I know everyone likes a good bargain but do we have to take it so seriously? There is more to life than the Next sale isn't there? (Yeah the Matalan one!)

There are those who go to the sales wanting to buy something and there are others, like myself, who are forced into going.

Now I have seen many things in my short life and even spent a couple of nights in the Amazon Jungle trying to cook a kebab with a lighter but the sales are another cup of chai altogether.

At one store over the weekend, sales fever was getting the better of people and common courtesy went straight of the window.

Sometimes I think people lose all sense of reason when it comes to getting their hands on that magical half-price offer. I saw one woman take a towel from another person's shopping trolley when she noticed it was the last one on sale.

Minutes later a group of ladies entered the store and headed straight for the underwear section. It was as if they were on day release from 'shopping prison' and had half an hour to buy a load of bra and knickers for the coming year.

Another group seemed to have a sales co-ordinator within their ranks who's job it was to spot the bargains before everyone else and then alert other members.

Little children were dragged by their mothers into the kids section and forced to choose between yellow and green pants.

Grown men were close to tears after being asked to try on ten shirts in a minute and figure out whether 'these brown shoes will go with that cream jumper'.

Whilst waiting in the jeans section I was approached by one man asking if the jacket I was wearing was in the sale and if so he'd give me £20 for it. He said he couldn't find anything to buy and wanted to go home with something. The professional bargain hunter is a sight to behold. Cool, calculated and quick. They know where everything is and can calculate the savings in seconds.

A pram gives you a better chance of getting what you want because nobody messes with a lady with a pram. I am convinced one woman had a pram without a baby in it just to push competitors into touch. Even when there is nothing on offer it seems some of us are 'persuaded' into buying just so we don't look out of place. I got swept away in the excitement and couldn't help picking up six pairs of socks and two handkerchiefs!