What to do when...you...just HAVE to buy something? - YouLookFab Forum

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What to do when...you...just HAVE to buy something?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I do realise between this post and my confession on Mary K's thread about imagining pieces I have seen to be completely different than they really are, I'm probably painting a rather detailed image of my crazy mind...but today I just had to buy something...anything. (Fortunately I scratched my itch in quite a sensible manner by purchasing a vintage silk scarf from ebay £13.99 including the postage.)

Do you ever get the overwhelming compulsion to splurge? Please tell me it's not just me. How do you deal with the urge?

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32 replies

Latest reply was from san

catgirl

Veteran

Er, I think about splurging the way men think about sex - every 10 seconds. This is why I'm SYC. I need to figure out what triggers that urge to buy something NEW! NOW! Or throw a lip gloss in at the grocery store, or a shirt for me when I'm buying clothes for my son. Sigh.

Ljubica

I buy. A lot, and not sensibly at all.
BTW, the scarf is beautiful, very spring.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's not just you! Pretty scarf

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh AG, I felt the urge to splurge (is £13.99 a splurge?) because I feel like I SYC for 360 days of the year. I have a very sensible budget. I'm glad SYC is working for you:)

Ljubica and Angie, thank you for confirming this is a universal form of madness!

Lori

Veteran

You are so not alone - I buy, but sensibly, most of the time (and because my budget dictates).

Edited to add: Una - you sound just like me. . .

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Personally I find it to be a form of spring fever. As in, you just cannot take another dreary day of cold and/or snow and a beautiful floral scarf perks you up. Hey, it's either that or a Caribbean vacation.

Does that make you feel any better?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Yup, I do dream of sunshine, thanks Laura.

Lori, I'm glad to have a kindred spirit.

Laura B.

It's not just you!

When it gets the worst, I usually pick an item from my closet I don't wear a lot and try to come up with a new way to wear it. A previously unworn outfit is almost as good as a new one! That is a super cute scarf by the way

Queen Mum

Veteran

that is why I try to space my shopping out across the season. If I bought everything for summer in March and April, there is no way I'd make it until September to start shopping again.
And a scarf is a great low cost pick me up!

Deb

Fish gotta swim, girls gotta splurge!

Debbie

Veteran

I agree totally with Deb!

Louise

Veteran

Deb you are a hoot!! AG love you splurge and men analogy!! Julie yes sometimes I just gotta splurge too I guess it's a bit like chocolate x

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Totally agree with Deb! Gorgeous scarf.....I tried looking at scarves on ebay and was completely overwhelmed...something like 12,000 options came up! Oy!

April

Veteran

I generally give in to this urge.

Aida

Veteran

I have this from time to time as well Beautiful scarf, a good purchase you'll likely get some use out of! It'll look so pretty with your new hair!

Beth

Veteran

I give in, of course. Is there another option?!

And then I come home with Guilty Face and DH gives me his Stern Face but then he admits that whatever I bought looks really nice but could I please try to control myself next time...and then I promise but we both know I'm just promising to TRY and that no guarantees can be made.

taylor

Veteran

It is a struggle Everyday !

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

lol; that's totally me! I justify these things by using a coupon or a discount card, or rationale that my other top/skirt/pants is probably going to be bled on anyway :p

Stephanie

Veteran

You know, I often go thrifting/ebaying when I get this impulse, but I'm starting to think I would be better off to go shopping 'for real,' because then I could return my finds that weren't actually finds when I return to my normal, rational self. I'm sort of kidding but not really

stylemama

I'm with Taylor - it's a struggle every day. And the days we get shipment (twice a week) are very hard. All that new!! And all for Spring. Argh! To deal with the urge i try to just postpone the purchase day by day and sometimes it passes. Or i decide that what's coming next might be better. None of that helped yesterday on our very slow day when I left with a gorgeous necklace and 2 striped shirts. I feel your pain!

Elly

Veteran

I actually really dislike splurging, but that is probably because of what I associate it with. I tend to splurge on something dinky/get that itch to shop (but not for anything specific) when I am feeling bad about myself or my life. When I am feeling less than fab or when I have haven't had the opportunity to do anything but work or other non-fun things (like visit the docs) I get the urge to splurge. I will pick up makeup or skincare items from the grocery or pharmacy, Sometimes I will also go to the mall or the shopping district downtown, but that usually just makes me feel worse because of being unable to find something to fit/looks good (our selection is EXTREMELY limited) or I can't really afford(without shifting some cash)/justify like some awesome yet expensive high quality boots. I tend to end up with products I hate or a ton of less than ideal products sitting around I feel I have to use up (we currently have 4 partially used conditioners on the counter) or something comes up and I feel bad about spending the money frivolously, because it generally doesn't make me feel better for more than an hour or two-- definitely doesn't solve the problem.

On the other hand, my new haircut is putting some pep in my step because it FEELS FUN, even if I haven't decided if I like how it LOOKS yet.

Lena

Constantly.

It doesn't need to be something for myself. I love to get gifts for other people. I'm constantly looking for opportunities to give someone something (not huge splurges, just small gifts to make people feel better). Especially flowers.

Marley

Veteran

Yes I do - and I used to act on it - and end up buying a LOT of stuff that I would then end up eventually returning - but even then, I would "play with fire" and procrastinate returning it until the very last day that returns were allowed. I go in spurts - but my spurts can be in months or years - my last spurt was about 18 months - now, I have no desire really, but once in awhile feel like I've just got to buy something - that's when I transfer the energy onto something else - like walking, or drawing, or cleaning out a drawer, or writing, reading, etc. Usually, the itch goes away fairly quickly - but I never know when its going to rear its ugly head again!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh my, I'm definitely not alone. Some great strategies, thankfully when I splurge I do stick to my budget. I'm going to reread you advice and try to control the urge the next time ti hits.

You ladies are the best.

Lynne

Veteran

Julie, I cannot wait to see this beautiful green on you! You have a great fashion sense and if you are staying pretty much in budget most of the time then you are streets ahead of many people and I'm sure you'll be fine. Enough of the guilt, enjoy the beautiful scarf

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thanks Lynne, you are a gem.

Scarlet

Veteran

I think it is the female version of hunting or something. Of course I get this urge too. I always stay within budget, so it doesn't matter how small of a thing it is, as long as I am excited about it. That scarf will look great on you.

Lisa

Veteran

I have given in to this urge WAY too often, which is why I am SYC. Or keep trying too anyway.

lynne

Veteran

You're not alone. It hits me hard this time of year when its cold and gloomy and I'm tired of every single thing I own. I used to act on the urge and splurge on spring things that I couldn't even wear for months yet. Sometimes by the time I could wear the items I didn't even like them anymore, or found that they just weren't....great. Being more mindful when I buy and thoughtful about the reasons has helped.

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