Scratching the shopping itch - YouLookFab Forum

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Scratching the shopping itch

dlb1960

I admit, ashamedly, that sometimes I just want to buy something. To fill a void perhaps? Or for the sheer pleasure of bringing a new item home and working with it. What to do then if there is nothing worth buying? How do you then scratch that gotta have something shopping itch?

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from AJ

Vildy

Veteran

None of my own answers may suit but here they are:
1. recognize that the more choices I add, the more confusion (no, I don't have a minimalist wardrobe)
2. use a rolling rack and start taking out clothing that groups by palette, say, and seeing them all like that (and not by type of garment) often leads to discovering new outfits and gives the same satisfaction as styling in new purchases
2a. this visual usually leads to recognition of how much I already have vs the real time opportunities to wear it, even in a long winter season, say. And also has me reevaluate the direction my wardrobe has been going, by palette or by level of contrast wanted in an outfit, and thereby changing my ideas of what I might like or want or "need" to add.
3. recognize that this impulse is possibly one of self-soothing and/or distraction from fretting about all the situations in life that pop up daily and that I can't control.
4. recognizing that "desire comes in at the eyes" and if I hadn't been looking at items online, I would probably not be having the thought of wanting either them or something new and "else"
5. I think this would work for lots of folks, though isn't one of my own strategies: contrast the impulse/urge with the idea of delaying gratification towards finding a highly desired and elusive or spendy item in future

kkards

Veteran

Sometimes, I go to the coffee shop, buy a cup, and browse YLF. Fashion blogs and/ or magazines. That way I get my fashion fix, and I've has a change is scenary. I'm trying to do this more.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Exactly what kkards said. Or if I'm home and it's on-ine shopping, I'll log on to my credit card bill, and if I can't comfortably pay it in full, I close the laptop, walk away, and shop my closet.

viva

Veteran

Sometimes I shop! I don't buy, but I go through all the motions online -- look at things, put them in the cart, and then leave the site. It's funny how that can actually satisfy the itch sometimes. I think it's the hunt I occasionally want -- just to look and find something. But deep down, I don't really want to part with the money. So just dropping something into the shopping cart is enough; I don't actually have to take it home.
It's actually, for me, even easier to do this in person because I am much, much pickier in a store. So if I have the urge and head to the store, I am almost certain to come home with nothing.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Go running.

Sarah A

Veteran

i have bern trying to exercise more during hours i would have shopped. I am not entirely sure this is working as my itch to buy is still strong. I keep thinking it is like withdrawl... Ill grt through the painful part soon... I hope!

E

Veteran

I go to the library! I can browse all I want, grab anything that catches my eye, and bring it all home for free. I also go to a cafe as kkards said or for a walk or focus on one of my other hobbies. Basically, I find something else that's fulfilling and brings me the same satisfaction. If it's really bad, I read one of an anti-consumerism blog or book or watch a similarly themed video (The Story of Stuff is a good place to start) to remind myself that there are alternatives.

Oh, going to the grocery store or farmer's market can be fun too: picking out a new-to-me ingredient or two and then coming home and making a meal around it is similar to what you've described.

In My Joi

(website)

Veteran

Great question! I appreciate @Vildy's sentiments. For me, usually it seems like the urge comes from something going wrong in my life, or plain ole boredom. I like to peruse Pinterest and local thrift shoppes. I can gather new ideas without making a new purchase.

Anonymous

It is hard. I browse e-bay too much and always put stuff on watch list. One thing I need to do is to get rid of the watch list and not look but it is hard to resist.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

These (usually) work for me
a walk on the beach or
a manicure & pedicure
or a facial
If none of these feel satisfying then what Vildy said.

Jacky

Veteran

I'm like Viva - going through the motions often soothes the itch for me. I think I'm usually attracted to the actual shopping process rather than the buying though. So if I go to a bunch of stores (in person or online), and dig through everything but don't find anything I want, then I still feel like that restlessness has been settled.

Also, another thumbs up for exercising if I'm feeling the itch. If I'm too tired, then I end up forgetting about whatever shopping I wanted to do!

Liz

Veteran

I think it's good to have practical things to do instead of shopping, but I also think it's good to start paying attention to why the itch is there. If shopping is just a habit or hobby, then something else to do is all you need. But if there's a void or boredom or stress that shopping is covering up, then it's good to understand that and work on something that addresses it as well.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I sing this song from the Madame Blueberry Veggie Tale movie. I thought the lesson was for my kids --- good lessons are sneaky that way!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHSLFZ2Gms

Also, I do closet remixes, as some have already mentioned, and look for other creative outlets. I have to keep ahead of the "stuff bug!"

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I'm with the others, sometimes I will pull out things in my closet and make outfits or maybe do a cull of a certain category, try everything on and make sure it still works for me. Sometimes I go to the thrift store, giving myself a budget or number of items - I can hunt to my hearts content and I don't do much damage to my pocketbook!

Unfortunately, being on YLF tends to make me want to shop, honestly, despite the wonderful folks here. Same with browsing websites and reading fashion magazines.

organza

I have a few online sites that I frequently shop. Often, I'll put items in my shopping bag or cart and leave them for at least 24 hours. More often than not, the items aren't as appealing when I come back to them.

doubleh

Veteran

No advice; just- I feel ya. Especially today; I have been following this thread to resist my online urges. So far, doing ok, so thank you. Hope it all helps for you too!

Maybe tomorrow I can offer my two cents- if the itch passes.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I go to Pinterest and look for inspiration. I search for either outfits by season or a specific article of color such as "red jeans" to find new ways to mix what I already own. If that doesn't fix the itch I search for a new accessory because I always have a wish list of a belt, scarf or jewelry in missing color. Even a pair of earrings soothe me.

unfrumped

Veteran

There can be 2 different issues for me: the time spent, or the $$ spent.
For the $$ aspect, I am getting more fun out of " retail research" without buying. I prefer real B&M stores so I can try on, feel the fabrics. I really want to keep up a functional, updated wardrobe and so it's finally dawned on me that I need to try things out and compare looks and fits and it's useful to find what does NOT work.
But, since too much time on that is not good for balance, then scheduling some more exercise, reading, or de-cluttering, plus going out with friends, are good antidotes.

Grey Rainbow

If it has to be wardrobe shopping, and books or art won't do, and the gym won't do, then I make lists. Packing lists for upcoming travel, capsule lists for next season, wardrobe holes lists related to those. Browse blogs and Pinterest to get ideas of what I'd like to wear in different locales related to what I like to wear here / climate and circumstances there. Then I try to figure out what is really, truly a hole , to reduce the list of what I think I need. But I usually fall asleep before I get to that point. Dig out those lists next time, and start over. I like making lists. It's soothing.

ETA, I do all my shopping on line (no time for B&M), so sometimes when I feel like shopping I fill carts and then embark on comparison shopping at site after site. Add a search for coupon codes and reading /searching reviews of potential items, and it's bedtime. I don't always get back to those carts right away. I've lost some coveted items that way, but as others have said upon return the luster is often worn off.

Gigi

Veteran

I too will shop online and just put the items in my shopping cart but not check out. If I really think I might want one of the items, I check the shopping cart a few days later to review the items. Usually by then the urge is gone and I don't feel bad deleting them from the basket.

I also play in my closet and try to think up new combinations of items to try. I also browse the Web to find inspirations and outfits to copycat. I also look online for new ideas of ways to style my hair to go with whatever my current style persona is.

bj1111

Veteran

i go online shopping. put a bunch of stuff in my cart then go to bed. by the next morning, i've forgotten what i wanted to buy.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Here's a contrarian option that I thought of today: what about a moratorium? Last year when I was losing weight it was actually a lot easier, or at least more straight forward, once I decided that I wasn't eating x or y for the time being. There was no "well, just this once" or "only on weekends" or "if I eat healthy for the rest of the day", it was a simple no to some foods for a certain amount of time. It takes self-discipline but it's really simple, you know? You don't have to constantly reinterpret the rules. So maybe an "absolutely no shopping until x time" would work for some people. Don't read the sales emails - unsubscribe from the lists or have them automatically filtered into a folder (the latter's what I do). Don't go to the mall. Don't tempt yourself by going into the clothing section of Target - get what you need and get out. Etc.

Suja

Veteran

No specific advice but I am enjoying this thread and learning SE good techniques. I'm like Viva, in that I am much pickier in store than online, which is why I am trying to shop stores more and online less.

Anonymous

If I can afford it, I shop for charities rather than myself. Finding a onesie for a baby on sale at Target scratches the itch. So does collecting warm used coats at garage sales in June that will be welcomed in December. I take them home and do any needed mending, wash them and sort by size.

Carla

Veteran

Mend clothes. Treat leathers. Polish shoes. Possibly do a little tailoring or alterations.

AJ

Veteran

Is there a splurge item that you've been dreaming of? Maybe remind yourself of how much closer you are to saving up for it when you don't buy that immediate temptation.