So it's been a while since I last updated, which is good in the sense that it's because I have been busy. It's bad in the sense that I have been busy trying to cure myself of this deeply-rooted shopping addiction! I got pretty cocky for a while, thinking "this is easy" and not taking it too seriously. I would pick out clothes at work and throw them on the hook next to my desk for when I was through the shopping cleanse and could buy freely once again.
Then I realized: putting things on hold for later is STILL SHOPPING! *exasperated sigh* So I'm obviously not cured, because I shop all the time, just don't actually buy anything.
So the next step has been to really, truly, actually stop SHOPPING. Start to finish. No picking out cute heels thinking "I'll get them later;" no grabbing that clearance top now and putting it on hold indefinitely because it might be gone when I can buy it! No online, window, or ebay-browsing shopping. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None.
This realization was a tough one, because how do you just stop coordinating mental outfits? How can you control your fashion-centered thoughts? No, really, how?
Next problem: I am a finalist in a competition I entered at work. The company is flying me to New Jersey to present in front of a panel and other leaders in the company. First thought: I need a new suit, STAT! Next thought: Oh sh!t, I'm on a shopping cleanse! This is definitely shopping, no way around it. To buy a new suit would be completely and blatantly disregarding the rules of the cleanse and ultimately failing. So, uh, what now? Most of my suits were purchased when I was 3 sizes bigger, so those are out. I have one suit that might make the cut ($600 marked down to $60 in a Lord & Taylor closing sale!), but jacket only because the pants are gold silk. The jacket is pretty heavy, so it might be too much for June 17. That leaves my go-to work wardrobe. I think--THINK--I can make it work with a black pencil skirt, a cute tank (white leopard, perhaps?), and a short sleeved suit jacket from Forever21.
Unless someone has a size 0,2,4 (depending on the brand) adorable, summer appropriate suit they want to lend me for two days?! .... pencil skirt suit ensemble it is!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Making Change
The last few days have been a real success:
- Returned the margarita glasses +$8
- Cashed in a scratch ticket +$4
- Brought all my change to CoinStar +$30
But, I can't take it too lightly because just when I think "Oh, this is getting too easy!" I realize that yes, it's easy to program myself to ignore the deals at work, and yes it's easy to avoid buying clothes when I stay out of the mall, but the shopping extends farther than that. I went to Home Depot yesterday to buy a hanging planter for the mint plants I got at the bridal shower. Did I need a hanging planter? Of course not. It's not that easy to just avoid buying things!
Even at the grocery store, I tend to over-buy: "Oh, maybe we'll have pizza next week and the crust is only $3 today! and what a great deal on these big bags of broccoli/chocolate milk/crackers/cookies/other thing not on my grocery list". Today I was able to keep my groceries under $20, but I didn't buy any fresh produce or protein...and I did dig through some of the back-corner-of-the-grocery-store deals (Luna Bar for $0.66!).
I guess the plus side is that I completely guilt-trip myself with every purchase and end up returning it -- I just have to get to the point where I don't buy it in the first place!
And God only knows what will happen when I do get myself into a mall/outlet store... dun dun DUN...
- Returned the margarita glasses +$8
- Cashed in a scratch ticket +$4
- Brought all my change to CoinStar +$30
But, I can't take it too lightly because just when I think "Oh, this is getting too easy!" I realize that yes, it's easy to program myself to ignore the deals at work, and yes it's easy to avoid buying clothes when I stay out of the mall, but the shopping extends farther than that. I went to Home Depot yesterday to buy a hanging planter for the mint plants I got at the bridal shower. Did I need a hanging planter? Of course not. It's not that easy to just avoid buying things!
Even at the grocery store, I tend to over-buy: "Oh, maybe we'll have pizza next week and the crust is only $3 today! and what a great deal on these big bags of broccoli/chocolate milk/crackers/cookies/other thing not on my grocery list". Today I was able to keep my groceries under $20, but I didn't buy any fresh produce or protein...and I did dig through some of the back-corner-of-the-grocery-store deals (Luna Bar for $0.66!).
I guess the plus side is that I completely guilt-trip myself with every purchase and end up returning it -- I just have to get to the point where I don't buy it in the first place!
And God only knows what will happen when I do get myself into a mall/outlet store... dun dun DUN...
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Win, win, win!
Sometimes the shopping cleanse is easy, other times it is so hard.
Easy: I used that $10 bounceback to buy something for exactly $10 and then return it for store credit, which has no expiration & I can save for post-cleanse!
Easy: I found the box for the margarita glasses, and the receipt, so I can return them & get the money back on my debit card!
Hard: We had a $575 2 carat diamond tennis bracelet on sale at work today for $76 after all my coupons and discounts...I was literally salivating. But I had to resist! No diamond bracelet is worth giving up my cleanse (and pride).
So I have to say, so far, so good... I'm actually really excited to get to a point in the cleanse when I am not buying birthday gifts, graduation gifts, mothers' and fathers' day gifts, bridesmaid stuff, and can actually start reevaluating my finances and coming up with budgets (anyone who knows me knows I love lists) and seeing my money make money!
As far as the cravings, that is the hardest part. I literally crave possessing things - today for example. Today I wanted to buy: a TapOut t-shirt, a pair of black ankle boots, kitchen towels, wall-art, a white frame, that diamond bracelet, a coach wristlet, and travel sized "viva la juicy" perfume. I'm not even making any of that up, that is literally a list of things that I saw or thought about today and planned on buying until the big bodyguard in my head beat down the offending thoughts into a poor, shopless, pulp.
I may never be cured of the thoughts, but the cleanse is helping me flex my self control muscles. It's like Bank-Account-Boot-Camp, and I'm just getting warmed up.
Easy: I used that $10 bounceback to buy something for exactly $10 and then return it for store credit, which has no expiration & I can save for post-cleanse!
Easy: I found the box for the margarita glasses, and the receipt, so I can return them & get the money back on my debit card!
Hard: We had a $575 2 carat diamond tennis bracelet on sale at work today for $76 after all my coupons and discounts...I was literally salivating. But I had to resist! No diamond bracelet is worth giving up my cleanse (and pride).
So I have to say, so far, so good... I'm actually really excited to get to a point in the cleanse when I am not buying birthday gifts, graduation gifts, mothers' and fathers' day gifts, bridesmaid stuff, and can actually start reevaluating my finances and coming up with budgets (anyone who knows me knows I love lists) and seeing my money make money!
As far as the cravings, that is the hardest part. I literally crave possessing things - today for example. Today I wanted to buy: a TapOut t-shirt, a pair of black ankle boots, kitchen towels, wall-art, a white frame, that diamond bracelet, a coach wristlet, and travel sized "viva la juicy" perfume. I'm not even making any of that up, that is literally a list of things that I saw or thought about today and planned on buying until the big bodyguard in my head beat down the offending thoughts into a poor, shopless, pulp.
I may never be cured of the thoughts, but the cleanse is helping me flex my self control muscles. It's like Bank-Account-Boot-Camp, and I'm just getting warmed up.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Houston, we have a problem!
I have free money and the only way to use it is to shop.
What it actually is is one of those bounceback coupons from the big stores ... spend $50, get $10. Well, I spent at least that much on Alli's bridal shower gift, and now I have this $10 that has to be spent in the store. So I stressed a little about this for the last few days -- one the one hand, shopping for myself is completely against the rules, but on the other hand, part of the point of this cleanse is to become more responsible with money, and it doesn't seem very responsible to throw away free money! I think I have come to a reasonable solution: I will spend the money on wrapping paper and cards for the bridal shower gift and my mother's day gift. Money not wasted, rules not broken!
Which brings me to another problem - I may have broken a rule.. sort of. We invited friends over for cinco de mayo last night and I made margaritas. I only had 2 margarita glasses (for myself and Chris - last summer's clearance thankyouverymuch!) and thought it would be awkward to have some people with margarita glasses and others without. I went to Marshalls to see what they had both for glasses and for Margarita mix (I have the pretty basic Jose Cuervo + 60 cups of sugar liquid mix). They did in fact have better mix, but I decided to go with the stuff I had at home to not waste money. But -- I did end up getting margarita glasses! ACK! $7.99 for 4. I felt so guilty about it I wanted to return them today but realized Chris had already taken out the trash and the Marshalls bag & receipt were in it *wah*. So even though it is no more for me than something I buy for the cat, I felt guilty about it & I'm going to sacrifice something else (TGIF appetizer - $8, food after a night out with the friends, a movie ticket, SOMETHING) to make up for it. At least it wasn't shoes! right?
What it actually is is one of those bounceback coupons from the big stores ... spend $50, get $10. Well, I spent at least that much on Alli's bridal shower gift, and now I have this $10 that has to be spent in the store. So I stressed a little about this for the last few days -- one the one hand, shopping for myself is completely against the rules, but on the other hand, part of the point of this cleanse is to become more responsible with money, and it doesn't seem very responsible to throw away free money! I think I have come to a reasonable solution: I will spend the money on wrapping paper and cards for the bridal shower gift and my mother's day gift. Money not wasted, rules not broken!
Which brings me to another problem - I may have broken a rule.. sort of. We invited friends over for cinco de mayo last night and I made margaritas. I only had 2 margarita glasses (for myself and Chris - last summer's clearance thankyouverymuch!) and thought it would be awkward to have some people with margarita glasses and others without. I went to Marshalls to see what they had both for glasses and for Margarita mix (I have the pretty basic Jose Cuervo + 60 cups of sugar liquid mix). They did in fact have better mix, but I decided to go with the stuff I had at home to not waste money. But -- I did end up getting margarita glasses! ACK! $7.99 for 4. I felt so guilty about it I wanted to return them today but realized Chris had already taken out the trash and the Marshalls bag & receipt were in it *wah*. So even though it is no more for me than something I buy for the cat, I felt guilty about it & I'm going to sacrifice something else (TGIF appetizer - $8, food after a night out with the friends, a movie ticket, SOMETHING) to make up for it. At least it wasn't shoes! right?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tis The Season...
I noticed last night driving home from work at 7:30pm that the sun was still out, and then again this morning at 5:30am.. the days are getting longer and longer. Usually this is exciting for me because I love summer, but because I'm on this shopping cleanse, it seems a little unfair. Longer days means more hours I want to shop! If anyone else out there plans to do a cleanse themselves, let me recommend starting in winter, when it's socially acceptable to hole up in your apartment for hibernation season.
I also noticed that exercising sooooo much willpower on resisting shopping may be draining my willpower reserves for other things, like controlling calorie intake. I went to Dunkin Donuts yesterday for some egg-white wakeup wraps (2 for dinner!), and they screwed up and gave me regular egg. The girl noticed and made me two new ones with egg white...and I ate all four! Seriously, I just sat in my car running errands chowing down on these little breakfast wraps one after the other for ten minutes. Where is my dietary judgement!? Oh, I know, sucked up by my anti-shopping campaign.
Ironically, the numbers don't lie, and when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down (?!) a few pounds from last week (but I also ate like a water buffalo on vacation in Cancun two weeks ago so I suppose it couldn't get any WORSE), which made me wonder about when this shopping cleanse is over...will I head into the nearest Express and slip into a size 0 jeans? Or will I head over to Lane Bryant for a new wardrobe? If I don't start spreading my willpower over multiple areas of my life (and general consumption), I think all my hard work in not shopping will be undone in having to buy a new wardrobe 2 sizes bigger!
But in my defense, I did wake up at 5:10am this morning to head to BodyPump class at Gold's & then went for a 30 minute cardio workout on the elliptical so some semblance of willpower is still intact...now just to keep this up so that when I do finally splurge on a pair of True Religions, they can be a 26 or 27, not a 40 (is that even a size?)
By the way, check out www.softpaws.com ...Cinco de Mayo colors for Ari?
I also noticed that exercising sooooo much willpower on resisting shopping may be draining my willpower reserves for other things, like controlling calorie intake. I went to Dunkin Donuts yesterday for some egg-white wakeup wraps (2 for dinner!), and they screwed up and gave me regular egg. The girl noticed and made me two new ones with egg white...and I ate all four! Seriously, I just sat in my car running errands chowing down on these little breakfast wraps one after the other for ten minutes. Where is my dietary judgement!? Oh, I know, sucked up by my anti-shopping campaign.
Ironically, the numbers don't lie, and when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down (?!) a few pounds from last week (but I also ate like a water buffalo on vacation in Cancun two weeks ago so I suppose it couldn't get any WORSE), which made me wonder about when this shopping cleanse is over...will I head into the nearest Express and slip into a size 0 jeans? Or will I head over to Lane Bryant for a new wardrobe? If I don't start spreading my willpower over multiple areas of my life (and general consumption), I think all my hard work in not shopping will be undone in having to buy a new wardrobe 2 sizes bigger!
But in my defense, I did wake up at 5:10am this morning to head to BodyPump class at Gold's & then went for a 30 minute cardio workout on the elliptical so some semblance of willpower is still intact...now just to keep this up so that when I do finally splurge on a pair of True Religions, they can be a 26 or 27, not a 40 (is that even a size?)
By the way, check out www.softpaws.com ...Cinco de Mayo colors for Ari?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
One Week Down, 11 to go
Sunday night and the first week of the shopping cleanse comes to a close. I think I did pretty well; some highs (not buying any clothes, shoes, accessories, or home decor), but had a low here and there (I had to exchange foundation shades and the new shade was $3 more expensive!, bought too much food & drink through the week). Not too bad for a recovering addict!
Going into week two, I definitely am going to try to cut back on all purchases - including food and drinks. I know I can't sacrifice my morning iced coffee (sorry to all of you out in the Northshore suffering through the water crisis!), so I will have to cut back on eating out and getting drinks out (soda water with lemon from now on).
The more I cut back, the more I come up with creative ways to get what I want - so these next few weeks are going to be about maintaining my lifestyle without forking over all the cash... I'm open to suggestions for date nights, fun stuff to do, whatever's cheap or free!
Just call me "recession chic".
Going into week two, I definitely am going to try to cut back on all purchases - including food and drinks. I know I can't sacrifice my morning iced coffee (sorry to all of you out in the Northshore suffering through the water crisis!), so I will have to cut back on eating out and getting drinks out (soda water with lemon from now on).
The more I cut back, the more I come up with creative ways to get what I want - so these next few weeks are going to be about maintaining my lifestyle without forking over all the cash... I'm open to suggestions for date nights, fun stuff to do, whatever's cheap or free!
Just call me "recession chic".
Public Service Announcement
Keeping in mind the theme of this blog, I would like to address all the people out there who are still shopping:
Fellow shopaholics - there are many things you need with you when you shop: your wallet, Hello Kitty debit & credit cards, ID, cellphone to get online coupons & cross check purchases with friends, coupon-folio if you are that type of shopper, and your reusable, eco-friendly shopping bags. There is one important thing you do not need when you are shopping: a bad attitude.
Speaking as both a retail employee and as someone who gets uncomfortable when I witness a store employee being ripped a new you-know-what, I beg you all to leave the holier-than-thou mindset, along with the list of your demands, at home. Imagine that you are the employee of whatever store you happen to be in - do you want people invading your personal space, demanding things beyond your control, and taking out their anger over a bad hair day on you? Of course not.
Shopping is a fun hobby/sport/addiction, and the thrill of the purchase is only magnified when shared among friends (or customers & employees in this case). Don't dishonor the process by metaphorically crapping all over anyone that tries to help you get what you want.
Of course, you will come across a store associate that makes you wonder if evolution really is a myth, but you encounter those people in all facets of your life and I'm pretty sure you don't point your finger in each one of their faces and tell them what to do with their measly 10% coupon. Just because people have less money overall does not make you the queen of shopping simply because you decided to go into a store. What happened to the good old days when you used proper manners with anyone you met? When being polite was not optional, and those people that weren't polite were the ones who stuck out like a sore thumb? Isn't it sad that while I am working, if I say hi to a customer they look over their shoulder to see who I'm saying hi to? Why can't we be friendly?
This isn't a rant, because there are still some gems out there that make associates' jobs easier, who respect the art of shopping and are so happy (like me) while shopping that really nothing but a store without a single thing on sale could get them down. This is a request for each of you to think twice before you call the teller stupid, roll your eyes at the cashier, or stomp your foot at the manager. Misery loves company, but smiles are contagious. It's your call.
Happy shopping!
Fellow shopaholics - there are many things you need with you when you shop: your wallet, Hello Kitty debit & credit cards, ID, cellphone to get online coupons & cross check purchases with friends, coupon-folio if you are that type of shopper, and your reusable, eco-friendly shopping bags. There is one important thing you do not need when you are shopping: a bad attitude.
Speaking as both a retail employee and as someone who gets uncomfortable when I witness a store employee being ripped a new you-know-what, I beg you all to leave the holier-than-thou mindset, along with the list of your demands, at home. Imagine that you are the employee of whatever store you happen to be in - do you want people invading your personal space, demanding things beyond your control, and taking out their anger over a bad hair day on you? Of course not.
Shopping is a fun hobby/sport/addiction, and the thrill of the purchase is only magnified when shared among friends (or customers & employees in this case). Don't dishonor the process by metaphorically crapping all over anyone that tries to help you get what you want.
Of course, you will come across a store associate that makes you wonder if evolution really is a myth, but you encounter those people in all facets of your life and I'm pretty sure you don't point your finger in each one of their faces and tell them what to do with their measly 10% coupon. Just because people have less money overall does not make you the queen of shopping simply because you decided to go into a store. What happened to the good old days when you used proper manners with anyone you met? When being polite was not optional, and those people that weren't polite were the ones who stuck out like a sore thumb? Isn't it sad that while I am working, if I say hi to a customer they look over their shoulder to see who I'm saying hi to? Why can't we be friendly?
This isn't a rant, because there are still some gems out there that make associates' jobs easier, who respect the art of shopping and are so happy (like me) while shopping that really nothing but a store without a single thing on sale could get them down. This is a request for each of you to think twice before you call the teller stupid, roll your eyes at the cashier, or stomp your foot at the manager. Misery loves company, but smiles are contagious. It's your call.
Happy shopping!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Maybe *I'm* not but...
I may have cut up the metaphorical credit cards & kissed my favorite hobby adieu, but Chris hasn't slowed down: he bought a car! I couldn't be more excited for him - it's exactly the car he wanted. Even though I can't get the cheap thrill of an expensive purchase, I can definitely live vicariously through others -- no rules against that!
Another big change: we might be getting a cat :). Both of us are allergic - of course, why make anything easy? - but Chris's brother has a cat, Ari, who is literally an amazing cat (acts like a dog) & he can't bring him to his new apartment. We are going to give him a test run in the apartment for a few days with some new toys.. but the moral of this story is .. I am in the car driving to go visit the kitty & I start brainstorming all the new things I could buy him! An "emery cat", a little cat house, toys, catnip, you get the idea.. when suddenly I realize - I can't buy the cat anything but necessities! Of course my next thought was "maybe we should wait to take the cat until I am through with this cleanse so I can buy him things..." - seriously, this is the way my brain works. Gotta work everything around my shopping schedule.. which I suppose is the reason I'm doing this in the first place.
Well, I have found that old phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" sort of applies here - because I can't spend, I have sort of found little ways to get around it: I used a friend's tan when I went tanning last time (no cost to me!) and Danny has offered to buy a bunch of cat toys & cat things for us tomorrow for when we take Ari (again, no cost to me!) It's like a little game - "How Thrifty Can You Be?" .. and I am definitely winning!
Another big change: we might be getting a cat :). Both of us are allergic - of course, why make anything easy? - but Chris's brother has a cat, Ari, who is literally an amazing cat (acts like a dog) & he can't bring him to his new apartment. We are going to give him a test run in the apartment for a few days with some new toys.. but the moral of this story is .. I am in the car driving to go visit the kitty & I start brainstorming all the new things I could buy him! An "emery cat", a little cat house, toys, catnip, you get the idea.. when suddenly I realize - I can't buy the cat anything but necessities! Of course my next thought was "maybe we should wait to take the cat until I am through with this cleanse so I can buy him things..." - seriously, this is the way my brain works. Gotta work everything around my shopping schedule.. which I suppose is the reason I'm doing this in the first place.
Well, I have found that old phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" sort of applies here - because I can't spend, I have sort of found little ways to get around it: I used a friend's tan when I went tanning last time (no cost to me!) and Danny has offered to buy a bunch of cat toys & cat things for us tomorrow for when we take Ari (again, no cost to me!) It's like a little game - "How Thrifty Can You Be?" .. and I am definitely winning!
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