Several years ago I was on a strict no-shopping budget that lasted 2 1/2 years - and during that time I still participated regularly on YLF - so, I can vouch that it can be done!
I took a multi-pronged approach in managing my impulses, desires, obsessions, etc.
1) I cleaned out my closet, bought all new hangars (ok, so that was kind of shopping, wasn't it?), purged, and organized my wardrobe. This took me several months to complete - and is actually an on-going process.
2) I challenged myself to "copycat" outfits from streetstyle pics that I found on The Sartorialist - one of my favorite "fantasy" blogs. I mean, do regular people really dress like that?
3) I tracked my outfits everyday - and at the end of each day, I would assess the outfit - proportion? fit? color? what worked? what didn't work? And then I gave it a happiness factor rating. Anything rated 9 or 10 was an automatic repeat outfit for me - below that, and I didn't wear that combination again.
4) Related to #3 - I kept track of Cost Per Wear - something that I had never done before. This was very helpful to me when I would get the urge to buy something - I found that my value system had changed - no longer was I willing to buy something that I wasn't going to get down to a low cost per wear rate (with a few exceptions) - it just felt wasteful to me.
5) I went shopping with anybody who would have me! I found that I got all of my shopping impulses very easily satisfied by helping a friend pick out clothing items, shoes, etc. - and I would walk away from those excursions, not feeling deprived, but actually fulfilled and excited - and at times glad that I wasn't the one bringing the piece of clothing home and trying to find a place for it in my closet! (Sometimes I would even try on a piece of clothing while I was shopping with the friend - and that would satisfy my itch - it seemed that by trying it on that that took the mystery and magic out of the item and I was able to easily leave it behind.)
6) I "fake" shopped on-line. Constantly picking things out and putting them in my online shopping bags. And they just sat there - and it was OK. I don't know what that was about - but I do it with candy too. I will buy a bag of candy and put it in my cupboard and not touch it - but just knowing that its there, satisfies my desire for the candy - the same was with the items I put in my shopping bags!
7) I transferred my shopping obsession to other things - yep, I know - not the best thing to do, but it did keep me from shopping. I did a lot of writing, painting, reading, and exercise - and started putting more hours into my volunteer job at the local animal shelter. All of those activities helped me to fill and fulfill the 'need' that I had to shop.
8) I only carried cash - no credit or debit cards. I was not even tempted to pay cash for an item, while a debit or credit card did not have that kind of effect on me!
9) I got gift cards for Christmas and my B-Day and I hoarded those cards - having a difficult time deciding just exactly what I was going to use the gift cards for! I found that I was extremely picky and things that I would have bought in the past without a second thought, didn't even get consideration when I knew that I had a very limited amount of funds to spend! I honestly found myself feeling as though I didn't WANT to shop! So weird!
That's all I can think of for now - if I think of other things I'll add them. I'm still on a very limited budget - put not completely cut off like I was before. Shopping my closet was a good experience for me - I learned that I had more than enough. I learned that I could be very creative with what I did have. I learned that I could survive without getting new/different things - and that I could still be happy! I got to know myself better in other ways - and I got to know others better too. Life was easier.
