The Shopping Ban:
As a whole, not shopping for a year has been much easier than I expected. When I started, I imagined evenings spent staring longingly at the latest 40% off sale on the Banana Republic website or finding the perfect top in the perfect shade of blue and never being able to find something similar for the rest of my life. However, this was basically just fear and a dramatic mind.
As I am in Month 11, I am still purging and letting go of things I don’t really want or need.
Looking back, I think that pruning and purging is easiest towards the end, because the finish line is clearly in sight.
Here are a few tips for a shopping ban:
- Lessen the temptation as much as you can by avoiding clothing websites and avoiding going to malls or stores. For instance, make plans to get coffee or go on a walk with someone rather than meeting up to shop.
- Unsubscribe to all shopping and clothing related newsletters, emails and coupons. You can always re-subscribe once the year is up.
- Rearrange your closet. Re-framing allows you to see things that you’ve always had in a new light and with a new perspective. I did this a few times throughout the year and it was really helpful.
- Continue to purge and let go of things you don’t wear and don’t like. It’s much easier to walk into a closet of 15 items that you really enjoy rather than a closet of 100 items that you hate.
- Get creative. Choose 1 item that you love and see how many other outfits you can create with that 1 item. It might be a pair of jeans, a top, or even an accessory like a scarf or a special pair of shoes.
Treat Yourself: Commit to doing something fun for yourself once the year is over. For example, as I was cleaning out a storage container, I found a $100 bill that I had received as a present a few years ago. Although I found this bill months and months ago, I decided to save it to buy myself a new outfit in September when my year of no shopping is finished.
A word of advice: If you are rewarding yourself, make sure to set a specific dollar amount. By doing this, you are less likely to spend extravagantly or to impulse purchase things that you don’t need.
What about you? Do you think a shopping ban would be helpful for you like it has been for me? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo Credit: Jensine Lee
