I have been meaning to get to this thread for a while. I can really relate. I am not a natural shopper, and have been very frugal most of my life, and for the last 7 years have lived in a regional area with limited shopping opportunities. So a couple of times in the year I go to the city and try to get as much as I can in a limited timeframe.

I find it nearly as overwhelming as you. While returns are a bit more possible in Australia, they are not universal and are anyway fairly impractical if one is not going to stay in the area.
I often don't buy anything at all the first day, or (if I only have one day) not til the end of the day. I check out every shop and then revisit some. It is often then that I break down that freezing resistance and actually buy something.

So based on this - keep going! It might take more than 1 day. I don't stint on teabreaks and lunches either, despite my usual frugality.

Anne, thanks so much for chiming in and encouraging me!

I have the issue of shopping far away as well, and only just realized --- but it wasn't even returns. I was in a different city on my birthday, and sort of assumed that they'd have roughly similar (though of course not all the same) stock generally across regions in different stores. Came home for the second round and went shopping again yesterday --- found only ONE of the garments I'd liked in the other city! o.0

Christieanne, missed your last post, sorry! So helpful too! You asked about capsules...

Yes, I need one, or rather SIX as you outlined! PLUS two more I suspect (not counting swim/gym). And yes, it certainly helps a lot as I don't have the budget to do a full fast&furious closet overhaul.

I've got my colours sorta sorted --- in my head at least! The practical issues I run into are these: (1) I make capsules, then find I have nothing to wear because key pieces are in the wash; the heat makes repeating garments harder, so I guess I just need larger capsules? (2) I'm, er, rather deficient on pants and skirts right now after the Great Purge of 2012.

Capsules I need:
Home base 1/ work-at-home capsule 1 --- covered for heat and quick errands, even if pants and skirts are less than ideal; but not an urgent place to shop.

Home base 2/work-at-home capsule 2 --- not sure! was staying in friend's homes and guesthouses when I went back last month, and have no idea what closet (in storage) holds until we find an apartment to rent.

Home base 2/office 2 --- yes, layering needed for sure! Arizona-ish outdoors and Arctic-ish indoors! Realized I could use a couple of lightweight toppers that aren't too casual, but they are lower priority than closed shoes (I'll have Smurfy toes pretty soon I fear) and pants (I'd like a non-denim option once in a while, and skirts or dresses aren't so handy with the hot-to-cold transition)

Office/work trips --- "Most complicated of all of course" Gear is sorta find (ankle booties, jeans, leggings, tunics and shirts, rain jacket). Evening occasions covered (saris and longer skirts etc). Formal to semi-formal daywear is the lacuna, unless I'm going with Indian, which doesn't do in cooler weather. Need at least one pair of pants, and quite desperate for shoes there (ballet flats and maybe a pair of oxfords or closed sandals/sandal shoes). Another issue with this capsule --- I'd ideally duplicate it, but as such, I have to first finish building one set and cart them cross-country meanwhile, which can be a bit of a damper (sometimes I'll bring it along and not need it at all).

I'm actually happiest if I keep my capsules separate to start with.

Before YLF, I used to buy every item that caught my eye making it closet orphans too often.

My clothes' closet and my shoes' closet were overfilled and my mum always nagged me for buying too many things that I didn't wear. Shopping without goals and impulse buys gave me high for sometime (I was depressed, bored and alone since my boyfriend was away for work to Qatar for a year). But then after the purchase, at home, I would try on those things and then suddenly realise it didn't fit my style, my lifestyle and my wardrobe drawers too. I would then regret my buys. I had wardrobe filled of clothes and shoes but I had nothing to wear.

Then I realised I was drowning in debts (can you believe it???) and my clothes huge piles. So then one day I promised myself I would change my purchase habit and buy only the most necessary things and wardrobe staples and/or workhorses.

I surfed internet, went through articles, signed in YLF, made a list of necessary and some luxury items that one could own and started building my wardrobe around these staples. I made a determination that I would stick to my resolution and now I have taken up YLF as my hobby instead of shopping. I buy only the most necessary things to fill my wardrobe holes and now I have one of the most fantastic wardrobe as I tell myself.

I am stil on SYC and SYB, and whenever I feel like going shopping I sign in YLF and see all you ladies and my urge to shop is satisfied. I am content and happy now.

Yes I do give myself a large shopping treat myself but I stick to my resolution of SYC, SYB and no impulse buying that will make me regret later.

Give your self some treat ManidipaM sometimes because SYC and SYB can be emotionally draining sometimes. So follow them but do shop physically sometimes to make yourself happy.