Shopping: Out of Control?

Bluenotes - $5 graphic tee "I rock denim jeans, rad tees & lipgloss" Tessa, it's almost like your tagline cept yours is 'dope tees.'

I believe many women out there are guilty of excessive shopping even though we technically do need more than 10 pairs of heels to match our 20 (or more) different out fits. Don’t forget makeup and handbags! Without really thinking about it our shopping impulses are making holes in our wallets! I think it’s when the credit card statement arrives that gets us thinking about our expenses. It’s easy to get caught off guard shopping especially with all the sidewalk sales going on. I must say it was hard to resist buying all the $5 tees and tanks and $10 tops at Metrotown. We all have our moments so here’s what I came up with to discipline my shopping habits:

Budget it. Easier said than done and a very common piece of advice. Who follows budgets anyways? Nonetheless, this method works for me because I like to stick to my commitments. I feel very burdened when I budget $100 per month for shopping but end up going over. I usually update someone with my shopping expenses just to stay in line with my budget.

Be Practical. Too often we buy what we don’t need or too much of what we need. I think it was two years ago that I bought myself a snowboard jacket and pants at a warehouse sale. To this day I still haven’t gone snowboarding yet. Every year after that I see lots of snowboard jacket deals – even nicer styles. What about 3 for $25 deals or just buying in multiples? Most likely we don’t need three tank tops so why not split it with a friend?

Be Purposeful. Shop for what you came for. A lot of times I find myself distracted while shopping. I would be shopping for much needed career wear but then I'd see sales on casual clothes and I'd end up buying that instead. This totally defeated the purpose of my shopping trip and I really didn’t need any more casual clothes to add to the massive casual wardrobe I have already.

Sales Only. Buy it only when it’s on sale. That’s my philosophy. Well, you do lose out a bit on this one. Considering buying things on sale means that the product might be going out of season or style. But everything that goes out of style comes back again anyway, like wedged heels: Watch this clip (story of stuff) to see how that works. Most of the times when I do resist from buying a regular priced item I do find the same item on sale elsewhere. It takes patience and courage to say no. You can also expect to shop at places like Winners or Army&Navy for better deals. I bought my boots at Army&Navy for half the price of what they were selling for at the malls.

Bring a Buddy. Our friends might be shopaholics too but sometimes their opinions can convert yours. I opted out of buying a pair of shoes and a hoody while I was away in Kelowna thanks to my friend: “you can find a better one for that price,” and “those shoes make your feet look small.”

Lose the Credit Card. Spend cash only. Credit cards give us the convenience of shopping and shopping more. If you have trouble restricting yourself perhaps you can hand over your credit card to a trusted friend or sister. My friend knows to hand her credit card to her sister when she she's about to over spend.

Once and For All. What is the one thing you really want? Sometimes one big purchase satisfies you enough to not buy anything else for a while. While this could be effective to save you from many shopping trips, it can also be stressful as you are almost on a fast or a diet. I bought one item yesterday at Metrotown and even though it wasn’t expensive, I still had to make a choice between buying that one pricier item or many less expensive items.

Start a Fund. Help a charity or organization or better yet yourself. By contributing to a fund, this can help dispose your money in places where it’s much needed. Try sponsoring a child or donating to a cause that affects you. If not, there are probably other areas in your life that you can start funding for. I have my wedding fund to contribute to so by keeping that in perspective I strive to save my money for bigger priorities. For some of you it may be another kind of fund that needs your attention: student loan, car loan, a house, mortgage, debt etc.

Closet Check. Sometimes I realize I own something that I bought a long time ago but haven't worn yet. Clothes stuffed in the back of the closet are usually forgotten. It’s always good to check your closet once in a while so you don’t end up buying what you might already have.

Borrow It. Not everything will be worn more than once. Sometimes we just need a cocktail dress for that party or wedding. Why not borrow and swap clothes with friends?