Recovery : A Former Shopaholics Thread

[Desi]

I tried to fall off the wagon when The Corner had its CyberMonday sale but I was at work when the boots I wanted sold out.

 

[Psylocke]

Today the DHL delivery guy told me had had started to miss me because he hadn't seen me in so long, I take that as a sign that I've been good, lol. I've been ordering lots of cosmetics, hair dye and lingerie this season but haven't got any actual clothes and shoes. I'm saving up and will go on a major spending spree when I'm in London after Christmas

 

[softgrey]

you know what's kind of annoying though?
watching someone you know buy something that you said you wanted to get but didn't because you are being good...
it's kind of a cruel and unusual thing for a so-called friend to do, isn't it?...

...

all i can say i they better not wear any of that stuff around me or even talk to me about it or they are going to get a piece of my mind...
'nuff said...

 

[luckyme]

talk to them. its best for the friendship and may have been unintentional to have pulled the rug from under you.

 

[cestmagique]

so she/he shouldn't get what you wanted because you can't have it? as long as they didn't do it just to mess with you I don't see what the problem is.

anyway on topic, I have a definite shopaholic tendency but usually I'm too practical to spend any big money... most of my 'luxuries' are really quite cheap though

 

[MulletProof]

Around 2007-2008 I was buying everything, I had an okay job, zero debts, zero bills to pay.. then I moved to another country where I didn't have access to any of the 'treats' I had gotten so used to, I realised I'd buy if I was happy, buy if I was sad, buy if I was bored, buy in my free time, I was ALWAYS buying stuff, from super cheap books, exotic veggies, fancy takeout to vintage jewelry, it wasn't so much about the price or even about spending money, I just wanted to see new things and the only way for that was acquiring them of course, and in order to acquire something you have to spend some money on it right? , I've never been the type of person that gets addicted to shoes or bags and I never even thought I was too attached to buying stuff.

Anyway, not only I became very broke all of a sudden but the fee for international transactions was crazy so it was cold turkey for me, and it felt harsher because at that time I was very lonely and miserable and I had nothing to 'treat' myself with, nothing that I considered a treat that is!, I was very down for a while (not as a shopaholic that can't get that pair of shoes but as someone that couldn't even shop ), then slowly and quite unconsciously built an entire routine around a 1 dollar coffee in my nearby café, I had been there before but channeling my need to a new "tradition", as ridiculous as it sounds, was a relief, homesickness didn't go away but at least its major side-effect did, I started exploring new cafés, bakeries and then, I got bored, but by that time the impulse of buying things had already disappeared, and it's been some years and even though I still drool over certain items, for some reason, I don't really feel like getting them. I've bought like 4 pairs of shoes this year, and it feels great, I'm actually more pleased with my closet than I was around the time I wanted to have everything in it, you definitely think less about trends or exploration, and just want something that speaks to you and can stay with you for a long time.. for me it definitely was not about being eco-friendly or less capitalist , I hated it when I couldn't buy the things I wanted and it certainly took a real exile for that to happen but I feel a lot 'lighter' now. [*Lifetime music*]

 

[kokobombon]

I just love when sale starts and I don´t love anything, it´s so much easier to not spend
I recently stopped buying so much clothes and shoes cause I´m running out of space so my new mantra is the same as Fewormany "Know the difference between what you want and what you need." Do I want 5 different black flats? yes. Do I need them? nope, move on...

 

[softgrey]

not buying new clothing is definitely helping me to wear more of my best stuff more often...

i only bought one thing this season...which i love love love...
and it's all good...

 

[ChrissyM]

i went a bit crazy over the holidays when it came to spending, but i feel like i'm back on track

i know it hasn't been too long into the new year, but i haven't bought anything yet (or been tempted to buy anything )
BUT... I'm going to paris next week, for a week, with my boss...
i don't know if i'll be able to hold out
we'll see what happens...

I'm definitely determined to shop my closet more though and some of the new things i've bought are helping me wear some of my older purchases.
i have an incredible proenza schouler skirt that i pulled out and wore today because i finally have a pair of shoes (a great pair of brown perforated DVF pumps with a rounded toe, slightly chunky heel and small hidden platform) that work really well with it.
love when that happens

i'm determined to pull out more oldies but goodies, but am also doubly determined to only buy things that i LOVE
i will with any luck have a mortgage payment to budget for in the near future so i want to be really responsible with my spending.

 

[softgrey]

i fell off the wagon slightly this weekend...
but i was still very specific and very much under control...
made a select few, very considered purchases...


good quality and good design for good prices...
it's all good...
...

 

[helena]

^^^ ok matey.....fess up.....

 

[ChrissyM]

i was doing well...
hadn't shopped since before christmas, but then i stopped in a store and bought a bunch of stuff

BUT, I didn't have time to try on while I was there and ended up bringing back all but two items, so it wasn't bad (I ended up keeping a black Rebecca Taylor blazer and a star print See by Chloé dress... totaled a little less than $150 by the time I got my returns done)

I ended up buying 4, nay 5, more things when I was doing my returns but I still came out having spent less than what I returned. Small victory!
And I'm taking a few of the new things with me to Paris when I leave tomorrow

I feel like I'm justifying...
I really just need to not step foot into a TJMaxx... I always end up finding good stuff because I go to the ones in affluent communities where they have $$$ designer stuff discounted to such a degree that it makes it hard to pass up.

 

[softgrey]

seriously--- save that money for shopping in PARIS!!!...
...

helena-
i find that it's a little bit like a drug...
once you start...it's hard to stop...
there's one more thing i have my eye on and i can't decide on right now...
...

 

[lucy92]

i spent 5 hours on saturday photographing and listing clothing and accessories i need to get rid of for ebay...it was arduous...it's taking me more time to get rid of these things overall than actually buying them in the first place! lesson learned i guess!

Ideally, i'd like to get rid of half my stuff (either by donating it or selling it) and i'm nowhere near done (maybe 1/20th of the way there) i'm dreading it..because i know where are hundreds of dollars worth of alterations and dry cleaning that i need to get done of some of the stuff that i am planning on keeping.

i feel like its a task on par with Colonel Fawcett trying to reach the lost city of Z in the Amazon.

a lot of other people i'm close to are on downsizing missions. getting rid of some of their books and clothing...pressure is on!

i never find anything good at TJ maxx clothes wise. all the runway stuff is usually full priced where i shop. or its clothes that have already had their passing moment (ie j brand love story wide leg jeans)

 

[luckyme]

well, with the great sales i am totally off the wagon.

 

[softgrey]

good for you listing stuff lucy!...
...

looks like i'm safe...
i got over that one thing that i was obsessing over...

and now i think i am returning one of the things i got at barneys...

i did get a couple of other things though-
one that was quite unexpected and which is ...

 

[luckyme]

seriously--- save that money for shopping in PARIS!!!...
...

helena-
i find that it's a little bit like a drug...
once you start...it's hard to stop...
there's one more thing i have my eye on and i can't decide on right now...
...

how did i miss this? LUCKY YOU

 

[ChrissyM]

I did some really good shopping in Paris wub but I feel like I'm back on the wagon now, I hope!

I'm pretty sure everything I got while there was by French brands also, which was satisfying... and they have sales going on now which also helped...

I got a ring at YSL, bracelet at Hermes, sweet top by Sonia Rykiel, really lovely rabbit fur with mink collar coat by Tara Jarmon (in black), classic striped Petit Bateau sweater, and a Longchamp expandable travel bag to fit all the new purchases doh

Also got a couple Revillon Freres prints/original lithographs from 1913 at the flea market (Marché aux Puces)

My self-imposed shopping ban is now back on in full effect.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Opened two new savings accounts, one of which is for holidays, the other for real estate upgrade.

SO: I need to try hard, hard, hard to stop shopping so much!!

LaGarconne has an extra 20% off sale items promo this weekend, so I bought 4 things which were 50% which means got all for 70% off. I don't feel too badly because of the prices.

BUT, I have to hold back now!! MUST!!

Maybe some boots on sale if I see a good pair, and some summer jeans.

Trying so hard to save.

Glad this thread is here. I will try to touch base and use it as encouragement.

 

[softgrey]

^^good luck with the savings plan...

i bought a pair of boots but immediately regretted it...
they are going back tomorrow...

also got new laces for some old shoes...they look AWESOME!...
i'm keeping those...
...

oh, and i bought a bunch of pleather from h&m............
not sure what that is about...
and not sure if i'm keeping those either...
*i mean...do i really need a blk pleated pleather miniskirt...?...
it's just so cute!...
.........