Doesn't Food Come from the Ground?!

Can someone tell me why groceries are so expensive? Here I am on a shopping cleanse, trying to apply my need-only rules to grocery shopping and jesus christmas .. when did groceries become worth their weight in gold? I did a decent job of sticking to yesterday's shopping list - only added a few things: tomato juice (S&S brand!), special K bars (buy one get one free), yesterdays bagels ($1), wraps (so chris doesn't always have to buy them), peas (healthy & only $1) & low fat cheese. That, plus everything on the list -- which was a SHORT LIST -- racked up almost a $50 bill! What the...

Today should be an easy day - just heading to the gym & then to work so temptation shouldn't be too much of an issue. I think I have pretty much mastered the art of avoiding looking at merchandise right in the eye, or checking out the sale price signs, or getting too close to the clearance racks (who knows what might happen!?). Although I should probably put back all the cute tops I have hanging on my desk, just begging me to buy them... but I don't want anyone else to buy them! Then again, in three months I probably won't even want them anymore. So.. bye bye pretty clothes.. wah.

By the way...

Today will be a true test - the grocery store and Walmart. I need conditioner & some food for the house; I am not buying anything that is not on the list:
- Milk
- Conditioner
- Bananas
- Yogurt
- Eggbeaters
- Prunes
- Reduced Fat Wheat Thins
- Chicken

THAT'S IT! Cross your fingers for me, it's going to be a tough one...

Warning: may have adverse side affects.

It's been two days since my last post and it is because I have slept 12 hours each of the last two nights. I have been feeling sluggish & ache-y and I think not shopping is making me physically sick! If this isn't proof that shopping is a real addiction than I don't know what is. Maybe Promises Malibu should start up a shopaholic program for Hollywood's worst celebs. Or do they already have one?

Despite the illness, I have not cheated at all since I started! This is day 5 & I have not bought any new clothes, shoes, candles, any of the things I would have picked up here or there. I survived the mall shop-free & haven't gotten anything at work -- even though I found some killer deals, but they will have to wait.

However, I have been having nightmares about shopping..ridiculous! The other night I dreamt that I wanted to buy something (I don't remember what) and I knew I couldn't ruin the shopping cleanse, but I had such anxiety over it that I remembered the dream when I woke up, which is rare. I guess all of these physical symptoms are showing how deeply rooted every single part of my being is in shopping.

I've been having a bit of a debate on tanning -- not whether it is bad for you or not, because I know the whole argument, thank you -- but whether or not tanning (which I would have to buy sessions) counts as shopping or not. Personally, I'm leaning towards not because it's more self-improvement, like a gym membership, than purchasing an immediate-gratification type of product. What's more, is if I can't buy myself anything new to look cute in, I should at least get to feel glowing and tan -- and don't tell me that it's stupid because I know everyone feels better in a tan. It's the sexiest outfit I don't have to shop for ;)

Oh, Coach You Don't!

Day two. Successfully completed purchase-free! Although I was definitely tempted by some clearance prices at work & then to top it all off, I come home to a single piece of mail in the mailbox: a 25% off coupon for Coach! It's like the devil has my address. That coupon is sure going to be hard to use in 20 pieces at the bottom of my trashcan.. so take that!

I know it's early on, but a tiny bit of anxiety set in when I started thinking about the upcoming bachelor/bachlorette party in Boston June 8...for which I cannot buy ONE. SINGLE. THING. No new shoes to spice up an older outfit, no accessories, no outfit itself! I am going to have to actually choose an entire outfit -- head to toe -- from things I already own *sigh*. Yes, I know how ridiculous I sound.

Tomorrow I open at work & then am heading to the alcoholic's equivalent of a bar: the mall. I am meeting the bride there at Bare Essentials to test out some bridal makeup -- I already asked and no, I don't have to buy anything. That might get a little tricky if we end up doing bridesmaid makeup for the wedding -- but I'll cross that bridge when we get there. Maybe it counts as an "event" purchase?

The rest of my evening consists of dinner & bedtime so barring any compulsive internet purchases, we can write off day two as done and done.

Day One: Stopping the Shopping (sort of)

Oniomania: often colloquially referred to as shopaholic, is a medical term for the compulsive desire to shop. Oniomania is the technical term for the compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, shopping addiction or shopaholism.


I am, by definition, an oniomaniac. My name is Ellen, I am 22 years old, and I love. to. shop. Not in that uncomfortable, Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic way, or a bad episode of True Life or Intervention, I just love clothes, I love bargains, and I love the whole experience of shopping. I even enjoy the grocery store. Unfortunately (for me and my bank account) I work at a major retailer...not just of clothes, but of clothes, shoes, home goods, accessories, beauty, fragrance, you name it. And at killer prices that I cannot pass up. I know I don't need another work-out tank top, but at 60% off?! I would get $12.60 of looking cute on an elliptical machine out of that, I just know it!

I can rationalize any--and let me be clear: any--purchase to myself. And that is exactly why, after graduating college and paying off my outstanding pre-spring-break-wardrobe-rehaul and this-outfit-will-definitely-help-me-nail-this-interview and who-can-ever-have-enough-black-shoes credit card debt and working for an entire year, I have embarrassingly little to show for it.

I know it is a problem; I shouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck when I have no children, not much debt (car, one credit card, etc.) and an affordable apartment I share with my boyfriend. But I keep telling myself "I'll start saving...soon" and never do. Then, last night I read an article on AOL.com about a girl who went on a "shopping cleanse". It described a few obstacles and her eventual success with a five-month, no-shopping program. I was hooked! I love any type of program with RULES - South Beach Diet, group exercise class, etc. Left to my own devices, that little rationalizing voice in my head always gets the best of me: "What's one little fun size Twix, you are on your feet 8 hours a day anyway!", "If you can get through 30 minutes on the treadmill you'll be done..okay 20..okay let's just get 15, 15 and you can be done." It's the same voice that tells me, "Of course you need 6 pairs of sneakers: black, white with pink, white with green for non-pink outfits, plain white for all outfits, and silver because they are on sale."

So, after reading this article, I decided to do it. Instead of her 5-month program (that seems like cruel and unusual punishment, and I really don't want to break any laws here), I figured I would kick myself off on a 3-month shop-free stint. Exceptions: gifts (bridal shower in May, wedding in June, birthdays in July & August), events (concerts, movie tickets, bachelorette party), food & drinks, gas, bills, and necessities (cotton balls, tissues, tampons, ice cream). Basically I am restricted from purchasing any clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, perfume, beauty products of any kind, and the like. All the good stuff.

Today was day one and I did succeed in not buying anything for myself, but my friend's bridal shower is next Saturday and I had a few things left to buy so even though it wasn't directly to my benefit, I quenched my shopping thirst. Really, I haven't felt the burn of a purchase-free day yet, but I have nothing on the list for tomorrow besides coffee & gas, and they are on the freebie list.

So, wish me luck as I embark on this life-altering journey of not shopping for three full months. It's gunna be hard, and some days I am definitely going to put things on hold that I want to come back for, but won't, or tuck things behind a pile of folded pants in the wrong department to hide them from other customers until some unknown future date. I'm going to be crazy, but I'm not going to be shopping.