What do you do when you can't shop? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you do when you can't shop?

Gigi

Veteran

Since I made quite a few purchases in 2013, I've decided that I'd like to pull back for 2014. The problem is, shopping is not just about buying things—it's also an emotional experience. So I'm a little worried about shopping withdrawal in 2014. Of course, I can shop my closet and put together outfits—which I plan to do—but I also wonder if I could supplant the shopping with a related activity. Maybe I could try reading more about how to style my hair, or what products to use to create different looks with my hair, or spend more time doing my nails, etc.

What do all of you do when you have to cut back on your shopping?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from chadya

ironkurtin

Veteran

Exercise, mostly. Read. Cook. Sew. Play video games.

E

Veteran

Honestly, doing WIW photos/posts on the forum takes up quite a bit of time, the time I would have spent shopping! But I also started researching sewing/sewing blogs & knitting/knitting blogs, because for me my desire to cut back on clothes shopping coincides with my desire to begin creating more of my wardrobe. Oh and I changed my weekly 'thrifting on way home from library' habit to visiting a cafe also on the way home from the library instead.

Looking at beauty instead seems like a good strategy! For me, the first 2-3 weeks were quite difficult but now that I've gotten in the habit of not visiting ebay/thrift stores, it's much easier.

Meli

(website)

This is what I have done: Unsubscribe from all but my favorite retailers e-mails. Stop reading blogs that are all about new things/shopping/consumerism and switch to ones focused on minimalism, budgeting, shopping bans, and using what you have. Challenge yourself like you mentioned. Get into other (free/inexpensive) activities that you enjoy. And focus on your family!

Ariadne

Veteran

I'm planning to spend more time exercising, playing in my existing closet, spending time with friends and family, and playing around with nail polish.

Deborah

Veteran

Eat! No just kidding :). Reading, cooking, more time to hang with my little man:)

AJ

Veteran

Maybe you can spend time doing a wardrobe inventory and assessing how often you wear each item. Similar to how Lisa is trying to figure out how small she can cull down her wardrobe yet still have enough variety to make her happy.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I clean my room, and try to bake a few things.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Last year when I had time I made a big effort to clear inventory / purge items by listing the good ones on eBay. It is quite time consuming I discovered -- the measuring, pressing, photographing, writing descriptions for items. Then watching them being watched and hopefully purchased. Then packing them and printing the labels and bringing them to the post office. During that 6 weeks when I really devoted myself to it, I earned over $1000 and barely shopped at all. The money was later spent towards new items for Spring.

Adelfa

Veteran

Right now I'm shopping a lot less than usual because I'm organizing and outfitting my new apartment. That probably only works if you have a new apartment.... Also, I'm shopping less because my new internet is incredibly unreliable.

Jacky

Veteran

I did that this year thanks to a job swap. I now spend a lot more time exercising (I went from going to the gym once or twice a week to five to eight times a week) and organizing my room. I've focused a lot more this year on general self- improvement as well - figuring out what in my life makes me unhappy or stressed out or what hobbies I wish I spent more time on and working on those things.

MsLuna

Veteran

Well... In 2014, I'm embarking on a weight loss journey and I'm also looking to partake in The Project 333 (http://theproject333.com/getting-started/). I'm trying to go minimal with my wardrobe because I've had to throw out a huge number of mistake purchases this year.

Since I have a full time job and a part-time student, I will likely be focusing on my studies. I haven't had a lot of time to actually go to a store and shop, but I really should curb the online purchases.

Jeanie

Veteran

Exercise, knit, cook. Do alterations and mending of the things I have. Organize closet. Make lists of wardrobe holes for times when I am shopping again.

Windchime

Veteran

Spend time taking really good care of the clothes and accessories I have. Mend, wash items by hand and do a little ironing. I end up with clothing that looks and feels as good as new, and I don't have to drive, deal with crowds, or spend money.

carter

Veteran

Culling and re-organizing the whole house, creating new recipes, canning (in summer), reading (fiction and health/nutrition books), moving my office more toward a paperless environment. I have several passions (including shopping), and all of them eventually hit the "enough already!" point.

Jewell

Veteran

LOL @ Deborah

I really like Meli's suggestion of unsubscribing to retail emails. I will keep that one in mind next time, as it seems my favorite stores have their best sales when I'm on a shopping ban. I know it's psychological, but still. I avoid malls and browsing online, too so I don't lead myself into temptation. After all, a person on a diet wouldn't step into a candy shop for a look around. I sometimes organize my wardrobe and take inventory of what I have. I tend to avoid purging items, though because purging often uncovers/creates holes that I'm not in a position to fill. I do a lot of reading and focusing on other hobbies with the extra time.

karymk

Veteran

Gigi, you are on the right track. When I pull back, I focus on hair and makeup and skin. Or my house. Do I need to rearrange the living room? A fresh pillow? A new idea for a table setting?

Hair and makeup are so important for our self esteem and our total style picture. It doesn't make sense to pay attention to one and not the other.

I just went through a bunch of hair tutorials on YouTube to learn how to make a better ponytail. I had no idea! I learned so much.

Then I went on Lisaeldridge.com and learned how to do perfect red lips. She's amazing.

Maybe we can support eachother in 2014. I hate being a wasteful shopper. I want to be happy with my wardrobe and move on to other things.

Anonymous

I need to do something different as well. My wardrobe is no where near perfect but I have DD going to uni in the fall, a new house/city in the spring and a terrible habit of shopping as entertainment.

Exercise SHOulD be my focus

jayne

Veteran

Perfect timing on this thread as I want to cut back in acquisitions next year. Not only to reduce spending, but because my wardrobe has been rehauled enough the last two years, and because I am joining the gym and intend to change a size or two in the next 6 months.

So I intend to focus more on exercise to strengthen this body to last another 40 years and skin and hair. Matter of fact, I need to start another thread on that looking for suggestions....

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's funny...I come at this from the opposite end. I had to teach myself to shop. And I am still learning. But I've also learned that once you start it can be difficult to stop. There's nothing like the thrill of the find! So I make all my online fashion emails go straight to my junk box. They still arrive, but I'm far less tempted to look at them. I only start looking if I have an actual need to fill; a wardrobe hole. Or when it is time to do my seasonal updates/ refreshers.

My substitute for shopping is spending time on YLF! Looking at outfits, commenting.

Also, making capsule wardrobes from my closet and taking photos.

Shopping itself isn't that fun in my town in the bricks and mortar stores, so that makes it easier not to overindulge, I guess.

Laurinda

Veteran

Many great ideas here, thanks for starting the thread!

When I have been on a really tight budget -- i.e. not even cash enough for thrifting -- I learned to enjoy the smallest purchases: one beautiful orange, a new herb or spice from a bulk bin, or a small handsoap. Still shopping, but a person has to buy groceries.

Shirley

If you are still "allowed" some shopping, I would not deny myself a small dose of retail therapy. A couple of items a month, maybe? If you stop cold turkey, there may be backlash later on. Also, change focus to something like skin care might help in my case.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Shopping is a huge diversion and procrastination tool for me. I am definitely a recreational shopper, and I'll often pop into the stores while I'm out running errands or to kill some time before an appointment. So this is a tough one for me. I'm self-employed, so theoretically, I could shop every day.

However, I know that when I'm shopping too much, I'm generally avoiding some task or project. I have tried to shift my shopping energy in those times to some other creative outlet (carrying a camera everywhere works well for me) or try visiting something other than the stores -- galleries and museums, taking walks or hikes with camera in hand, etc.

I also try to indulge some of my other interests. I'll spend time researching and planning future travels, planning home renovation projects, etc. Cleaning and organizing also help.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Drink wine. What? That's not a good substitute?!?? I also try and focus on exercise more. Not only does it help fill the time otherwise spent shopping, it helps the clothes you do have look better on you. Win - win!
Also spending time in the closet, analyzing my needs, thinking up outfits, etc. That's how I end up with the "how many do I need" threads and the master shop list for the coming year.

Catnip

Veteran

Find other interests.

Read, watch movies, play bridge, knit, learn to cook really well, decorate your home, plan parties, write a short story, do volunteer work, get involved in local politics, whatever works for you.

I think you have to get your mind off shopping an onto something else that you find equally entertaining. For many, shopping is just a time-filler, a way to alleviate boredom. Everyone can have multiple interests in life, but it's not always easy to find exactly what they are.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Lots of pinning things to Pinterest and playing around with Polyvore. Oddly, I have found that sometimes just the act of "saving" something that I want satisfies the desire to buy it. This applies to my Amazon wish list and my eBay watch list as well.

Von

Veteran

I have had many periods when I couldn't shop (probably going to add spring 2014 to that list). What I usually do is go through my WIW photos and closet and recall all of what I DO have that is fabulous. I have a makeup+handbag weakness, because they are so easy to buy. I always have to have a very real talk with myself and remind myself that I know I have enough to last me until whenever.

It's all wants, not needs...(it's a hard talk to have!).

karymk

Veteran

Mo, NO! Don't drink wine! It makes it all too easy to pull the trigger online!

I think of all the waste in my closet and I realize I must sell my stuff to earn a little back. I give too much away! Because it is so much easier to drop at Salvation Army than to keep track of consignment items.

I need to get cash back out of my closet!

Linda

No one said it yet, so I want to: adopt a new pet or become a foster family for a needy animal. It is something that occupies you deeply and there is almost nothing like the feeling of seeing a puppy or kitten bloom and find a new home.

I have been on a buying jag this year -- I think I finally came to terms with needing a better selection of items AND being able to dress well while striving for my best weight.

I motivated myself a lot for running with a new sports bra or new shorts, and then it kind of mushed over to street clothing! But I'm happy with what I have now, though as someone said, I'm not going cold turkey. I plan to spend more time running and exercising, cook at home more (I love cooking!), set up a wardrobe to house some of these clothes, and reserve some time each week to spend with our pets or help with foster care, myself.

Great ideas in this thread!! I got some new ideas too!

Anonymous

karymk is so right! wine & online shopping never mix well

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