Shopoholics

Giny Dougg

Hey there girls, I'm new here and I thought I will start with a discussion about shopping addictions. Are there any shopaholics here, I mean like serious shopaholics who have an addiction, because I'm one myself, I never actually though about It a lot, but I read an article today (it's pretty interesting if you want to check it ) which got me thinking, that I have problems, they are still small ones, but I'm just scared they will become a big one one, so just wanted to talk to you and maybe find woman who face the same problems or faced them in the past. What were your treatments?
P.S. I'm sorry if this is not the right category for this kind of topic, I'm new and do not know where to go.

6 years ago

Shopping

10 replies

Latest reply was from Mainelady

Anonymous

A really good resource is the blog "recovering shopaholic" and Debbys new one "full life reflections". She chronicles her attempts to shop mindfully and the pitfalls she encounters. Shes very honest about the journey of it-and has more resources too.
I wouldnt say I'm a shopaholic, though have certainly gone on overspending sprees from time to time. This year, the way I'm keeping it in check (for many reasons not just financial) is an item number limit for the year. Otherwise, I have the tendency to say "it's only _$". But those $20 or $40 or whatever impulse purchases add up quickly, and end up with overrepresentation in things like accessories but nothing left for the bigger needs. Writing down all your purchases helps.
Also watch for our monthly accountability threads- cause many of us are doing a number limit!

6 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi there Giny and welcome! That’s an interesting article, kind of astounding how much was spent in 3 months. I was also going to suggest Debbie Roes’s site “Recovering Shopaholic” as it has heaps of archives and help, I read her whole blog in 2016 when I realised I had a problem, and it in fact led me here to YLF.

6 years ago

Gretchen

Veteran

Interesting article, and good for her for noticing that she had a problem.

I don't feel out of control with shopping. But I have found that I want to be more conscious of the clothes I"m adding to my wardrobe. Tracking my wardrobe in a spreadsheet, and building a collection on this site, have been good ways for me to be more mindful, and make sure I"m not just focused on the new, or sold by a sale price.

6 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

So Giny I also track wears, like Gretchen above. I’ve done that since May 2016, on paper not a spreadsheet as it is quicker in the morning to tally up the items I’m wearing and put a mark on the page. It helped a lot and I think I probably got the idea from Debbie Roes. I’m trying to wear everything at least 30 times as per Livia Firth’s ( Colin Firth’s wife) campaign.

6 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I've had periods in my life where I wasn't as in control over my shopping as I would like. I had a few things that helped me.

The first was to indulge my love of fashion with cheaper items, such as accessories. So I wouldn't put myself on a shopping ban, but I would look for things like scarves or costume jewelry that don't cost as much as clothing.

For times when I really felt that I wanted to buy an item of clothing, I made myself stick to a very strict shopping list. I would make a "mood board" of pictures from online (see here for some instructions: https://anuschkarees.com/blog/.....boards-2-0), find out what patterns I was seeing, and stick only to pieces that were really reflected strongly in my mood board. I had a lot of success with this limiting my purchasing. If you're looking for very particular items and don't allow yourself to get sidetracked, you can spend a lot of time shopping but not buying.

You can also edit your closet. Pull out those items that you don't wear anymore, and donate them or get them altered, etc. If you have a consignment shop in the neighborhood, you can maybe sell some pieces. Those shops usually require that the items be laundered and ironed (and I usually soak mine in OxyClean too, to make them as pristine as possible), and all that prep usually takes quite a bit of time, thus eating into the time you would be using to shop.

Another thing to do is to focus your energies on "para-fashion" areas such as hair and nails. Watch some online tutorials for different hairstyles and try to re-create them, or buy yourself a bottle of nail polish and do your own nails. Or you wouldn't even have to paint them--sometimes just filing them and pushing back the cuticles can give you a feeling of satisfaction.

I also tried adding in other hobbies that would take up my time so I wouldn't have as much time for shopping. I used to play some musical instruments, so I took up practicing again. I also tried to learn a new language using materials available for free on our public library website (some public libraries have subscriptions to very good language-learning software). You could also challenge yourself to cook new recipes a certain number of times a week.

One last possibility is to try to spend more time with friends. You could have a simple "game night" with some board games. This is a lot of fun and costs very little.

6 years ago

Liesbeth

Veteran

Amazing strategies from Jenn and gigii. I got lots of helpful reactions too to my recent post: https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....a-question

6 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Giny Dougg -welcome....you might want to go back into the archives and look at some of the posts from a YLF vetern Lisa. she has written a book about shopping more mindfully..

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-its-fabul

https://www.amazon.com/Shoppin.....1_1?ie=UTF

6 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I have never spent more on clothing than I can afford, but when I started perusing YLF I had a bloated closet and much more than I wanted. Shopping had become a stress relief instead of a way to meet a need. I set up a nice program for myself but it took a few years. I started by trying to define my style. To do that I did tons of reading about color, shapes, silhouette, contrast, etc. I learned what I liked, and what worked for me. That enabled me to narrow down my wardrobe and eventually to cut back my shopping. There was a trial and error phase during which I made mistakes. As part of the above process, I defined a color palette which I love and stick with. I have adopted Angie’s terms of basics, essentials, statements and wild cards, because these have been helpful in sorting out whether I will make use something that I purchase. I also have a few wardrobe capsules, and when I make a purchase, items need to fit into one of my capsules. I keep my lifestyle in mind. I do not purchase for an imagined life, but for my current situation only. I established a budget which I stick with. I chose a monthly allotment, and if I do not spend it the money can carry over which allows me to spend more some months and nothing others. I set up a separate bank account with a separate credit card for my clothing allowance. I also try to evaluate my wardrobe to see what I may need, so I do not purchase the same items repeatedly. I do not ban myself from shopping, from looking at websites, or from reading about style. I keep my glasses frames updated. I try to update my makeup look once a season.

6 years ago

hereforthecake

Active Member

Good for you for being aware that you may be developing an issue with shopping.

I don't have a shopping addiction, but I know there have been times when I've gone shopping for either clothing or home decor, because I'm unhappy and looking for a way to fill a void. I really try to be conscious of it & aware of what I'm doing.

6 years ago

Mainelady

Veteran

Welcome! Awareness of our challenges is key to addressing them. I really do enjoy shopping, but am able to do so with restraint and within budget. I have lots of fun window shopping when in an area with great brick and mortar stores. I also enjoy viewing items online. YLF allows me to shop vicariously. It is really good for the wallet.

6 years ago

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