https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:40:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic/page/2#post-1210891 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:32:39 +0000 deb 1210891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Pam, I want it too, then I do not have to reinvent the wheel.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic/page/2#post-1210885 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:24:19 +0000 rabbit 1210885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Pam</b> - it's been years since I've used/built anything in&nbsp;Access, so I'm very rusty&nbsp;but I'd like to try it out if I have time to input the data. I'm especially interested in CPW, but you have set up a lot of great features. &nbsp; I already have 2010 Access on a PC so I think&nbsp;I'm good there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic/page/2#post-1210865 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:02:01 +0000 Anonymous 1210865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The database requires a PC running Windows (and probably MS Office) or a Mac that can boot to Windows/run Parallels, etc. I can create a "run-time" installation of the database that basically packages the Access engine so you do not need the program.&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-analysis-q1">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nalysis-q1</a>&nbsp;has examples of the forms and some of the calculations. One advantage of a database is you can select certain categories (like tops and toppers, but not bottoms) to look at wears, etc. I added in CPW calculations and have a host of other features (I am interested in tracking my wears, my purchases, etc so that's all in there). I like doing databases and I'd frankly be grateful if someone else were interested- it's a lonely field! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic/page/2#post-1210846 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:43:58 +0000 rabbit 1210846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Pam</b> - does your database require having MS Access? (Actually I think I have 2010...).</p> <p><b>MaryK</b> - I think I can recreate it from that peek. &nbsp;thanks! &nbsp;:)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic/page/2#post-1210824 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:21:44 +0000 MsMary 1210824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm happy to share it even with the numbers.&nbsp; Don't know how to do googledocs but if you'll PM me your email I'd be happy to send it to you.&nbsp; Here's a screenshot so you can get an idea -- not at all fancy!&nbsp; </p> <p>I've been taking photos of everything I donate and at some point I"ll sit down and enter them into Its Deductible. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210800 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:02:37 +0000 Anonymous 1210800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If anyone wants to try my database it has tracking, CPW, outfit creation etc. all built in. I can have it ready for distribution next week </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210777 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:46:24 +0000 rabbit 1210777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good job! &nbsp;And a good reminder for me. &nbsp; <b>MaryK</b> &nbsp;would you be willing to&nbsp;share your (empty) spreadsheet? &nbsp;Maybe by PM or googledocs? &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm in danger of accumulating too many 'shiny things' right now, and starting to track wearings accurately rather than by vague memories would help me.</p> <p>One thing I do with donations is make a list of all the items stapled to the receipt I get from dropping them at Goodwill. &nbsp;I enter them into It's Deductible once a year&nbsp;(free with Turbotax) where it assigns prices,&nbsp;it sucks them into the taxes, and all those individual pieces add up. This used to be pretty laborious in the past, and I wasn't always a stickler if I didn't donate many items, but now I think it's worth it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210608 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:22:39 +0000 Thistle 1210608@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fabulous progess. And yes, there is a certain mindset we have to overcome. There is a certain joy in snipping the tags and wearing somethign new. But, sometimes new isn't always what you needed.</p> <p>I love MaryK's idea of a spreadhseet to track purchases. Perhaps I shall start April 1st. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210502 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:00:10 +0000 rachylou 1210502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Way to go, and a good reminder to myself to be thoughtful and "directional." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210283 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:55:42 +0000 Lisa 1210283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*Clapping* This is wonderful progress!&nbsp; I am a big fan of purging one's closet in an effort to only own items that one truly loves to, and actually does, wear.&nbsp; And wear often!&nbsp; We work too hard for our money, to own clothing that is collecting dust in one's closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210260 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:22:01 +0000 Eliza 1210260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Go Susie, MaryK and other organized fabbers. I learn so much from each of you as you optimize your wardrobes. I think YLF is very helpful in setting fashion priorities. Good work and great progress, Susie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1210221 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:17:48 +0000 chadya 1210221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>wow,&nbsp; I keep a spreadsheet of nailpolish but clothing is way beyond.&nbsp; I think that would put the brakes on for sure ☺</p> <p>I have just started taking the "good" stuff to the consignment store while they are still relatively new instead of letting it sit there.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209832 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 01:29:02 +0000 Suz 1209832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cheering you on, Susie!! It sounds as if you are making huge progress here.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209766 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:43:38 +0000 Windchime 1209766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Way to go, Susie-- you've really put thought and effort into this to purge so many items!</p> <p>Like Golden and Unfrumped, it's really hard for me to let go of "perfectly good" items.</p> <p>I'm definitely getting more selective about my purchases than I used to be. On my last couple shopping forays, I tried on several things but talked myself out of all of them-- they were very good but not great. When I leave the store feeling relieved that I didn't buy anything, I know I've made a good decision. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209755 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:37:00 +0000 Susie 1209755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for your encouragement.</p> <p>I too keep track of all my purchases- mine isn't a spreadsheet because I keep a lot of notes in Evernote but I list the item, price, where I bought it and the month purchased. I have last years list too. Unfortunately there are some things from last year that have already been purged. But I did try to make a note of WHY. </p> <p>I have to admit that I've been influenced by some of the wonderful Fabbers! Whether it's a lemming purchase- Spiegel jacket, BR cream jeans- or an Angie's pick, or seeing a fab item on someone here, or wanting to try a look I saw here, my shopping has probably increased in the last couple of years.</p> <p>There have been mistakes as I've tried different things but experiments are ok. I feel like I have a better handle on what is ME and I feel ok about some things I might have questioned- like wearing a lot of black, a limited number of silhouettes, and wanting a variety of shoes </p> <p>Now I should admit that I probably have not yet earned all of your kudos! I've added a considerable number of items already this year! I do feel a bit guilty about getting rid of things that were perfectly 'fine'. But I feel ok about letting go of the things I just didn't love. And I guess I still feel that the number of purchases has been too many- not from an over budget standpoint but just the numbers. </p> <p>But I am determined to do better. I now have an exact count of what's in my current closet- 145 pieces- plus an additional 25 in the out of season closet.<br /> Since that doesn't include loungewear, sleepwear, gear, shoes/boots, bags and other accessories it still feels like a lot. </p> <p>Here's to SSC (shop Susie's closet!) and more thoughtful/less frequent purchases! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209723 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:05:55 +0000 unfrumped 1209723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good job! I take encouragement from that, too.<br /> I like what golden said, too-/ it's hard to part with" good" stuff so it's not just about focusing on things you love zits being realistic about how many items you need.<br /> I'm trying to duplicate much less, too. It can be better if items are even a little different-- longer, shorter, boxier.<br /> Focusing color palette helps, too. Some colors, like burgundy or dark teal-- function so much like neutrals that I can stop getting some things in a color plus multiple neutrals but instead try to re- mix more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209684 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:22:07 +0000 April 1209684@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>CHEERING! &nbsp;I'm such a cheerleader for purging and keeping the closets clear. &nbsp;Congratulations, Susie -- it's great that you've done so much and feel good about it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209683 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:21:57 +0000 MsMary 1209683@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just pull it up on my laptop.&nbsp; And since I take photos every day I can refer to the photos if it's been a few days and my memory isn't perfect. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209681 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:21:33 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1209681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on setting a goal and working hard to achieve it. &nbsp;It really take great discipline to curb that impulse buying tendency. &nbsp;I have not curbed mine as much as I've wanted to, but I think after losing weight and reestablishing a lot through thrifting that I did a great job acquiring classic pieces and &nbsp;I am now more focused on adding more current pieces to complete my new wardrobe. &nbsp;I will really have to begin to take a hard look soon and am already much more purposeful in my shopping. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209678 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:20:32 +0000 deb 1209678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MaryK, do you have the spreadsheet posted in your closet so you can tick off the worn items?&nbsp;Trying to see how I could work something like this out that I would actually stick with..&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209672 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:15:17 +0000 MsMary 1209672@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Deb and Marmee, I'm only tracking new-in-2014 purchases.&nbsp; So I update whenever I wear something that was acquired in the current year.&nbsp; So far the hands-down champ has been the Munro white loafers, which have been worn eight times in less than three weeks (partly because I took them on vacation).&nbsp; Also runners up are the Topshop black quilted clutch, at 8 outings, and the Gibson black ponte blazer, at 7. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209665 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:12:52 +0000 gryffin 1209665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Susie - totally awesome!!&nbsp; Sounds like you are moving toward the place you want to be.&nbsp; Being a conscious shopper is really difficult.&nbsp; It takes a&nbsp; lot of focus and restraint.&nbsp; Kind of like being in a fabulous pastry shop, having a tiny taste and walking out!!&nbsp; Without experimentation and some major sucesses and crashing and burning we'd never try new things and evolve.&nbsp; Plus, with so many enticing choices, it is really hard to say no.&nbsp; I think even the most disciplined have a hard time with that.&nbsp; I do find keep a list&nbsp; of purchases and needs has been really helpful for me.&nbsp; Also limiting my color palate and really sticking to my likes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Purging out really old clothing that's been in the hold zone for a long time was very helpful too.&nbsp; It's all process but I commend you on all your diligence, discrimation, and restraint!!&nbsp; A pared down but right sized wardrobe will be a thing of beauty and sounds like you are closing in on that!!&nbsp; Kudos!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209660 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:07:58 +0000 deb 1209660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clapping hands!!! Good for you Suzie. MaryK, I created a spreadsheet at the beginning of the year also. I am only tracking new purchases though. Not how many times worn. I am not that diligent. January and March I spent about the same. February was a good month for me and I hope to have more of those as we get towards summer. I need to plan for my F/W spending. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209658 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:06:11 +0000 Gigi 1209658@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good for you, Susie! It's a good feeling when we can get a handle on our shopping and can see the thinking behind our spending habits.</p> <p>After buying a LOT of stuff last year (I was basically building a wardrobe from scratch), I have cut way down and am being much pickier, just as you describe. So I still shop just as often; I just don't buy nearly as often! In wearing my items from last year, I have discovered that I don't need a lot of clothes—what I need is a manageable amount of very carefully picked items that really push all my happy buttons. Since I have cut back on the spending, I have been much happier, both because I am saving money and also because the few new pieces that I have bought have a very high happiness quotient. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209656 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:04:27 +0000 Ledonna N. 1209656@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really commend you as well. It can be challenging, take it from a thrift-aholic. I turned my addiction into a business and now shop for others who don't like shopping at all. I regularly cull my wardrobe. All it take is one episode of hoarders to reign myself in. It is a constant vigil. I have to ask myself is it emotional, stress, joy or can I just really shop my closet. So congratulations....... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209654 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:59:14 +0000 Marmee 1209654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MaryK, I am impressed with your diligence. &nbsp;I should do this, too. &nbsp;Do you update it daily? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209649 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:51:04 +0000 MsMary 1209649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have made a spreadsheet this year in which I enter every item I buy including the date purchased, where I got it, description, price including tax and shipping, date(s) worn, and price per wear, which is of course a formula that updates every time I wear the item.&nbsp; And at the bottom it totals how much I've spent year to date.&nbsp; I'm also including gifts (like the Magical Traveling Orange Pants from Suz) with a zero cost per wear, just because I'm interested to see how often they're worn.</p> <p>So far it's not only been super interesting, but it's helped me keep a lid on expenditures so that "year to date" total doesn't go over my year to date budget! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209647 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:46:34 +0000 Caro in Oz 1209647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like you are making huge progress Susie. It's hard not to feel guilty when so much is going out, I know.&nbsp;I had a really big purge last year &amp; I don't regret it at all now&nbsp;:) I really learned a lot about what I wore &amp; didn't wear.</p> <p>&nbsp;I'm now at a point of one in one out for most things. I'm still deciding how many clothes I need, taking in to account weather, laundry (once a week max.) &amp; how often I want to wear something. I basically wear my version of casual, which is fairly dressy, on a daily basis so I'm also reducing all the other categories like evening wear &amp; dressier day stuff too.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209617 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:03:24 +0000 Susie 1209617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The bags for Goodwill! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confessions-of-a-shopaholic#post-1209612 Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:01:15 +0000 Mo 1209612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep! &nbsp;I also know super minimal isn't for me although I do desire a small enough to manage wardrobe. &nbsp;But I like a certain amount of new things each season so I have to decide what buying rate will work for me and still allow me to control the overall amount of clothing in my closet. &nbsp;It's a constant balancing act. &nbsp;Just keeping track is a good start. &nbsp;I seem to be settling in to acquiring&nbsp;around 30 pieces per year as the amount I can deal with and be happy. &nbsp;I'd like it to be less, but so far my desires outweigh my willpower by at least a dozen items per year. ;)</p>