·
If I haven’t worn it in the
past year – donate
·
If it no longer fits and
cannot be altered – donate
·
If it does not fit my
current style – donate
·
If it has holes or stains –
throw or donate
Both times I gave away between 1-2 shopping
bags worth of clothing to charity. And I
can’t say I have missed those pieces, and I can’t even remember
what most of them even were.
I set two goals for myself:
- Reduce my clothing so it fits into ONE suitcase.
- Try not to purchase any new clothing items for an entire year.
To achieve goal one I instituted a
process I read about on multiple blog sites.
I placed a shopping bag in the back of the closet. Anytime I try on an item and don’t LOVE it, I
put it in the bag. If after a month or
so, if I have not thought about it or wanted to wear it, I donate it to
charity. This trick has worked very well
for me, and I can confidently say that since the move I have scaled down on my
wardrobe by about 40%.
Goal number two has been very
difficult, and I broke after 4 months of no purchases. The break was also not because I NEEDED
something. I had had a horrible day at
my job and was feeling sad, homesick, lonely and was low in the
self-esteem department. So I did the
worst thing anyone trying to live minimally could do; I went to the mall. At the mall I feel most at home because it is
the most ‘American’ thing I can find in my current country of residence. And I bought…cute pjs… Not a proud moment in my new minimalist life
style. Even as I waited for the bus
outside the mall, buyer’s remorse set in…
As I admitted my folly to my husband, he reminded me that it is ok to
buy new, as long as something old goes out.
So I chose a pj shirt and pants that I wear less often, and put it in
the donation bag at the back of the closet.
I have since thoroughly enjoyed my new items and have not thought about retrieving my old ones at all. I did
learn from this experience though.
Shopping when I’m having a bad day is NOT the answer. And I have found other ways to treat myself
instead of accumulating THINGS.
What are your thoughts on retail
therapy? Have you found other ways to
turn a bad day around? What about
wardrobe maintenance and control? As
always, would love to know your thoughts!
Retail therapy (at least for me) is a slippery slope. On one hand, it is certainly entertaining when I'm bored in CU. But on the other, I really don't have the money to spend on shopping and tend to just feel bad after finding something I like and not buying it.
ReplyDeleteWe all have bad days. I have a bad habit of turning to my favorite pizza place on those days. I'd be much better served to hit the gym, which always helps me, mentally and physically, when I go. I think you just have to find your own pick-me-up.
I think many, if not most, of us Americans can relate to the instinct for retail therapy. I went through a heavy shopping period like that towards the end of high school, which started because my mom wanted to buy me stylish clothes (at that age, I finally acknowledged that I liked to wear a greater variety than just jeans and basic shirts).
ReplyDeleteI broke out of that pattern in college once I saw how few clothes fit into my dorm room closet! But moving to a small dorm room was just the beginning; it provided a good starting point, but I then had to change my patterns of behavior so that I didn't turn to shopping/dining out whenever I felt bored or unhappy. I still struggle with it, though more with food and tchotchke's now than with clothes.
One thing that really helps me break out of the shopping pattern is to go for a walk to a nearby park or along quieter streets of my neighborhood when I'm feeling down. The library is also a wonderful outlet; I can "accumulate" as many books, movies, or CDs as I want, and once I've used them, I don't have to keep them!
It's so inspiring to hear your methods! You told me about your "bag in the back of the closet" one and I really like it, but sometimes it is still so hard to get rid of something if you feel like you haven't gotten all the wear out of it. Or even if you have, but you remember it looking great a year ago. But if I don't love something, I won't wear it, and I certainly wouldn't buy it! So why keep it?? Thanks, Dana!
ReplyDelete