I too have known the joys of shopping -- my mom loves to shop. She is incredibly generous and does most of her shopping for others. She has plenty of money, but she is one of the most class-unconscious people I know -- way more than I could hope to be, I think!

We avoid TV and commercials, we don't buy electronic gadgets (although our oldest is only 7 so we have plenty of time!), and we try to stay away from character-based merchandise in particular.

But DD3 loves her Dora tennis shoes. I love shoes (and purses) in general. I like perusing catalogs and strolling through cute gift shops -- although I never buy from catalogs and I am quite able to escape from gift shops with all the money I brought in. I just like looking at the stuff! (Probably the result of warm memories, like Samantha describes.)

We love an outing to the bookstore, which yes, usually ends in the purchase of books. Books are better than plastic toys, sure, but I would say that still qualifies as using shopping as a family activity, not a means to acquire necessary goods.

We do seem to do OK on this matter in comparison to some of our friends, but I can't say we're really free from materialism.

Shaun
www.homeschoolblogger.com/shaunms