You guys, I hate to get all serious for a minute, but I really feel like it's time to talk about something that's been bothering me for a while. I'm kind of scared to admit it, for fear of being judged and/or laughed at, but I have a shopping problem. I shop too much, in a seriously bad way, and I have too much stuff (as you'll see in the photos below). My closet and makeup organizer are both overflowing, and my bank account is doing the opposite.
If I'm being totally honest, I've been pretty irresponsible over the last few years, using shopping to fulfill me when I've found myself lacking. The same way some people might overindulge in Ben & Jerry's when they're feeling depressed or lonely or bored, I've found the same comfort in shopping and buying and accumulating more Stuff. So now I have a crap ton of things that aren't making me happy, not really anyway. Instead, I have no savings, I'm always worried my car will break down because I can't afford to get it fixed, and I never have money to do fun things or travel to fun places. Oh sure, I have lots of fabulous shoes, but my shoes can't fly me to London or New York or Paris, now can they?
STOP IT
First things first. Flat-out Stop Shopping. For a full year, 365 days of no-buying, starting 1-3-13 (cuz 13 is my lucky number, so why not, right?). Anyway, that means I stop aimlessly browsing the online sales, stop scouring the web for coupon codes, and stop heading over to Target when I'm bored.
REMOVE TEMPTATION
I've unsubscribed to all the promo emails I receive (goodbye Old Navy newsletter and DSW shoe porn and SimplyBe sale lures). I'm also going to cut way back on the links to items I'm wearing in my posts. I'll still link to stores and sometimes items, but on rough days, searching out similar items will test my resolve more than necessary.
BE REALISTIC
The only money I'm allowed to spend on myself for clothes and makeup for the year is a $200 AMEX gift card I received at Christmas. If I need new underwear or I rip my last pair of black tights, there better be money left on the card or I'm out of luck. This will give me flexibility and a sense of control without causing damage to the process. It will also teach me to ask myself if I really, legitimately need something. Undies? Maybe. Another bottle of nail polish? Not so much.
THE GET-OUT-OF-JAIL-FREE CARD
The exception to this challenge is if I happen upon the perfect pair of slouchy-but-they-still-fit-right boyfriend jeans. I've been searching for a pair for years, and it'd be my luck to stumble across them during The Year of No Buying. Gift card or not, those suckers will be mine. Just so we're on the same page and whatnot. ;)
BE ACCOUNTABLE
I'll post my progress on the blog and keep y'all in the loop. I'll write about any AMEX purchases and keep a running tally in my sidebar. Any setbacks and you guys will know about it. If I'm accountable to y'all, then I'm being accountable to myself too, and that's totally what I need right now.
CLEAN IT OUT
The amount of stuff in my closet is overwhelming, so I'm making a list of Every Single Item in there so I can see what I have, including shoes, bags, jewelry, everything. I have a huge attachment to my Stuff, so I don't want to immediately start tossing things out, but if I don't wear an item at least 2 or 3 times by this time next year, I'm getting rid of it.
GET CREATIVE
I'm allowing myself to DIY items that I want, but only if I already have most of the supplies and I blog about it. No new fabric or sewing patterns, as I have a ton that I still need to use up. I'm still open to swapping with friends, sending presents, receiving review items, and helping my friend Hanna shop for things here in the US, but the shopping for myself needs to end.
Anyway, I hope you'll still come around and see what I'm wearing and how I'm doing with this challenge of mine! It's not going to become the main focus of the blog for the next year (that spot is reserved for my polkadots and shoe collection). Hopefully you won't get frustrated at seeing no new purchases, although I'm pretty sure I have enough clothes and shoes and whatnot to keep things interesting for a while.
Also, please let me know if you have any suggestions for me, or ideas that I haven't thought of! I'd love to hear any feedback y'all have. And as always, thanks for being awesome and coming on this journey with me. You're the best. :)
Also, please let me know if you have any suggestions for me, or ideas that I haven't thought of! I'd love to hear any feedback y'all have. And as always, thanks for being awesome and coming on this journey with me. You're the best. :)
xo
dani
I'm the same exact way, shopping when I'm sad or bored or whatever. Any excuse to shop. This post has inspired me to cut way way back. Your $200 limit for the year made me gasp, haha, so I think I'm going to start smaller and set a low, strict monthly limit for unnecessary clothing and accessories purchases. Anyway, I know you can do it! I've admired your ability to remix items since I first started following your blog, so it definitely won't get boring. Maybe to finance a cool trip you could hold another blog sale?
ReplyDeleteI totally support this decision...I too use shopping as a pick me up, and have been working really hard to rein it in. My mom was like this, and I see myself falling into the same habits, and it is scary. I stay home with my boys, and it's so easy to run to Target for whatever, but walk out with something totally unnecessary (because I really need one more scarf!). I did get rid of all the promo emails though, and that helped a lot because I'm not constantly inundated with SALE SALE SALE! I will totally be checking in here and reading about your progress, not only to root you on, but keep myself more accountable too.
ReplyDeleteI really relate to this post. Being bipolar myself, I recently had the horrible realisation that when I'm depressed I buy things and when I'm manic... I buy things! Not good. I wish you luck on your year long no spend. I think it'll be interesting to see your creativity in remixing your clothes and accessories. :)
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to the spending habits my account is far from healthy (considering I work 45 plus hour a week on a hood wage and live at hone)
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the luck in the world! in going to follow your amazing example and clear out my own wardrobe and unsubscribe to emails to remove temptation :)
x
www.be-a-goddess.blogspot.co.uk
I can relate to what you're writing and I am also planning on shopping less this year. I live in a one-room apartment with my boyfriend and it sets a natural limit for purchases. I'm really looking forward to following you on this journey and I wish you the very best of luck! I'm sure you can do it and I'm sure you're blog won't be boring; I love your style, you're so good at mixing it up. You're a true inspiration.
ReplyDeletewww.piece-of-my-mind.blogspot.com
I can also relate. I often buy things when I'm unhappy and I know it's unnecessary... but there are so many cute things, right?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely support your decision and I'm looking forward to seeing your outfits without newly bought items... and you inspired me to unsubscribe from all these promo emails. I'm going to do this right now!
You're very brave Dani for being so open. Best of luck - I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you for your honesty. I can definitely relate. My mom always took me shopping as a way to spend time with me when I was growing up so I've developed some really emotional ties to it. Awesome day? Shop to celebrate! Horrible day? Shop to feel better! I've gotten better about setting limits, but I've definitely considered an all out ban. I don't think I could commit to a year, so I'm excited to see how this year goes for you! You should save your old shopping budget every month and treat yourself to a trip at the end of the year!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a brave decision. I know exactly how tempting retail therapy can be. The experience is so close to an addiction with the highs during the shopping binge and that horrible feeling of guilt and shame when you come back down. Shopping is fun but when it's out of control it can take over your life. I mean when I was looking at the pictures you posted to illustrate your problem all I thought about was, "Boy, I really need to think about getting some more (insert unnecessary object here)." Add the convenience of internet shopping to the mix and we're all just screwed.
ReplyDeleteSo, what you are trying to do is incredible and inspiring! I cannot wait to follow along and see how it all turns out.
I can relate, and while it's always nice to have a full closet, it's kind of terrifying to watch the numbers in your bank account dwindle. I know you can do it, and I'll be rooting for you the whole time! :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'm such an emotional shopper, I am hoping to put an end to it. Just yesterday on Pinterest I stumbled upon a blogger that just completed a year without clothes shopping. She did a lot of outfit posts and also do quarterly updates. Don't know if you've seen it, but maybe it will help!
ReplyDeletehttp://f-e-s-t.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge.html
I think you should start a Big Cartel "yard sale" for the stuff you get rid of... hint, hint... :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you! I am the opposite of where you are at. With 2 kids there is NOTHING in my closet, what little money I have I spend on them, as a result I have lumpy out of date clothing. My best outfit is probably good fitting sweatpants. I'm hoping in this New year you save money and I save a new fashion sense!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful goal to have for 2013! Best of luck to you! :)
ReplyDeletemissericasunshine.blogspot.com
Aw, thank you so much everyone. I was super nervous to post about this, but y'all have just reconfirmed how amazing you are and how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends. I never really gave much thought that I might not be the only one struggling with shopping overload, but I've realized after reading all the comments, that I'm not as alone as I imagined. Thank you again, the kind words of support really cheered me up, and I feel lots better already. :)
ReplyDeleteOne has to be brave to talk like you did, to admit it and to take this hard decision. You have my admiration. And the hardest part is that I can totally relate to it. I know I shop (as well as I eat candy and chocolate) to fill a void, but that´s not the solution. You´ve been wiser and braver than me, and I hope you can achieve your goals. It´s even more difficult when you have a fashion blog and you have to show new and attractive outfits to your readers, but surely you will figure it out.
ReplyDeleteNot everything in our lives is happy and so shouldn´t be our blogs.
XX http://miramodernonosoybethditto.blogspot.com.es
Good luck with your challenge, I am like yourself in the fact that i get attached to things and find it hard to part with. One thing i have learnt though, turn the coat hangers around the other way and then when you wear something and put in back put it the right way around, then after 3-6 months pull out everything that is still the wrong way and look at them and decide, It really does help :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could do some more challenges to help use more of the clothing, shoes etc in your cupboard to help get through your no spending year :)
What an inspiring post! It's making me decide to cut down on my spending too as I feel it's just too much for my lifestyle and earnings. My main problem is online shopping, and mainly eBay where everything seems like a bargain! It's just that in the end, a thousand bargains equal a month's paycheck... Good luck with your resolution, and please keep us posted!x
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for being so honest and good luck!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand. You should think about doing a fatshionxchange on tumblr or having a small eBay store to make some extra money for that car-fix fund!
ReplyDeleteYou've got my full support! I know you can do this. :)
ReplyDeleteYay I'm so proud of you and excited for you!! You'll find that your life is really so much more full when you stop thinking about clothes and shopping all the time. (You'll also find that you can still look cute every single day.) Seriously email me if you need any support, I'm here for you.
ReplyDeleteXO,
Catherine
FEST
Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll do an awesome job. And in all seriousness, if you slip up here and there, you are way ahead of where you are now. On that note, may I pleeeeeease come and live in your closet? Please! ;)
ReplyDeleteWouw Dani first think that came to my mind: i'm so want to shop in your closet but i also recongize myself totally in your story. I also shop too much but thats another story. You can count on my total support . It's a super brave decision and i'm sure you'll succeed in it. I'll even join you... but only for a few months at the time. I tried it out last year and managed quite well but it also tuff when you're used to shop to fill in for something else. Reading the book Style yourself (found o beay) helped me a lot on picking the right items to keep and the others to get rid of. You can have a garage sale or organise a fullfigured sale and swap day. So you get some money on your account. You must have pieces you already know you won't keep, no? Hang in there girl! i'm sure you'll manage good luckxxxxx
ReplyDeleteWow! Big plan Dani! Good on you babe! I can't wait to read about how it all goes xx
ReplyDelete