GREED

As Ryan and Sharpay so famously (or not so famously, you decide) declared in the Disney-channel mishit High School Musical 3: ‘I Want It All’.

Who said there was an economic downturn? Sure, maybe we’re not buying cars or houses or surround-sound systems, but with all the cash that’s piling up from not splurging on things that are useful, we can open the door to extreme materialism: which is only aided by INTERNET SHOPPING.

Canberra is a small place. Admittedly, not as small as other places, but just that little bit too small that we don’t have amazing markets, amazing culture, or, an amazing shopping experience. But, not to worry, because even though you may find yourself limited by choice from walk-in stores, with a few clicks of a mouse and a few numbers - taken from your mum’s credit card, if you’re lucky (or just clever and somewhat dishonest) – your choice is suddenly unlimited.

Hats, earrings, scarves, make-up, lingerie, t-shirts, skirts, shorts, jeans, skinny jeans, super-skinny jeans, jeans that look like leggings but are actually jeans, leggings that are actually leggings, gloves, onesies, glasses, Justin Timberlake’s old glasses, YOUR old glasses – your choice is unlimited.

And it’s not just things you can wear. Literature, artwork, music, electronics – it’s all better over the internet.

You can get your books cheaper, your art exclusive, your music limited edition (with extra DVD and a signed t-shirt!) and your iPod engraved, bonuses you can’t find in shopping centres.

Teresa Daly certainly agrees that internet shopping is the better way to shop, praising its time and money saving properties:

"When gifts or specialty items are needed, a lot of time can be consumed by driving from store to store searching for the perfect thing. So, along with gallons of gas, online shopping can save hours of time.

Need a beach chair? Go to BeachChairs.com. Need a book? Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million all have websites with a vast selection of books and related items."

According to the ever trusty Wikipedia (another internet phenomenon), internet shopping first surfaced with the first online bookstore in 1992, when Charles Stack invented Books.com. Prior to this, B2B or business-to-business transactions had already taken place in the early '80s.

This makes it hard to pinpoint online shopping's inventions or origins on one specific party, but I deeply love all of its contributors. The idea of exchanging money over the internet for something in return is ingenious. Some of the biggest fads, obsessions, et cetera can be sourced or linked back to the internet: the fad of Threadless t-shirts, the annual clamour for Big Day Out or Splendour in the Grass tickets (with Splendour tickets selling out in just 77 minutes this year, according to inthemix.com.au), the newest albums from the forty hippest coolest and most super bands now available for purchase from iTunes with an ITUNES EXCLUSIVE BONUS TRACK.

Greed is an interesting thing. The idea is often put forward that it’s bad, and that you shouldn’t be allowed to want everything at your fingertips. I’d say greed is pretty natural. And so, in saying that, I believe you should all listen to your governments: Spend, spend, spend. With Kevin Rudd giving so many people $950, just cause, it’s about time you got online and spent all of it in one sitting. Because when it comes down to it, consumerism is priceless.

So, quick! Be greedy.

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Need to greed? Get started here.

eBay:Perhaps where it all started. Bid as you please, but try to avoid getting sniped in those crucial last 15 seconds.

Threadless: Selling funny and witty tshirts that T.U.T.A.N.K.H.A.M.U.N Fashion would approve of.

Splendour in the Grass Ticket Sales: Big Day Out is THE summer music event in Australia, but if you don't mind the cold and a road trip up to Byron Bay, be sure to grab a ticket to Splendour. On sale Thursday 14th May, 9:00AM AEST. Bloc Party and the Flaming Lips are headlining, so get in quick cause they sell out ridiculously fast.

Apple Store Australia: Be quick to conform and buy 472 engraved iPods and a MacBook. Or just see what all the fuss is about.

Amazon: Get books (and much much more) online here.