Savings Galore

Our most recent visit to Kohl's, probably a few weeks before the Illinois 'stay-at-home' order went into effect had a lot of firsts. A few which come to mind in the increasing order of importance are as follows :

• It was the first visit to a retail outlet by the Mrs in over a year*.
• For a want of a stroller, the little one still in the car seat was accommodated in the shopping cart**.
• Our shopping receipt showed us 'SAVING' more than twice the money we spent***.

'SAVINGS' are the cornerstone of the American (Non)Immigrant Dream. With the road to permanent residency a long winded one, it's the SAVINGS which make the journey worthwhile. Ever heard of making hay while the sun shines. These SAVINGS more often than not tend to be life changing considering the dollar-rupee conversion rate making a strong case for immigration to begin with. However, the SAVINGS which tend to be tricky are the ones encountered in the retail space.

The 'SAVINGS' in the retail space are a mind boggling riddle. They are a twisted tale of either straight off the bat reduction in prices, loyalty points or the store-specific cash which is earned on pre-defined spending intervals like $10 store cash for every $50 spent in store purchase, all leading to a singular goal of making the customer comfortable parting with his money. It's this savings which obscure the line between 'Needs' and 'Wants', in my personal opinion.

Having mouthed off such profound knowledge about the nature of SAVINGS, you would imagine me to be one of those retail gurus complete with a halo over my head. Well, fret not fellow mortals for I too share the same compulsions. Did I mention that we have some Kohl's cash to spend once the 'stay at home' order is lifted. Wonder what SAVINGS that shopping trip will drag in.

* - With the Mrs pregnant for the better part of 2019, she prioritized walks in the park compared to aisle shopping.

** - Yes, we took the mandatory photograph and no we didn't share it on social media.

*** - I would have thrown the receipt the moment we stepped out the store, had it not been the for the check-out clerk who announced this fact as if I had just won the Powerball.