SHOPAHOLIC GONE COLD TURKEY: LESSONS LEARNED
“Whoever said laughter was the best medicine obviously never shopped with me. Obviously.”
The excitement of a “65% off sale” or even better, an “additional 25% off clearance” sign used to be like a shot of electricity through my body. It fueled me. Imagine the discounts! Banana Republic, Macy’s, and New York & Company were a few of my favorites. Wallets, handbags, eyeglasses, tops, dresses, and coats. You name it, I had it and in different colors. The list goes on, scarves, body sprays, shoes, underwear, workout out clothing, and costume jewelry. Buying any and every lavish thing with a great discounted price was the target. Hmmh, those were the days! I was finding quality pieces for my wardrobe that initially did not break my wallet. It was retail therapy and could you blame me? Shopping and curating ravishing unique looks were included in my job description. Then the clutter hit and I realized these behaviors were leading me down the road to an issue facing many Americans. Overconsumption. I was at an unsustainable level of stuff in my home.
“Don’t just change, transform.”
After that epiphany, I decided to go on a “No Shopping Fast” for a year. Yes, you read that correctly. I went rogue. Although difficult to execute, the guidelines were pretty simple. No shopping for accessories (including handbags and jewelry), clothes, and shoes for a full year. The length of time may sound extreme, but the reality was even more severe. My closet was bursting with more than enough outfits to wear for an entire year. Not to mention that included not repeating the same look twice. Let that sink in.
“Instead of thinking I am losing something when I clear clutter, I dwell on what I might gain.”
You know that peace and calmness you feel when you have made up in your mind to do something despite its difficulty level? Well that is the space I was in during the fast. I was content with the challenge of not adding anything else to my wardrobe and I did not have many temptations. I suppose my disgust for my current reality was greater than any deal on a new pair of shoes or vintage blazer. All signs were signaling the need to declutter and there was such a shocker when I embarked on that daunting task. After the first five sets of large black trash bags, I was surprised to see thousands of dollars of my own money being escorted out of my bedroom to my front porch for a donation pickup. Flabbergasted! I was wasting my money to the point where I am now giving it away in trash bags. Wake. Up. Call. It is at that point a total transformation began with a renewed mind. I was delivered from the itch to jump at every sale that I came across.
Influenced by the fast, I took an intentional approach to utilize every item in my closet and possession. The wardrobe items neglected was finally being used. The time spent decluttering helped me to take inventory of my wardrobe and provided the freedom to let go of items that no longer served my purpose and current style. Shopping is now even more purposeful. A couple years later and I can still reflect on how the fast transformed my mind and shopping habits.
Use the checklist below to see where you are and if a fast may be needed to reset your shopping habits and mindset. Are you a borderline shopaholic? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email to connect one-on-one. Do you know a friend that can benefit from this blog post? Then definitely share.
