https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:23:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings/page/2#post-1281917 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 03:08:19 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1281917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm reading with interest, because I don't have an answer myself. I am at a point where I can walk into stores lately and not buy, because there truly is nothing that I want (oh, except the white jean hole I identified yesterday--and I'm not sure about that one). But I didn't will that to happen; it just does, sometimes. <br />One of my problems is that when I try to budget, I know the budget rules are bendable because I made them. I'm not budgeting because I have to cut down on my clothes shopping to eat or to put money into retirement or some other necessity. So it's hard to take myself seriously.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings/page/2#post-1281895 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 02:44:50 +0000 lyn* 1281895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BTW: I love the idea of instead of buying something immediately to use now, to buy something on your trip ... maybe you could make a bulletin board and post up a picture of that thing? So you can still see it, but it's money in the bank! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings/page/2#post-1281789 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 01:43:49 +0000 rachylou 1281789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm working my way through a variety of strategies... I've reduced, but can't say I've found the magic fix-all. Strategies have included designated shopping times, just shopping the cheaper fast fashion stores more, having a wardrobe plan and not going out without checking in with it, trying to shift my focus away from doing outfits to a look... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings/page/2#post-1281738 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 00:58:03 +0000 DonnaF 1281738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Put a regular amount from your regular paycheck into an Oz account, and then use OT strictly for clothing?&nbsp; Or OT for non-basics and non-replacement items?&nbsp; My sense is that OT/call isn't truly 100% optional for you due to staffing problems, but would that be sufficient for you? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings/page/2#post-1280970 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 09:42:14 +0000 Ledonna N. 1280970@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Go thrift store shopping with an expert or consignment high end stores. I bet yo will get the same high if you give yourself permission too. You are so tinny Anna I bet you could fit all the clothing. And then you could save the difference for your trip. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280955 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 08:01:35 +0000 Lucy 1280955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wouldn't say I' m an expert!&nbsp;</p> <p><div>But two thoughts.&nbsp;<br />1. I'm in Sydney. That $450 would buy some really cool stuff in Sydney. Want to climb the Harbour Bridge - view of a lifetime? Spend some time on some of the best beaches in the world? Sail in the harbour? Go to the Opera in an awesome location? Eat some amazing seafood by the water?&nbsp;Etc. I'd set aside a separate account and put that money straight in there, for fun in Oz. It doesn't quite feel like you are missing out if you think of it in this way.</p> <p>2. But you still need some treats. Some short term splurges. Some joy in life in the meantime! Why not set a budget of one cool thing per month, but no more than $200 (or some other amount). That way there is still some instant gratification but it doesn't eat into the bigger things you want.&nbsp;</p> <p>But yep, this is all good on paper and harder to implement :)&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280954 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 07:22:57 +0000 froggiebecky 1280954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anna, what if you tackled the Australia thing a little more? You say you want to go next year. When I visited before I moved, and general reports from my friends who have visited me, is that a 3-week trip runs in the neighbourhood of $5000, and that's fairly modest on the hotels, meals, etc, and doesn't include a proper shopping day or two, which could run another $1000-$2000.&nbsp;</p> <p>Something that worked for me when I was wanting my trip was to buy one thing per pay period. It kept my motivation up, and made the sticker price of things not so bad when I actually got there.&nbsp;What if your treat for overtime were surfing lessons in Noosa instead of a sweatshirt? &nbsp;Or a ticket to a performance at the Sydney Opera instead of some shoes? &nbsp;<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lagunaonhastingsstreet.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Main-Beach-Noosa-Noosa-Heads.jpg">http://www.lagunaonhastingsstr.....-Heads.jpg</a></p> <p>(P.S. Depending on what time of year you want to go, Qantas does fare sales in February, usually out of LA. I saved some $$ by catching one of those and booking my own domestic ticket there. That flight leaves at midnight, so it's not hard to make the connection)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280944 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 06:21:21 +0000 Neel 1280944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can I drive that *need new* train? :D. I would be the last to get off I know! Thank god I don't shop designer O_O</p> <p>Well, there hasn't been a month in the last 3 years where I haven't bought anything new for myself! There you go ... Out in the open! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280941 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 06:07:22 +0000 Jen W 1280941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that shopping, at least for me, is an easy rush. When you have a difficult job or are at a challenging point in life, shopping feels like a reward for getting through. It is also a way to express my creativity. So for me to slow down, I put aside a clothing budget in a separate account with its own debit card (annual or monthly), found a few more creative outlets, and now I'm trying to find my dopamine hits somewhere else. I also like to measure my savings visually and will create a goal thermometer that I color in each time I shift money over to savings for a particular goal. The visual really helps me, but you can look for clues to what motivates you in past goals you've achieved. Clearly you work very hard, so determination isn't an issue, it's just about trying to find new habits that get you closer to your goals. Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280839 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 03:28:49 +0000 MsMaven 1280839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my. &nbsp;Just think about Australia. &nbsp;Resist, resist--while I go back and have a second look at that "sweatshirt." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280822 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 03:17:07 +0000 Jaime 1280822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great suggestions so far. I don't do well with a cold turkey approach. If you budget a certain amount for a month to yes buy fancy things but stick to it, you can still shop but reject a lot because it is not The Fancy Thing you want this month. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280732 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:05:30 +0000 lyn* 1280732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anna, I totally know what you mean. I put a picture of what I'm going to buy with that night's call money on my phone to keep me going. Sometimes a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280677 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:11:08 +0000 Sara L. 1280677@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just don't look. &nbsp;It's far easier not to buy stuff if you're not tempted. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280664 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:01:38 +0000 Angie 1280664@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's as easy as setting yourself a monthly budget - for shopping and saving -&nbsp;and sticking to it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280613 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:10:28 +0000 annagybe 1280613@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenava, unless there's a divine intervention I'm not getting pregnant. Probably if my dating life was better I would be shopping less, sigh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280611 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:06:49 +0000 Jenava 1280611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Gaylene's would work for me.&nbsp; I need to see literally how much spending on clothing is taking out of achieving my other goals.&nbsp; </p> <p>I was gonna suggest getting pregnant!&nbsp; That seems to have curbed my appetite since I know I won't be able to wear anything nice for (at least) a year!</p> <p>Joking, of course.&nbsp; (-: </p> <p>ETA, you could also buy things like nail polish or lipstick - that stuff is cheaper but still feels like a new exciting treat.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280607 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:04:34 +0000 Janet 1280607@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gaylene, that is a great idea.</p> <p>Shopping is so emotional for me. It's no coincidence that I caved in a store today after having my mom on my mind a lot this morning and feeling her loss very acutely. I definitely use shopping to numb my more difficult emotions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280606 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 00:04:27 +0000 annagybe 1280606@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all the insights.<br /> I think I have a few distinct problems unique to me. Because I only need to wear real clothes a few days a week, each outfit is very memorable. Especially since they are also posted on my blog. So I don't really repeat.<br /> But I'm also really good at remixing. I was helping a friend do a closet sort over the weekend. I was able to create at least three outfits from one leopard skirt. So I need to apply those remixing skills to my own closet.<br /> Also there is the reward factor. When I'm on call I work hard, but I also get overtime. So I feel justified treating myself for all my hard work. I need to work on better or at least cheaper rewards. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280602 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 23:58:18 +0000 ironkurtin 1280602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love Ladywone's suggestion.&nbsp; And Gaylene, I think that's a great idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280599 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 23:53:26 +0000 Gaylene 1280599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK, this sounds a bit weird but it helped me get my shopping urges under control last year. On a sheet of paper, I wrote the amount I wanted to save for something that was important to me. Every time I felt the urge to buy something, I forced myself to physically deduct the amount from that total. Seeing that money (imaginary though it was) slowly get dribbled away really put a damper on the thrill I got from adding something to my closet. </p> <p>I also realized that I tend to buy stuff for my closet when I'm stuck in a routine where change is outside of my control. I start to feel bored, frustrated, and resentful. Buying something new is a way of distracting myself from those feelings and gives me the novelty that I'm craving. Realizing why I'm being lured into buying more stuff, along with seeing that total going down, really slowed down my shopping urges. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280576 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 23:23:18 +0000 lyn* 1280576@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm definitely on that train ... but do I want to get off? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280536 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:28:14 +0000 Lyn D. 1280536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Have you tried '1 in 1 out' Anna?<br />I find this very useful because I know I have to purge if I buy something new.<br />I treat new items as 'replacements' now and this has slowed my purchases down.<br />I see an Aussie Meet-Up in the wings- YAY </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280529 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:14:25 +0000 Janet 1280529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Vildy's question is really interesting.</p> <p>I'm on the train too, so I'm afraid I don't have many words of useful advice -- mostly just sympathy as I try unsuccessfully to curb my shopping impulses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280497 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:29:04 +0000 Vildy 1280497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Is it possible that with the highly styled items you buy you are buying An Experience?&nbsp; If so, what do you learn if you take the last handful of items you bought and answer for yourself what experience you expected each to provide. (you have my sympathies because that's a picture of some amazing looking sweatshirt) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280491 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:20:04 +0000 Gigi 1280491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Regarding what some people have said about setting up a separate account for your trip, that might be a good idea. Your bank might even be able to set the account up so that it automatically debits your checking account to fund it, in which case you won't even really see the money that much. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280487 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:15:59 +0000 Classically Casual 1280487@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can you pour your shopping/browsing energies into forming tangible plans for your trip?</p> <p>If you have real dates and start to nail down your itinerary hopefully it will become part of your real vs. imaginary life.&nbsp; Also, if there's a way you can structure payments to take place over the time leading up to your departure,<br />that should serve as a shopping deterrent.&nbsp; Maybe set up a separate account for Australia funds too?</p> <p>If it were me (I?), I'd need an alternative reward system too en lieu of shopping for the&nbsp; bad days that occur along the way.</p> <p>Good luck!&nbsp; Travel is a very worthy goal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280483 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:11:41 +0000 Ledonna N. 1280483@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Raises hand slowly. I find that what helps me is to put the money I was going to spend in a separate account. I went on my trip to Washington and New York because of this I was able to have a great time. I was able to travel around the world because of the military but I had to pay for everything else. When I was a kid we lived paycheck to paycheck.</p> <p>My mom did the best she could. I was on the road to doing the same things. But, I wanted a full life and realizing that I can get higher end or even lower end things does not mean I always have to have them. So, I say to myself, self do you want to buy that or do you want to put that into the trip account. Most of the time the trip account wins. Because I take two big trips every year. And I fill my life with social activities not always with my significant other or with things that cost money. I realize that I can use the money to get the best I can out of my life. Most of the time I do believe I deserve the very best.</p> <p>Besides you have to be able to wear all the fierce clothes you have somewhere. </p> <p>Blessings. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280479 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:06:50 +0000 Echo 1280479@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh, I always have the very best of intentions, but my willpower lasts about a month and then I'm back to the same habits. And worse yet, June/July is somehow my jewelry-buying season and I end up buying one major piece a year at this time, so I really HAVE to stop buying other things. I have a piece in mind that I've been eyeing for months and I am somehow convinced that even though it hasn't sold yet, that it WILL if I don't get it now. Hello, irrational!</p> <p>I am focused more on exercise and health, though, and summer gives me the opportunity to bike and hike and go for long walks, so I am trying to limit my time browsing (which surely must lead to fewer purchases). Saving for a trip is a worthwhile goal, though. Would actually writing up a budget help? Doing that tends to make the money I spend more "real" if that makes any sense.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280472 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:55:28 +0000 carter 1280472@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know how to force a stop, but I can tell you that I'm pretty much there. I have two things on my "need" list and nothing on my "want" list. It's been at least a year since I've been at this point. I'll post about it when I get home from Europe and wrap my head around what changed for me, but at the moment, the best I can do is say that I've been living out of a suitcase for 16 days and loving my options. I packed my favorite things. I bought some more favorite things (mostly in Paris). I can't wait to get home to purge the things that don't measure up. I'm in London now, surrounded by anything I could possibly want (and can buy anything I want). Yet, somehow, I feel done. My husband keeps looking at me like I've been invaded by body snatchers or something. Very weird. I'm going to St Louis the end of next month to have a shopping week with a girlfriend. Normally I would have a list a mile long. Nude sandals and a replacement black belt would be great, but I can't think of anything else I want. I wish I had some brilliant advice. If I figure it out, I will certainly share. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shopping-musings#post-1280456 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:22:00 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1280456@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, I'm the last one to ask about getting off the new fancy stuff train. But you know Anna, I've come to the conclusion that for me, it's not about buying less/spending less necessarily. It's about buying <b>smarter</b>. And I've done this with some purchases lately that are fitting the bill for comfort, work for both casual and work attire (depending on styling), and still make me feel stylish (although not as trendy - which is not as important as it used to be). So all in all, I've probably spent more than I should have but I'm happier with what I've purchased and feel good about the items. </p>