The Subtle Art of Shopping Moderation

Fashion can be enchanting, too much so sometimes, transforming a delightful hobby into a vicious cycle of impulsive buying and guilt. My obsession, particularly with my favourite brand, Tibi, has at times, felt cult-like. I've experienced moments of wanting to buy everything, even variants of silhouettes I already own and don't particularly fancy. This blind obsession, coupled with dopamine hits from each purchase, can be overwhelming. With the ongoing sales season, the temptation only increases. Therefore, I thought it'd be beneficial to share some strategies I've adopted to combat overspending on fashion.

A quick disclaimer before we delve in:

• The approaches I share may not be suitable for everyone. These are personal strategies that I've found effective.

• If your fashion spending habits make you happy and pose no issues, feel free to skip this article.

• Bear in mind that I hold no official qualifications in financial or fashion advice, so take everything with a healthy dose of skepticism!

Here are some tactics and psychological tricks that may help you tread wisely in the fashion world:

1. Focus Your Purchasing on Personal Needs. We often sync our buying habits to the fashion lifecycle: new collections, sales periods, seasonal arrivals, etc. What's crucial is shifting this perspective to centre on your personal requirements. Ask yourself: What are the gaps in my wardrobe that I often grapple with? For instance, my wardrobe lacks refined tops, but I often find myself browsing lantern skirts and Sid jeans. To combat this, use sheer willpower to mentally bring back the focus to yourself, and visualize your closet and yourself at the center, not the latest collection.

2. Time is Limited: Wear Your Existing Clothes. There are only 365 days in a year. If you aim to wear an item (say a pant), especially a designer piece, at least 30 times to justify its cost, you'd need just 12 bottoms for the entire year. Chances are, you already own them. Adding new pieces every sale season will soon overcrowd your wardrobe with items you literally don't have the time to wear.

3. Fashion Obsession Has No Boundaries. There will always be someone willing to take your money. If fashion overspending is a problem, remember: no external force will intervene. As shown in Netflix's "How to Get Rich", it's possible to drop $500k on clothing and in some cases probably more. It's essential to define your boundaries and try to cultivate a healthy relationship with fashion.

4. Embrace Offline Shopping. One potential antidote to online shopping excess is turning to offline stores. Online, purchasing five items is a matter of a few clicks, with every item looking impeccable on models. In reality, clothes can be ill-fitting, creased, or uncomfortable. The fatigue of spending hours physically shopping can naturally curb impulse buys.

5. Make a Rule To Try on Your Existing Wardrobe Before Buying. Another effective method is to spend time trying out what you already own. If you're prone to overspending, chances are your wardrobe is already well-stocked. While this isn't a feasible task to undertake during work hours or on the go, it can be an effective deterrent to additional spending.

6. Postpone, Postpone, Postpone. If resisting a purchase feels challenging, negotiate a delay with yourself. Despite the fashion industry's claims about items selling out, most are often available second-hand or get restocked. With a regular income, the longer you postpone a purchase, the more you tilt the scales towards saving, promoting better budget balance.

7. Your Wishlist Will Evolve. While it's wise to think for 24 hours before purchasing, extending this period can be even more beneficial. I've found that over half the items on my wishlist lose their appeal over weeks or months. Most fashion cravings are temporary and can be outlasted.

8. Engage Your Creativity. Don't fall into the trap of buying an item simply because you saw it in a stunning outfit online. Instead, challenge yourself to creatively utilize what's already in your closet to recreate the outfit. It's a more rewarding and sustainable approach to fashion.

9. Set a 'No-Buy' Time. Designating specific periods when you won't buy new clothes can help clear your mind and refocus your priorities. This exercise allows you to identify your genuine needs. Stick to it for a month or more and observe the benefits.

10. Change Your Information Consumption Habits. Influence can be direct or subtle. Create a separate Instagram account to follow money-saving, anti-hoarding, and sustainability-focused content. When boredom strikes, visit this account, especially after browsing your regular fashion-oriented social media. Shows like "How to Get Rich" or "Hoarders" can offer counter-narratives to excessive consumption, shifting your perspective.

11. Distinguish Between Buying and Wearing. Many people find the thrill of buying and unboxing new fashion items far more exhilarating than actually wearing them. Reflect on this and consider substituting this dopamine hit with something more beneficial or addressing underlying issues you might be trying to mitigate through fashion.

12. Question the Need for Shopping Stress. Reflect on your life before your fashion obsession took hold. Assess the time and energy you expend on strategizing and calculating purchases. Is this stress truly adding value to your life or just creating unnecessary distraction?

13. The Thrill of Affordability. If designer clothes are your weakness, consider whether you struggle similarly with more affordable high-street fashion. If not, the thrill may lie in the chase on the brink of affordability, rather than the clothes themselves.

14. Perfection Isn't the Goal. For perfectionists, the hunt for the ultimate blazer, dress, or T-shirt can seem unending. But the pursuit of perfection isn't always necessary. Sometimes, 'good enough' truly is sufficient.

15. Creativity ≠ Buying. Fashion can be an avenue for creative expression. But assembling a great outfit from designer pieces doesn't constitute a major achievement. Embrace constraints to enhance creativity, and take up the challenge of crafting outfits from existing pieces.

16. Consider a Prepaid Fashion Budget. Allocating a set amount for fashion each month often fails as a budgeting strategy, as it is easy to exceed. An alternate method is creating a separate savings account specifically for fashion and only using its balance for purchases. By transferring a fixed amount daily or monthly into this account, you establish an actual constraint, facilitating better budget management.

Can you relate to any of these experiences? Have you encountered similar challenges? Do share your own successful strategies in the comments. Let's learn from each other and navigate the fascinating fashion world responsibly!

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