I reflected upon my past shopping addiction and put together these 7 tips, which helped me curb the need to shop excessively. I hope you will benefit from it as you break free from the bondage of consumerism.
I embarked on my zero waste journey in 2018 after meeting the Zero Waste Malaysia NGO group and learning the 5R principles from Bea Johnson. At the same time, I committed to zero shopping, especially fast fashion items. Extremely challenging for a then shopaholic. Despite that, I knew this was the radical change I had been seeking. I am ready to do it. I am prepared to do what’s ‘hard’ for this change to free myself from the consumerism labyrinth I was trapped in for decades.
My ‘why’ was pretty intense. I want to be free from the constant need to buy new things. Because of the fake sense of lack due to decision fatigue, ‘I don’t have anything to wear’ when, in fact, I already have so many clothes. I have to spring clean regularly and sell my things to get money back and buy new ones. This has continued for over a decade, and I want to break this cycle. You, too, have to know why you want to do this. You can, by all means, shop til you drop, but you know you need to stop or cut back, and you choose to do something about it. It’s no coincidence you found this page and read my story.
So here are the 7 tips on how I curb the need to shop excessively. The first one is pretty simple and effective.
Tips no. 1 – DO NOT ENTER
Yes, it’s that easy! Do not enter the shop at all. Especially when your self-control or discipline muscle is still weak, and you know you will fall into temptations, why enter the shop to tempt yourself in the first place? Why set yourself up for failure? Just don’t go in. You will save time and money and save yourself another guilt trip.
What about online? DO NOT ENTER the site!
Tips no. 2 – TAKE PHOTOS/SCREENSHOTS
When I’ve built stronger muscles for discipline and self-control, I do enter at my own risk, to window shop and try on some clothes. Instead of taking the items to the counter, I took photos in the fitting room. This way, I tricked myself into thinking I already had the items in my phone. I can look at the items anytime since I own them digitally.
You’ll be surprised sometimes when you look back at the photos, you might be thinking: “Thankfully, I didn’t buy this piece!” Delete.
What about online? You can browse but DO NOT CLICK anything. Do a SCREENSHOT instead.
When trying to downsize my wardrobe, I posted items on the carousell app to sell actively. Once, I needed to check an eyewear’s specs and retail price. So, I searched online and clicked on a similar product at one of the e-commerce sites to get the details I needed for my post.
The next few days, I would see web banners in all shapes and sizes of the same item showing up everywhere on my browser and in any ad spaces possible just to prompt me to buy, buy, buy.
See something you like online? Screenshot and add it to a virtual wardrobe instead!
Tips no. 3 – Do things that DON’T COST YOU
I have a Pinterest board of ‘Wants‘ and ‘Likes‘ – which costs me nothing! You can also create a virtual wardrobe in your Google Photo. Create an album of ‘Wants’ and put all the screenshots and images of your ‘Wants’ in it.
Instead of browsing e-commerce sites, I browse my virtual wardrobe! Instead of ‘add to cart’, I add to my Pinterest board of ‘Wants’ and ‘Likes’. I acquire these items virtually and visually, for free, without owning them in real life. It still sparks lots of joy every time I look at it. If I no longer want or like an item, I simply delete it – at no loss.
Even magazines. I take photos of what I like from magazines. Basically, if I see something I want, whether it is online, in a magazine, or in stores, I’ll take photos instead of taking it to the counter. Doing so allows me to own the items I want visually in my phone albums or virtual wardrobe.
Instead of meeting your friends in malls, meet them in the park, at the beach, or in nature! You get to catch up, work out, spend quality time and spend zero dollars if you bring your own water bottle and snacks. The best things in life are free!
Tips no. 4 – UNSUBSCRIBE to e-flyers, e-newsletter, and mailers
Unsubscribe anything that will entice you to shop, especially e-flyers and emails from e-commerce sites and malls. Search the keywords and delete them all. In today’s world, the ‘delete’ and ‘unsubscribe’ buttons are so empowering. Unsubscribe, delete, block and report those scammers!
For mailers, you can opt out of Advertising Mail (including the IKEA catalogue) at singpost.com
- Scroll all the way down to ‘Contact Us’
- Choose ‘Personal Enquiry’
- Click ‘Postal’
- Choose ‘Advertising Mail’ in the Category
- Choose ‘Opt-Out Service’ in the Sub-Category
- Fill in your personal detail
That’s it!
Tips no. 5 – DELETE shopping apps on your phone
Or hide it in a folder and in another folder. Make it inaccessible. If convenience is the source of your shopping addiction, make it inconvenient to shop from your phone.
Tips no. 6 – BE AWARE of your existing wardrobe
When I practice ‘Zero Waste’, I habitually ‘Think’ before I buy and ‘Think’ before I throw. When I feel the urge to buy something, I think about my wardrobe.
I already have all the nice things in there. I just need to wear them and use them! If it helps, photograph your wardrobe and set it as wallpaper on your phone or laptop. So you will constantly be reminded you already have enough. Be aware of your existing wardrobe, and appreciate and use what you already have.
Tips no. 7 – Make PEACE with the fact that you cannot own everything
There will be never-ending supplies of nice, cute, cool, lovely, and pretty things. Accept the fact you cannot own them all. Even if you are super rich and can afford everything, you only have one body. With so much stuff, you might need colossal warehouse space, some kind of dehumidifying system, an inventory system, security, and all that jazz.
When we buy things, we often don’t think about the consequences, the maintenance – cleaning, dry cleaning, ironing, steaming, tidying, organising, re-organising, and so on. Owning more things could mean your life might be spent maintaining and managing these things. Oh, spare me! I want to be free!
Remember:
The less things you own, the less things to maintain. More time for more important things in life!
Today, I wear what I already have, swap more than I shop, and buy a lot less compared to my shopaholic days. Through my work at Cloop, I enjoy a community wardrobe without spending a dime. Whether buying new, preloved, swapping or adopting from free-cycle groups, I still need to practice self-control and be mindful of what I bring into my life and space. I want to have less, and not more things in my life!
Finally, I would like to leave you with this statement.
“When people buy less stuff, you’ll get immediate drop in emission, carbon consumption and pollution.”
J. B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping: How Ending Consumerism Saves the Environment and Ourselves
How powerful is that? “Buy less, choose well, and make it last” ~ Vivienne Westwood
What can you do with fashion items you stopped wearing or using? In my next post, I will share ways you can recycle unwanted apparel and textiles responsibly.
Comment below if you resonate with any of the tips above!
Smiles Like Green Spirit 