A Shopaholic's Guide to Not Shopping

A Shopaholic’s Guide to Not Shopping

As a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger, sometimes I feel like it is part of my job to push you to “buy this and buy that.” Wear the latest trend, always carry an expensive handbag, and you need this new makeup palette. Is it sustainable? No, have I worn everything in my closet? Absolutely not. I used to shop all the time, it was an escape from a job I did not like (hello escaping the office on my lunch break to head to the mall and buy something to temporarily perk myself before trudging back to my desolate office space where everyone wore jeans and polos anyway.

As years have passed and my priorities have changed I notice the little mind games I play in my head to walk away from items I’d love to own. I thought it would be helpful to share these tips with all of you since I doubt there are very many people that would not want to save more of their hard-earned cash. So here you are, a shopaholic’s guide to not shopping.

No.1 Look at Your Credit Card Transactions

Yes, I know this can be scary, but it is just something we have to do. Look at it. Look at the numbers adding up, see where you tend to go a little overboard (my weak spots are Amazon and Home Goods.) Then come up with a plan on how to cut spending at those places. I realized that nothing I buy at Home Goods I need, and half the stuff I have purchased on Amazon I have yet to use. That makes me hesitate to even go into the store or on to the website because I am aware I overspend there. Looking at your transactions also makes you realize how high your bill and helps limit the temptation to buy new things with that looming payment coming closer. I use Quickbooks Self Employed to track every penny, categorize it and

No. 2 Shop Your Closet

This is both fun and eye-opening. Perhaps you are like me and you actually like styling outfits. I lay them out on my bed with the accessories, shoes, and handbags along with them. Sometimes I’ll try them on, snap a photo and save it for later outfit ideas. Or I’ll hang it on a specific rack in my closet to wear for future occasions. You may be surprised at how many amazing things you already own. I implemented and shared the rule buy one, sell two in my post on tidying up your closet. It means for every one item I purchase, I have to sell or give two items away. It dramatically helps cut down on clutter and feels good to cleanout. A lot of my items go to charity and the rest get listed on my Poshmark closet. Selling your gently used pieces is a great way to make extra money!

No. 3 Avoid Temptation

Don’t even walk into stores that tempt you. Unsubscribe from the brand’s email lists, text messages, and unfollow on Instagram. If the temptation isn’t there, it won’t be missed. I promise you. Lately, I feel a surge of guilt if I try to sneak away to the mall or a store because I know I have a million other things I should be doing instead, like studying for my Real Estate license. So I just keep walking or keep driving home reminding myself of the bigger picture and setting distractions aside.

No. 4 Set a Bigger Financial Goal

Is there a larger financial goal you would like to reach? Say buying your first property, a designer handbag, a trip to Paris, or paying off debt? Think about that goal and how amazing it would feel to have that dream come true. I do this whenever I find myself drifting toward a store I know I have no business being in. I look at a pair of shoes and think, I have so many beautiful shoes already in my closet that I can barely find space for.” I would much rather have a house with a walk-in-closet to put them all, then yet another pair of shoes I don’t need. And then it is even easier to set them down and walk away without ever giving them a second thought.

No. 5 Save Your Money

There is one particular way of saving money that has worked really well for me over the years. Automatic deposit into a savings account. Every month my bank automatically sends $25 from my checking into my savings. When I had a bi-weekly paycheck, 20% was automatically deposited into a savings account that I didn’t see unless I logged into that specific account (that was separate from my primary bank.) Since I did not physically have to transfer the money myself and never saw it, it was like it didn’t exist so I did not miss it. When I finally logged in to check out the balance, it was always a pleasant surprise just how much I had automatically saved and could then spend towards a nice vacation.

What are some of your tips that you would add to a Shopaholic’s guide to not shopping? I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below! xoxo,
Laura