This post first debuted on one of my now-defunct "fashion" blogs.
I am on the verge of having a very real shopping addiction. I've been aware of this for a while now, but it really hit me when the thrill of purchasing some new clothing ended as soon as I plopped the merchandise on the counter. Shouldn't I buy something and remain excited about it? Shouldn't I be able to shop without feeling really, really guilty about it? My shopping habits have become shameful, and are causing me more guilt and regret than they should be.
I shop for the thrill of it. I feel a huge rush when I find a bargain or something new. This is facilitated by the fact I shop cheaply, which means that I can afford to buy a lot of clothes without any financial ramifications. You can find me at thrift/used clothing shops all around town anywhere from once a week to five times a week. When I shop, I buy a ton of stuff, and I justify it by telling myself that I'll sell it to Plato's Closet/Buffalo Exchange/eBay/consignment shop and make a little extra money.
In reality, I have an overstuffed closet, so much so that my clothing has spread to my futon, bathroom counters, bins under the futon, a stand-alone clothing rack, a giant blue bin, and five shelves in the guest bedroom. I also have a considerable amount of clothing stored at my boyfriend's apartment and at my grandmother's house. When I take this clothing to the resale places mentioned previously, I -- without fail -- accept store credit and end up purchasing more clothing than I sold to the store in the first place. Worse, I spend more than the trade credit was worth.
I feel trapped by clothing, yet I can't stop buying it.
My goal is to purge everything I don't need (even if it means ignoring my MUSTMAKEMONEY urges and donating it all) and to develop a functional closet where less = more. I will be blogging about my experiences and what I learn along the way.
I hope to see you all following along and sharing your own experiences!
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