t be your fault because you did your best. You provided the papers, the tutors, the holiday courses and the support when necessary.

Anyway to whom would you return an eleven plus child? When you look at your child’s face you may simply feel that you have been blessed with a bargain. Remember those vows - `in sickness and in health’?

So you have to keep your child. You have to build him or her up as much as possible. You have to bolster your own confidence. You have to believe in yourself again.

Talk positively about the opportunities and benefits of the new school. Do not leave league tables lying around – especially where you have ringed the position of you local non grammar school. Just because you are a child who has not passed the eleven plus it does not mean that you can not read a league table.

Just think of three nice – and different things you can say to your child every day:

We are proud of you.
You have worked hard.
You did your best.
You will have another opportunity to do well in the SATs tests.

Surely you can build a positive list? In the end you may find that you really do have a bargain child!