I’ve had a shopping list for the last 8 or so years. It’s written in Notes and accessible to me on my phone or iPad. I add items though a year and sometimes delete if I change my mind. Generally, it is a list of reminders, kind of “needs and wants”. I feel certain satisfaction when I cross an item from the list. But analyzing last year purchases and had to stop and think. How I bought more than I planned and only a few pieces from the list? So, I looked closer at my shopping list. I can have two distinctive types: one is wants like “solid color summer pants” and other is more precise needs “white wide leg linen pants”.
I edit the first type all the time, I sometimes add too much or decide that it is not needed. These are more like ideas and I’m not surprised that I might not buy a lot from this category.

The needs category is for essential pieces and it is not fun to shop for them. I start looking but I give up when I can’t find a specific item that fits the way I want and in my price range. Some of these items are really hard to fit like a white linen shirt that must replace my threadbare 8 years old linen shirt from Gap. Mostly, these are plain, solid items that are backbone of my wardrobe and they are more often replacements for worn out garments. It is a boring part of shopping. When I shop in B&M stores I love to go in with an open mind and it is the way I find my more interesting and unexpected pieces.
My first purchase of 2023 are fun pants, “good to have” dress and a Marimekko t-shirt, a brand I try to collect when it goes on sale.
Time to get real. I split my list on needs and wants, needs would come first. I want to buy one item from this list a month, before I let me my grabbing hands loose.
So, a white linen shirt is coming with white sneakers to follow. I have 8 items on my list and they should come first.
Are you going to shop any differently? Do you think about shopping strategies?

1 year ago