Good post. I'm on a buying fast, which has been startling. My buying impulse patterns of showed up in a hurry. Watching what drew my eye was another revelation.

Forcing myself to say, "Not now, maybe next month" has saved me $hundreds on things I'd like but would use only occasionally. And I can't remember what I left behind. That's the most surprising and pleasing eye-opener.

My big draw were catalogs. I'd thumb through them and want that hand bag, that couch or that food processor. I put myself on hold and see. I still thumb through catalogs and I even fold the page where something I WANT is located. Then I put the catalog away for a week or more and then when I peruse it again most of the time the urge to buy is gone and I toss the catalog. It works for me!

I started practicing these tenets a couple of years ago out of economic necessity and a desire to exercise some common sense over my spending habits. One of the notable upsides is that my friends constantly compliment the cleanliness and tidiness of my home. I am not a neat freak at all, but I just don't have unusable junk and unwearable clothes cluttering up my living space collecting dust. In contrast to how I used to live, there is a freshness and an energy in my home that comes from only owning things we use on a regular basis. I too echo the efficacy of written lists and waiting a day or two to make impulse purchases, however small. Thanks for the post! I needed a reminder to stay on track.

Flash sites are my biggest downfall, because if the price is good, I know I have to 'act now!' or it will sell out. I have purged my bookmarks of those sites and plan to ignore them from now on. Books, though........ I don't know if I can control buying books!

Yes. While staying home with my infant son, and living on one income, I have had to reduce my spending dramatically. And babyproof, which = decluttering. It has taught me so much about my weaknesses, and how we have all fallen prey to marketing that has convinced us that we need everything new and trendy, and we need it right now. For me, that thinking tends to mean just adding more crap and more clothes to the piles I already have.
So now, instead of buying a new outfit, I find a new way to combine what I have.
I fix things that have broken. (Example- yesterday part of my Ikea lampshade broke. I excitedly thought, "Yay! Time to go to Ikea and buy new ones!" I waited a bit and then realized I could easily fix it in a manner that no one would ever notice. So I did. $20 saved.) I fix broken jewelry. I take clothes to be altered. I wait any time I have an idea to buy something, and I almost always lose that "high" I get from anticipating a shopping trip, and I say forget it. And whenever I'm bored and want to go to Target "just to go" - I take my son outside instead, or tackle some organizing project inside that will improve our home way more than new stuff will. I also force myself to finish projects I have already started (such as several half-done knitting projects floundering in a closet, paint already purchased but never used, etc.) before I get excited about buying supplies for a new one. And slowly over the past year, my addiction to that "high" has worn off, and I have realized what a cheap and wasteful pleasure shopping can be, and how honestly, it took more from me than it gave.

I'm also on a buying fast. About four days after Christmas, I was at Target and I overheard a child asking their parents to get them a piggy bank. The parent responded, "You just received two piggy banks for Christmas!"

At the time, I was considering buying a set of really gorgeous teacups and saucers at the flea market. I have no less than six sets of teacups, some of which I've never used and some I've only used once or twice. Furthermore, I don't drink tea.

I didn't buy the teacups. I took all my credit cards out of my wallet. Obviously, I need to develop an ability to appreciate beautiful things without actually owning them.

I love this post and have been thinking a lot about this lately. I never seem to get out of Target spending less than $70. I'm at the point where I'd rather pay more for things like toilet paper just to avoid going to Target because I am weak. I will try this!

Don't automatically get a cart when you walk in.

Great post and very timely. Reduce spending and declutter are my primary goals for the year as well. One thing that has helped tremendously is Pinterest. I used to find something I need in a magazine or crafted in my head (whether it was a certain article of clothing or an item for the house) and then I would wait until the last minute to set out to find the item. I would only be dissapointed with what I ended up buying because I overpaid and it wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Pinterest allows me to better scout out an item, compare reviews and wait for sales. Also, I am a magazine hoarder. I buy magazines all of the time, but since I am a new mom and working full-time, I never have time to read them. At one point, I had 23 subscriptions coming to house and they would sit in stacks several months behind. Since getting my iPad, I have gotten rid of all but 2-3 subscriptions that are justing finishing out and now buy individual magazines on iPad only when I have the time to sit down and read one. I spend less and so much less clutter.

Two rules I have for myself is that I can't bring anything new into the house unless I get rid of something. Also, when I want to buy something for the house, I have to know exactly where I'm going to put it. This has helped me in my clutter control.

I can relate completely. Have you read the hilarious novels Confessions of a Shopoholic?There are quite a few chapters when she can't get away from somewhere without making impulse buys (the scarf on the way to a job interview, the musuem gift shop, etc). To me, these impulse or "habit" buys are bank account killers, not big planned purchases (although too much home or car can definitely take us down financially).

I limit my trips to costco, the drugstore and sephora for this very reason. I end up with a bunch of things I don't need filling up a fairly small home (~800 sq ft). How many things do we have in our homes that we've forgotten about but never use?

My trigger buys are magazines, black Ts, army jackets, cute kitchen items, table/desk top decor and stationery items. There are also aspirational buys that reflect the me I wish I was instead of my true needs (cookbooks when I rarely cook, exercise gear, cool tech).

@GingerR - You beat me to it!

In the last year I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've used a shopping cart or basket. I don't shop for a months worth of groceries at a time either, so I really don't use one often.

It helps to not have a whole lot of disposable income (hey, a silver lining) and, well, if I did have some money burning a hole in my pocket I'd be either guitar shopping, saving for a holiday, or referring to the recent AT article on things to slurge on. ;)

Also, Target really does not sell essential items (TP, etc.) at cheaper prices than the grocery store or other discount stores. Rarely an item will be on sale enough that it's cheaper, but most of the items are not. It is honestly just designed to feed our weaknesses for the other stuff. Come on, a wall of cute bags and hats right when you walk in? Well played, Target. You know your customer well.

another tip: only use cash. this has made it more important to shop from an actual list where each item has been budgeted for.

If I see a new book I want, I try to get it out of the library first and then decide whether it's worth owning. I am guilty of magazine buying though - especially the expensive foreign ones with beautiful photos.

I'm going to add my thanks for this column also. I decided at the beginning of the year that I was wasting a lot of money on things I already had in the house but hadn't used. I made a list of things I didn't need this year, quite a long list and I've made a couple of small adjustment's to the list for example I decided I really didn't want to live without fresh flowers if I could afford them. I've stopped a lot of the tempting 'shop' emails that come to me, however yesterday one just slipped through and now I can't stop thinking about the pretty blue jewellery I just have to have. I'm so blessed to have a roof over my head, food on the table, fresh water, a wonderful husband and two beautiful mutts why can't I be happy with all of that. I'm going to read this column again and again today.

I think i love you!
We did a buying fast last June, and February we're scheduled for another. It went well. We actually got invited to a clothing swap, but we downsized more than received, so it was fine.

We've moved from being a 2 income family to a 1 income family, and with a new child. So spending is more careful, and we've started to downsize by selling some of the things we held on to "just in case" - clearing out a little more space.

Another thing that's REALLY helped us is our "No Flyers" sign at the door. Less of an impulse to go shopping.

Yesterday I did reward myself for passing a tough exam--I went to Old Navy (10% off on Tuesdays), bought a shirt I needed, splurged on a few pieces of fun jewelry from their sale rack, and bought four pairs of bright gloves, also on sale, to give as gifts.

And a new scarf for me. I love cotton scarves and wear them frequently, but because they were hanging in my bedroom closet, out of sight, I'd ended up with three purple scarves!

So last year, when I spotted a hammered-tin scarf rack with a sea turtle motif (a favorite animal), and it was 50% off, I snapped it up (excuse the pun). Now it graces the wall across from the foot of my bed, above my jewelry cabinet, each scarf hanging neatly in a colorful display.

So if there's something you keep buying because you truly love it, try honoring it: having it on display in your home will not only help you avoid repetition, it also show your personality and give you the same thrill at home that you get while out shopping for something else.

Two suggestions:
Read this book -- Your Money or Your Life
Check out this Forum for very helpful co-conspirators -- http://www.simplelivingforum.net

When I have the impulse to go shopping but don't need anything, I've begun loading up super-high-end designer websites that are obviously out of my price range. The sticker shock is such that I never seriously consider purchasing anything, but I still get the pleasure of weeding through items and imagining what they'd be like in my life.

Great article! I can relate to the poster that said that she would go to Target just to have something to do. My vehicle needed a very costly repair and I had to stay home for awhile when my husband was at work. I learned to cope with not going shopping all the time and now that my vehicle is back, I find that I am not going out as nearly as much as I was. I still have a ways to go, but I am going to try to put some of these ideas to work to improve our lives.

I just need to make a quick comment about the fact that the guy was bold & self assured enough to actually purchase a plunger without trying to smuggle in in between a bunch of other items with a mumbled explanation that he was buying it for his mother or something! I know that it what I would have done! Brave man.

I do most of my shopping online, but when I'm just browsing I often put things in the cart to get that shopping "high", and then close the window without purchasing anything. Pinterest also lets me bookmark things I like without actually purchasing them, for the same effect.

The man standing in line at target brings up another good point. How much time and energy did he spend getting to, standing in line and going home for a single plunger! It may because I live in a city and don't have quick access to targets and walmarts, but I found Amazon Prime to be a huge time and energy saver. I always shop with limited items in mind, I don't have to deal with energy sucking activities like traffic, parking and crowds and I get time back to spend on my friends and family.

misaL, I think you are well on your way.

Separating appreciation from possession is the first step.
If you gave six sets of teacups, and you don't use them, could you take one of each and make one set of six? That is 30 teacups that could find new homes. Ad a lot of shelf space.

What a timely article!

Most of the last few online purchases I've made have been returned since they looked better online than in person.

And thanks to the ebay person who placed their furniture on a 9 day bidding instead of
"Buy Now". Bad idea. Give you too much time to change your mind!!

I have gotten so much better at not spending too much on housewares and clothes since I moved into a one bedroom.
At first, I was buying things - because the place was empty. I didn't have any furniture save for one rocking chair and a bed. I was sitting on the floor to eat.
Now, I have a dining set, a nice chair to relax in, two shelves, a desk, and two small ikea side tables.
But, I have nowhere to put things. My cabinets are tiny, and I hate clutter on the top of tables. I have small wire/industrial bins underneath my table that hold extra books and blankets. They're all full.
I don't have any closet space, cabinet space, or shelf space.
This makes it a whole lot easier to not buy things. If I bought everything I wanted, I'd have way too many colored glass vases and minimalist furniture sitting around.

My weakness is clothes, specifically children's clothes. Not long ago I was reading on Design Mom that she couldn't believe her daughter Betty had EIGHT outfits. She thought that was way too many. 6-7 school outfits was the limit for each of her six children (and she judiciously uses hand-me-downs wherever possible). I couldn't believe it. My girls could go for weeks without doing laundry. It was very eye opening, and since reading that I've really cut down on my browsing/buying. I aim for something close next season for my older child.

Plunger man was also smart; had he gone to a hardware store to buy the plunger, he would have bought a new tool, an accessory for a tool he already owns, parts for a project that has remained half-complete for a year, and some beef jerky.

The moral here is buy at a place that has the thing you need, but not the stuff you want.

One way I save is by not going shopping in the first place. I'll never "go shopping" as an activity or a way to kill time. If I need something specific, I'll go get it. But I don't hang out at the shops or at the mall. I've found other activities to do instead, which don't cost anything.

The other thing I do is to keep a wishlist. I have a running list of things that I'd like to buy, and if I want or need something, I'll add it to the list. On the list, I put not only the item, but the price, where to buy it from, and an assigned priority from 1-5. Then, a couple of times a year (generally in those 3-paycheque months), I'll consult the list and see what's on top of it. Often, my priorities have changed or something that I thought I wanted no longer tempts me, so I'll cross it off the list. Whatever I still want or need that fits in my budget is what I'll splurge on at that point.

"I would have somehow managed to also scoop up some ballet flats, random office supplies, a soy candle or two, a hand towel, a tank top, some Play Doh for the kids, an impractical scarf…"

Oh. No. One does not dilly-dally on a plunger run.

I am working on this very problem and thank you so much for the inspiration.

Yes, it is a much more powerful happiness to leave things behind than to acquire.

leslie_g, I do find that, for some things, like my preferred brand of kitty litter or my Dove Clinical Protection, Target is cheaper than the grocery store, even ShopRite, but you are correct about most of it.

Sometimes it helps to be mindful of the difference between admiring an item and needing it. Take a minute to think about the person or group that designed an object, the people who came up with a way to manufacture it, the work of those who brought it to you - packers, shippers, sellers - and the cleverness of the person who put it on it in a place designed to capture the attention of browsers. Admiring their work does not mean that I need the object.

Thankfully, since I found Apartment Therapy, I buy fewer magazines. I gotta tell ya, I used to have a pretty bad habit with the big glossy pictures of beautiful rooms. For a while, I had my groceries delivered and what I saved by not buying magazines and junk food more than paid for the delivery charge.

I do not shop without a list and I'm in and out without a problem...but when I go to ETSY...I'm done for.

Arg ... thank you Julia so much for this little new-year reminder! I have a whole blog dedicated to repurposing, re-using, upcycling etc and I nevertheless struggle with this every week. Pinterest definitely helps ... pinning is very satisfying! And my toddler's response to all those little $1 impulse buys for her are helping me curb that particular habit. She gives most of the things about 5c worth of her time. Not even a whole dollar's worth. So here's to 2013 being all about NOT buying s**t we don't need!!

Great post, 4 and 5 are especially good advice. The unfortunate thing about the time rule is when you decide a week later you still really want it and it's gone! Thoreau is the man!

Love this post - my receipt is always $100 when i go to target and Bed Bath. Writing a list of what you need does help in not buying impulse things.

If he was only buying a plunger, chances are he really, really needed that plunger right that minute and couldn't wait for Amazon.

I found this problem a lot on Amazon as well. I would go and look for something I needed (the occasional food item that is cheap on Amazon and delivered to my door, or a gift for someone else), and wind up with books in my cart because they were inexpensive and eligible for Prime shipping.

Since then, I bit the bullet and ordered a Kindle. I will never stop reading, so the books weren't terrible buys, but they take up SO MUCH room in my home! With the Kindle, I will be able to take out books from the library, borrow books from the Kindle lender's library, and occasionally purchase one I want to read. It may not be a money saver but it will certainly save the space in my home. I am now weeding through the books I have in my house, reading them, and selling the ones I know I will not read again, or donating them.

I'm doing the same with clothes. Clothing is a big trigger buy for me as well, but I have much in my closet that doesn't get much wear. I am going through the rotation and selling/donating what I do not wear and love. I only just purchased new pants to replace ones that were too worn to continue to wear to work.

It appears that 2013 is the year I want to have less stuff because it seems to feel like more space, energy, and time.

this post is very timely for me. one of the things i've been learning to do is make a very clear difference between need and want.

when i had disposable cash, i 'needed' everything. now that we're down to one income, my 'need' list has been vastly reduced, and i have learned to question my wants: if i really want it, am i willing to save up for it? do i have room for it? do i have the money in chequeing, or do i have to put it on visa, because i actually don't have the money for it? will i want it in another 3 days? this has helped me question my attitude toward consumption a LOT.

the other area where we spent thoughtlessly - though not the subject of this article, it is related - was buying coffees, eating out, going to the pub, drive-thrus, take out, buying a dessert to bring to a friend's place instead of making a dessert, grocery shopping without lists. one day we sat down with our bank statements for the last 3 months, and we were SHOCKED how much money we'd blown on food and coffees - about $800./month!! not even including needed groceries!!!!!

needless to say, we've cut waaaaaay down on that

Yes! Wow, its like you were writing about me. My husband always says I can't leave CVS without spending at least $25 and Target without spending at least $100. I also used to be quite frugal but with career advancement and a new found passion for interior design I found myself buying things to buy things. I have been thinking about a New Years Resolution and the month is almost over so I really should come up with something. Thank you for inspiring me with this post and finally helping me decide on my resolution for this year...stop the wasteful spending. Target and CVS - those are my Kryptonite .

aceyx you are so right!

Makes me finally want to side with the anti-consumerism psychopaths out there. Making a list about how to stop spending money on junk, because it's so easy to spend money on junk. It sounds exhausting... being so over-privileged.

I think that with discipline it's entirely possible to "shop" for entertainment while sticking to your list (or looking out for bargains truly worth it for use later, like next year's kid clothes.)

We do this a lot with Target (and previously Ikea when we lived close to one.) It can be less about purchasing anything and more about getting ideas for staging/utilizing what you've already got, could make, or could find secondhand if you really need it, etc.

One of the ways we cut back on impulse spending was to enact a "Only Shop Local" rule for a month. With the exception of fuel, we would shop at stores that were locally owned and not part of a national chain. While it was a challenge at first, we made it the entire month and actually managed to save quite a bit of money. Everyone thinks that national chains save us money, but the reality is that when you get hit with grabbing little unnecessary things with every trip, you don't save anything. We found ourselves buying only exactly what we needed because the local stores don't try to shove random stuff into your purchase: i.e. the checkout lanes at chain stores are full of crap that we "might" need like batteries, DVDs, disposable cameras, etc.

The benefits were great all around: we saved more, bought less, and supported small business owners in our community!

I am also on a buying fast. My downfall has been online shopping - especially Amazon. It's way too easy to browse and click and not even think about how much you are spending, at least until the credit card bills start coming in. I've been de-cluttering my apartment for the past few weeks and I am amazed at how much stuff I have taken to Goodwill - bags and bags of clothes, purses, shoes and kitchenware. It seems almost shameful to have so much just sitting around and taking up space, not to mention how much money I have wasted.

Take out $100 in cash on Sunday and leave the credit & debit cards at home for the week. See if you can make it through the week (coffee, eating out, impulse buys) on cash alone. You're less likely to spend money when you physically see it disappear. Plus, you'll switch to cheaper foods: drip coffee instead of sugary lattes, small salads instead of pasta plates, water instead of sodas, etc.

Clean up by using up your stuff! For Christmas presents for friends, I went to my crafty/office and saw what had been sitting around for a long time and thought of something to make out of it. I ended up making super fun penants out of of stacks of colored paper, some embroidery floss, and some old photos and old cards. Now my office is clean and I was told I "won Christmas" with my groovy handmade cards. win win!

timely post, as i'm really committed to reducing my *stuff* this year. I've been doing pretty good on the buying new things aspect with a couple of things - one is your 'wait for it' suggestion. I have a habit of shopping online - so now i add a few things to the cart, then tell myself i have to wait for a coupon to become available. by the time one comes up, often an item or two is no longer available and/or i've lost the *want* for them.
the other new thing i'm doing (more so when I'm in a store, but it works online too) is ask myself the following three questions: Do I Need It? Will I Really Use/Wear It? Am I Going To Have To Move It? ....the last questions is always the kicker. as an apartment dweller with roommates, I know my living situation is not what I want it to be right now, and I'm going to want to move soon-ish. and i. hate. moving. stuff.

I stopped going to most stores a few years ago and I am surprised at how much I do not miss shopping. When I want something, I buy that one thing, I buy it online. If I were to go to the mall to get it, the flashy consumer items are tempting in a way that they simply are not online. I rarely NEED clothing so if I find I do, I can get a high quality item (again, just that item) on eBay for a fraction of the cost of a cheaper new item. I am surprised at how well Freecycle can provide for needs (and when the need really was not a need (the breadmaker), I just Freecycle the item back out). And last, I walk my dog every night past homes with garages so full of stuff that the cars do not fit. I look at that and say that I just don't want to be that person. I then go home and Craigslist or Freecycle out another possession or two that I really don't need. It feels great! I am so happy there are so many other people feeling less need for stuff. Spend money on fun activities with your loved ones instead. And yes, I just went through a month of eating out of the freezer and pantry (I had that much built up) and am finally getting down to a few bars of luxury soaps (I must have really though I needed a lot of those previously).

My attitude toward spending changed when I was making the most money I'd ever made and buying lots of stuff and I realized that it was true what they say--it wasn't actually making me any happier to have so many clothes I forgot what I had. So I started to be more conscious about spending, not shop for entertainment, and only buy things that I really love and need. For those who want to rein in their spending so they can spend their money on what really matters, I recommend "Your Money or Your Life"--really excellent book for getting control of your finances and getting the most out of your money.

My weakness is always & forever, books. I used to spend a LOT of time in used bookshops, the book sections of charity shops, Barnes & Noble, etc. Spent a lot of money there, too, just picking up what looked interesting. Now I do all my bookshopping on Amazon--I still buy, but it's out-of-print books I've wanted for a long time. The up side is that I buy much less-the down side is that most of them will never be purged.
Anticipation/gratification: studies done on clicker-trained dogs (sorry, can't cite a reference) have shown that the spike in dopamine comes with the click, not with the food reward. To travel IS better than to arrive.

Unsubscribing from limited-time-offer "special" deal emails in recent weeks has helped me a lot. Much less temptation, less hassle. And you know, many times, those really aren't such great deals, especially with restaurants. (I've done a side by side comparison of regular menus with the email deals and found you might save about $3 in many cases. But the limited -time-offer angle creates a sense of urgency, so you take the bait.)

I'm also unsubscribing from a number of catalogs and in particular taking steps to reduce my plant-buying, since I have mixed success with plants, and who wants to spend money on something only to see it die a few months later? I need to be more realistic and admit to myself that I don't have that kind of money to throw around.

In addition, I've dropped out of some Meetup dining groups. Those are great fun, but really eat up (haha) a person's income over the course of a month. For me, the challenge is how to cut down on entertainment expenses but still have a social life. Some ideas I've started looking into are: potuck groups, reading groups and biking groups.

Here's a guaranteed way to get out of Target with nothing more than a plunger: be a guy. :-)

Books were my greatest downfall. Until recently, bookstores were some distance away, so I tended to buy wildly when I got to town. Now I can check for available ebooks or audio books electronically with a subscription to the Free Library of Philadelphia and/or my local library consortium. I can put items on hold electronically at both places, including physical books at the local location. That means I can tell almost instantly if anything is available before purchasing. I also make use of free and inexpensive offers for ebooks.

I'm planning an overseas vacation in May and I've told myself no spending until my vacation. Now that I am on a no-buying moratorium...I realize how much TIME I spend just browsing for cool stuff online. Time that I could spend...reading, watching movies, drawing, doing my CURE assignment, cooking, and more. So even though I'm not spending my financial resources on small or large items, I am spending my time resource on passive consumption...

But my tricks are much the same as others - unsubscribe from sales emails and catalogs, put stuff on my SPRINGPAD list (like pinterest, but better) and think about it before buying, always shop with a list (especially at TARGET),

I've been doing the buying fast as well -along with the January cure - as a way to reduce the stuff that was accumulating in preparation for upcoming cohabitation. The rule of "nothing new" has worked pretty well - except for a cookie cutter for Purim. It has actually felt awesome to be eliminating stuff and instead focusing spending on experiences - like taking a photography class (I have 2 overseas trips for work coming up) - that I will get something out of. My life feels richer.

i used to buy way too many clothes. i wouldn't go clothes shopping often (twice a year maybe) but i'd leave with 6 pairs of pants, 10 shirts, 3 or 4 cardigans. when i realized that i'd wear the same outfits week after week, forgetting about all the other clothes i had, i went on a major closet purge. now i try to only buy my clothes online. for some reason, seeing an itemized list of all the stuff i'm about to buy encourages me to thin it out before hitting check-out. i also make myself wait a few weeks before purchasing something i see online so that i know i REALLY want it.

but now my new spending chasm is beauty products. make up, skin care, hair care. i walk into sephora looking for a new foundation and leave with more products than i could ever put on my face. worse is that lately i've made a few purchases i regret. my life was simpler when i didn't care about my appearance.

For about two years I have been taking a picture of things I love and be in jeopardy of buying. If I take the picture I "own it". I review my pictures and when I delete it I have fallen out of love. In two years I have found there was only one thing that I wish I had purchased that was sold...not bad.

Picture it own it!

Great article. Another thing I try to do with Target (it's always a problem!) is go 10 minutes before I need to pick up my son from childcare so that I only have enough time to run through for diapers and *that's it!"

also, i thought that living out of a suitcase for a year (well, a duffel bag and a small carry-on) would discourage me from buying things. nope. i'm in a part of the world where walking around in the street isn't safe and i get a little stir crazy. one of the big pastimes here is "going to the mall." i go because it gives me a chance to walk around for a couple of hours, but all the money goes flying out of my wallet when i'm there.

i've also found that i'm really starting to miss my STUFF from back home. my plants, my artwork, my glassware. silly, but i miss it. i was talking to my boyfriend about it, and he had some wonderful advice: "that's just the illusion of ownership. you just miss it because you think you own it. but you don't need to own something to enjoy it."

My big problem area is bargains. I shop flea markets and thrift shops looking for treausres -- and I find them! But I'm reforming, and off loading a lot of (fro example) the probably 40 or more kimonos and kimono-style bathrobes that I have acquired with some weird idea that I'd use the beautiful fabrics somehow -- pillows, wall hangings, other clothing -- who knows? (You only need one or two bathrobes, though!) I'm sorting and photographing for Craigslist...

Meanwhile, I have a tip to add to the list. (I thought I had two, but the second one has escaped!)

If you need some specific thing but you are afraid of the temptations of the shop, go when you don't have time. (Like when you have only 20 minutes until a luncheon engagement or something.) Dash in, get that one specific thing, plan to come back sometime to see that interesting looking whatever over there that you just don't have time for now, and dash out! (But don't go back, of course!)

"treasures"
"for"

None of the stores sell any of the items less than any other store--I firmly believe there is one low sale price set by the manufacterer. So go with a list, get only what is on sale (with a coupon).

Libraries are a great source of savings--books, CDs, DVDs. I borrow craft books to review before I make the decision (and a lot of times not) to buy.

no such thing as buying too many books, just be generous after you've read them

"I have realized what a cheap and wasteful pleasure shopping can be, and how honestly, it took more from me than it gave."

That is a very powerful statement.

I am working on the mantra of reuse, reduce, recycle. I have fabric, fibers threads, frames. I have searched through my patterns and am on the road to creating of gifts. Reduce the stash.

i adore this site. it's kept me going on my way homeless.
homeless.
i spent almost one year in shelters. rationed toilet paper, shampoo, stepping over passed out people, chair fights, verbal abuse. narcane to wake the dead.
ambulance daily. i cannot condense a year of shelter shock into a tidy sum.
a book was my best protection.

through the love of one friend who stuck with me, paid $50 in storage a month, going above & beyond.
i eventually got out, not that long ago.

i love my glue gun and sewing machine. i have a dinosaur white machine from 1976 that sews like a demon. fabric & paint VS food = hard choice always. more creativity than money. i adore color & design & believe that my space will spill back to me in some way. it's small. it's mine. i need to paint, create & rebuild with what i have, when i have it.

i'm reconstructing a tiny, tiny bit at a time. fabric at $5 a yard or repurposing a coat from goodwill. a package of glue sticks is a considered purchase. krylon spray is something to save for. my new world.

Great post! We could all use a little less clutter. My trick is to shop with my two year old. He curbs any ideas I may have about trying on clothes, browsing the home goods section, or inspecting the beauty products. It's toilet paper, cereal, gold fish, and clorox wipes for us!

This is a great post and I have read everyone's comments, but I am still struggling on how to spend less. Shopping and buying are very emotional for me. I crave the high that comes with buying things and waiting for them to arrive. I think it boils down to being bored, but I can't get out of that funk. Part of the problem is I'm addicted to browsing on my iPad every evening. I need to turn it off and get back into simple hobbies, but it's been a tough habit to kick, and I haven't kicked it yet.

The easiest way not to spend is not to go to stores that make it easy to do so. That is harder now that almost everything can be purchased online, but I find myself doing a lot less impulse shopping online.

The closer I get to retirement the more I think about where my money should be going. I don't need more knick-knacks now.I may want money in my retirement for something fun or some necessity.

I adore books, but I've definitely tried to cut down on the number I have/buy (currently about 3 half-height and two full-height bookshelves worth) by judicious use of the Kindle. Trashy romances I read to fall asleep and don't want to be seen on the shelf: whatever I can get for free on Amazon. Older classics that I've read once or twice and my want to read again, like the Scarlet Letter or Pride and Prejudice: free on Amazon, may eventually buy a nice older hardback edition but don't need a cheap paperback copy on the shelf. Books from favorite authors I know I will read dozens of times or books I know I will lend to family/friends/coworkers: buy paperback, used if possible. Art and coffee table books: my weakness, usually on Amazon or a Barnes and Noble sale rack, trying to cut down.

you are wonderful.

I personally stay away from big box stores like the plague. I go in for a pot or a shirt and leave with a million little things I didn't need. Considering our meager income with is really a huge issue. So we venture into Walmart maybe twice a year and Target maybe once. Smaller dollar stores have the same toilet paper and deodorant we need. We do all our shopping at Kroger because it's cheaper for us since we buy almost all store brand items (something I wouldn't trust anywhere else, especially Walmart). I also tend to take my husband with as he hates shopping and chides my impulse buys relentlessly. It turns a bit unpleasant if we spend too long in the store. He's like my personal check and balance system.

Great post! I was once too very frugal, and yes, a love of books is one of my areas (plus, then purchasing items to hold all said books). We too are done with accumulating items - we've been focusing on more experiences for a few years but now our goal is to pass on items that have been outgrown: toys, clothes, dvds and even books {sigh}. I do so love the open spaces that we're gaining though.

Increased my payroll deduction for my 401k effective Jan 1st. I will have pretty much zero money for impulse spending this year. I plan to shop locally, avoid malls, and chain stores, borrow books and tools from friends, cook from scratch more, grow more. Let's see how long I last. I'm hoping the deferred gratification of my next retirement savings statement will help me keep it up.

Such helpful and interesting (and funny!) comments! SO nice to see I'm not the only one on this mission :)

We just switched our food and household supplies budget to cash-only, and it's been very helpful. We have an envelope with cash in it, so just the act of deciding how much cash to take along when food shopping has helped us stick to the shopping list. I haven't made very many impulse buys...other than something like pistachios. :)

Plunger man was probably someone like my husband. I often send him to the store for me because if he says he's getting 3 things he comes home with 3 things. He thinks it's a waste of time and money to get anything else.

A visit to the tip a few days ago provided great incentive to reflect on potential purchases. It was confronting to see so much waste laid out on a once presumably beautiful mountain.

Brilliant tips! Sometimes I'll treat my basket like an outbox. Just because it's in there, doesn't mean I have to buy it. I'll do a final consideration check at the checkout and take things out I don't really want or need.

It's also good to go for more expensive long term buys that are better quality. They last longer and you make a more considered purchase. We desperately need a larger wardrobe at the moment but we're waiting until we have the money to buy something beautiful that we love rather than chipboard from ikea. It'll last forever so we'll never have to buy another and every time we see it we'll think 'aah how lovely!'

I once spent far too much money on a Vivienne Westwood winter coat. Every time I put it on I get a little bit of pleasure. It feels beautiful, it looks beautiful and the cut is perfect for my figure. Definitely worth it!

Glasseye's comment really got to my heart. I still want to say what I planned to: our society has been putting way to much emphasis on "aquiring" since after the last world war when materials became available again and jobs were needed and on the rise. Out of necessity my children grew up shopping for needs at thrift stores or clearance sales but 'I admit that when we had some extra income I'd splurge on items that I "just had to have" at dollar stores, sometime heading home with $50 worth of stuff and only $20 of it really necessary! So at those times I was blowing $60 a month just there on crap that I ended up throwing or donating after 18 years of living in that place. Another move, after getting rid of a ton (probably NOT an exaggeration) of stuff before, 3 years later moved to less space, donated 11 bags and 6 big boxes of stuff and 3 years later, I am still editing! Depending on our heredity this "have to have it" mentality can be really dangerous. In my case there is some OCD and I realize that it was "therapy" for me (stress reliever) but at what cost? For years I have felt bad about it and I'm getting over it; I'm in control now! But what are we teaching the next generations? I am not against having anything "nice" but I think we have created an environment where folks think there is an endless bounty and that it will always be there, and history has proven that there is an economic downturn every 30 years or so and a really bad one very 70-100 years.

I have always justified my $92 (its always $92) Target bills by explaining that I am a woman and therefore a "gatherer". I come by it naturally. But sometimes its just too much!
Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed by the STUFF in my house or a little light in the purse, I go on a short SHOPPING FAST. That means only buying necessities:
Food
Gas
Diapers
I usually say its for a week-- which feels manageable. And its so liberating! My house gets cleaner, my kids toys get played with, I'm more relaxed because I actually have more time! The benefits go way beyond an uncluttered home and a fatter wallet.

This is a really great article. Love the line "siren song of colorful office supplies"! You've provided some very helpful tips and advice for leading a fuller life with less "things".

Great post and love your comments! I started working on my spending habits a number of years ago. First I stopped going to Walmart (for many reasons). I was pretty good about coming out of Target with essentials, but there was often one extra item per shopping trip. Then I started buying toiletries at Kroger. Over time I started buying toiletries and cleaning items (including t.p.) online at drugstore.com and its sister site beauty.com. Free shipping on orders over $25, fast delivery. I needed and bought flashlights from drugstore.com recently. Now when I go to the grocery I buy food. And I seldom go to Target.

I also buy things on Amazon Prime. When I find something I might want, I put it into my cart, then I often click buy later and save it. I might never buy it, but it's there in case I want to. I have ten pages of items like that. And the money I've saved not buying them.

I am on a spending fast also and have bought only necessities since Christmas. I do spend money on entertainment and have seen a number of movies, but they don't clutter my home. I actually have not spent my Christmas gift cards yet. One is $50 to Target, so I guess I'll be going there or to their website when I figure out something I need...or I'll put it toward toiletries and take $50 from my own money for something I want. I have been thinking about buying The Tudors Complete Series on DVD for a while, and the idea has stuck for a while--so I probably will buy it at some point. I like the idea of waiting because most of the time the idea of something does not stick long.

I mentioned movies. Knowing how I'd prefer to spend my money helps me to not do as much impulse buying. If I know I'd rather go to movies or concerts or sporting events than own something, that helps. I also know I'd prefer to spend my money on traveling and other experiences. And right now I need money for tuition--I have one more semester to pay toward my grad degree. After that there are some major house maintenance that needs to happen.

Finally (and I know this is long), I'm clearing clutter out of my house. I recently worked on papers and recycled three bins and have another bin to shred! There's lot more to do, but this and other work I've done over the past couple of years has helped. Books will be last.

I'd suggest one more question for the list of relevant questions to consider when buying something: How will I discard this? (Under this question is the subtext: Will discarding damage the environment? Can I sell it? How much time will that take in relation to the money I will get? Can I give it away?) I have found thinking about discarding something as I buy helpful.

P. S. I read Your Money or Your Life years ago. It, along with some other books, changed my life!

By nature I'm not a big shopper, so like others have also mentioned I tend to avoid unnecessary splurges by avoiding big stores like the plague. Also, when I have the urge to shop online, I usually put a bunch of stuff in my cart and never check out.

However, the challenge my husband and I face is that we are spending way too much at the grocery store for two people. Even if we go with a list, we tend to buy expensive items (I love lots of fresh produce), and other little goodies we may enjoy get tossed in the basket as well. We are not big food wasters and our fridge is far from jam-packed with extra junk (and we don't buy lots of food that sits on the shelf, either), but I still wonder how we manage to spend so much at the grocery store! Where does that money go??? The lemon and garlic olives and whatever cheese is being sampled Whole Foods are my version of that extra candle or scarf. Although sometimes I can't decide whether it's my shopping habits or whether good food in big cities is really just that expensive?

I "have" to go to Target today to pick up a prescription. Since the pharmacy will ring up all your other items as well, it's very tempting to get some nail polish, at the least.

I hate the regular checkout line. At Xmas I found out that you can also checkout at the jewelry counter if you just have a few items.

But the pharmacy checkout is the best! Who's outsmarted now?!?

Huh, I save up my trips to target (and other stores, like home depot). I'll keep a list of things I need from there for about a month, and then buy all those things at once. I rarely feel tempted to make impulse purchases when I am already spending a good deal of time shopping (i.e. even picking out the most mudane items, such as toilet paper, from among the many options). When my five year old is my shopping companion, she does want to make impulse buys, but she is usually satisfied being allowed to browse the toys aisles and voice what she wants without actually buying.

@ml_bos: I consider food an investment in your body and I do that same expensive grocery item bit. Just decide on a specific amount you want to spend and don't exceed it--and buy what is in season or on sale. I try to avoid expensive condiments that I am not even sure I will like (after many purchasing mistakes). Cheese and fresh produce are a good way to splurge with accumulating junk around the house, in my opinion.

What really works for me is to try to imagine the item I am about to buy in a donation box at home, not needed already. Does it look like something that will be happy in a "For Salvation Army" box? Yes? Just keep walking... :)

I don't know koinsf. When you need a plunger, your really need a plunger. But I do understand what you are saying.

Great reminders and tips! Especially this one:
• When will I have time to use it and maintain it?

A friend and I were in IKEA picking up leather care products to go with her new giant leather chair. One package contained the cleaner. Another package contained the cleaner and the "leather softening cream." She was conflicted and spent a good while weighing the pros and cons of getting the cream or not getting the cream until I finally asked my friend (a new mother!), "Are you really going to rub cream into your giant leather chair??"

"No way!" ><

It can be as simple as asking yourself a direct clutter-cutting question!

In other words, don't feel pressured to have things just because someone (or some company) thinks you should.

@ml_bos: I, too, think my grocery bill is a bit high, but like AriZevon said, it is an investment in health. I have heard the phrase, pay the grocer or pay the doctor. That seems fitting. Having said that, you mention Whole Foods. When I lived in a city with both a WF and a Trader Joe's and a Kroger all within a mile of one another, I mixed it up. I bought some things at WFs on occasion, but I went to Kroger and/or TJs at other times. I bought what had to be bought at WFs and sometimes other necessities since I was already there, but I bought a lot at TJs (and some at Kroger). So you might want to mix it up a bit, kind of like having an expensive item in a room along with something that is a lot less expensive or an expensive skirt with a less expensive t-shirt. Not to cheap down on food, and I certainly would mix up the runs from week to week and not go to all the stores on the same day...

Food costs have risen a lot lately, and there seem to be fewer sales. Farmers' Markets are great but not necessarily cheaper.

Recently I realized a browsing and shopping trigger for me was the daily emails I was getting from so many companies offering me "great" deals. Right after Christmas I unsubscribed from nearly every mailing list I was on and am working on getting catalogs to stop coming. This has made managing emails better in general and I find myself thinking less about buying more "stuff" I don't need just because it's on sale or I convince myself I need it.

I had to laugh because my biggest weakness is kitchen stuff & storage containers... it got so bad that I had storage containers storing more collapsible storage containers. :) Currently I looked around our home and I see corners filled with clutter... part mine, part hubby's, and part 3 teenage boys (biggest culprit right now.) Solution... consignment shop! Some else is now the proud owner of many of my storage containers & kitchen stuff. Clutter is now in containers lining top of boy's bookcase, clearly identified. Paper napkins have been replaced with cloth napkins made from old dish towels made by grandmother/mother. Old worn sweaters pullovers became stylish cardigans with a few simple snips and stitches. Too small shoes/clothes of teenagers... donated. hoarded candles... being burned. books... sold or donated to the literacy council. Now I shop my home, grab my camera when the impulse hits to shop to document what we have and then go out and take pictures of the surrounding area... So far so good! Our lives are beginning to be less cluttered with stuff... the guys are spending less money by trading in video games/systems... and we are enjoying time together again!

Another way I can "give in" when I have an impulse is to head to the library. While I may not actually be purchasing something, I do get to browse for whatever books, magazines, or DVDs I like and check out what I want. The feeling of getting a new book at the library is usually enough to satisfy my impulse!

I've started doing this a lot since I graduated college, but out of financial necessity. Though many people are poor all throughout college because of loans, I was fortunate enough to graduate without loans and with a healthy living situation where I shared my living expenses with a lot of other people. After I graduated, though, I was interning at different newspapers across the country — not the most lucrative way to earn a living! I'm now employed (somehow, at a newspaper. They still exist!) and throughout my internships and moving here on my super tight budget, I've had to really wait to buy even little things, like a paper towel holder or a hamper. I also spend WAY less on clothing, which was always my Achilles heel in spending.

Though I've always made lists when I go to stores, I now really, really think when I buy things not on The List, even nail polish. But it makes it even more special and rewarding when I decide to "splurge" on something, like a candle or a new T-shirt. But I really, really like this point — moving showed me how much crap I really had and didn't need, and having a tighter budget now really makes me appreciate separate what I actually need and what I just want to buy.

@ml_bos: I also totally relate with shopping online, by putting things in your cart but never checking out. With limited shopping in my college town, I used to online shop all the time. I still really like to look at things, and sometimes when I'm really afraid I'll start buying things, I'll just put it in the cart and walk away. If I still want it a few days later, I'll come back!

Rule #2 is most helpful for me.

The biggest place where I splurge is food. Trying to stay more strict with my food shopping is so hard. Especially if I want to reward myself with some ice cream!

Experience > Stuff. Words to live by. Thanks for the insight.

@HypnagogicStateRepresentative. I live in a fairly small city where there are not many choices for shopping and where the brands I prefer to buy are not available. Besides, other than a few retail jobs, please tell me how putting money into Wal-Mart or Target helps the local economy as those profits leave my home base. Everything has to be shipped somewhere, and I'm keeping my UPS guy in a job so that's local. I am working full time, am in grad school, and prefer to save the time buying online. I actually sometimes pay more. For the convenience. It wasn't "bragging" but rather sharing something I do. I must have hit a big nerve with you. It was unintentional and probably more your stuff than mine.

I'm not going to get snarky back with you, but I do think the tone of your post is the rudest I've ever seen on this site where most people make their suggestions and comments and others are free to learn from them or to ignore them. I suggest you read the site's rules on posting. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/commentpolicy

Ten years ago I quit my last office job to go freelance, and one of the reasons (really) is I felt like I spent a decent percentage of that steady income from a bi-weekly paycheck on... clothes and accessories to wear to that job. It grated on me. These weren't even awesome clothes, just standard office fare.

For the first year after my self-employment started, I went on a buying fast. I still lived well and bought groceries as usual and went out to eat, but I didn't buy a single "thing" that wasn't truly required. No clothes, bags, cute things. Though I did buy Christmas gifts because I didn't want to impose my decision on others. It was a very good year, actually, and reset my priorities and how I view temptations of cheap goods much differently even to this day.

reminds me of that Ellen Goodman quote:
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it."

Move to a small town where there are few stores and restaurants! We're city people but we ended up in a cute but tiny town because of my husband's job at a local college. We have to drive to the next medium-sized town for a Target or Home Depot. We have to drive to the nearest big city for anything more than that for shopping and or to eat out with something other than burgers or pizza. Luckily we're pretty busy during the week so we don't miss shopping or dining out options, and then we save up all our errands and meals out for trips to the city. More fun and less money spent on food than when we lived right next to a Whole Foods and could impulse buy way too much, or when we could get some good take out.

Living here in the boonies has helped a TON with my impulse buying because it's really inconvenient to actually get to a store! And it's much easier to find exactly what I want online without being tempted by other stuff. When we were shopping for a new toilet we went to several home improvement stores (so many wasted hours) and I, of course, found a way to buy something at each (a houseplant here, a new grill cover there...) but all the toilets were so ugly and water-guzzling and so we didn't even buy what we were looking for. But we found exactly the mod commode we wanted on Amazon and there was no impulse buying on the side. Finally, less shopping saves TIME! I've realized I'd rather watch a movie these days than wander around a Target where all I find are things that will end up in the outbox in a year or two.

This is a big theme in my life right now. Haven't used it in a year or two? Sell it (Wii, PS3) or give it away (clothes that I just don't like or wear). Like others, I've cancelled magazine subscriptions that stack up and refocused my efforts on finding books at the library or at least buying used ones.

For me a big trigger is shoes (probably because they don't care if I'm bloated or have gained an extra 10 lbs.) and cookbooks (even though I've been to culinary school and don't really use the actual recipes in them because I prefer to improvise).

Another was dining out, particularly at breakfast and lunch. And this was knowing that I'm a much better cook than most of the places I was frequenting for my $12 lunches. Daily Starbucks trips (at $6 a pop) have been replaced with a pound of ground coffee stored in my desk drawer next to my Melitta pour-over brewer. I miss the 10 min walk and fresh air, but I save a lot of time and money. The morning bagel stop has also been cut at a great savings and now I only do that every couple of weeks for a treat.

I've also limited my grocery shopping to mostly fresh fruit and vegetables while I work through my overstocked pantry and freezer to use up what was bought months ago. Because, really, do I need 5 kinds of dried beans and 8 kinds of whole grains when I live by myself? Probably not at the same time, and I know where to get them if a craving DOES strike...

I'm sure there's more, but I'm off to yoga (which I should probably start making more of an effort to do in my home instead of paying for as many classes as I do...)

I just came back to this site for a little inspiration because I saw a pair of $50 earrings I thought I really needed and glasseye your comments brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. I wish you all the success in the world.

Yes, yes, yes! I've been making my son's pants for the last little while (long story short, he's tough to fit properly) and it recently occurred to me that even though I'm spending more time making them than I would shopping, I'm cutting out the trip to the store (or the online shopping) that presents me with lots of temptations and impulse buys. Malls and shops make me want things. I haven't been to the mall in at least half a year, and I don't miss it. I wrote a lot more about this today, actually: http://sweetcrunchyjewy.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/want-for-nothing/

@glasseye - Hey. I wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad you are finding ways to rebuild.

My resolution for 2013 is to buy myself no new clothes. I am celebrating the sufficiency of already having enough. I am also decluttering & reducing my wardrobe. I am getting better value from my clothes (lower cost per wear). And if something wears out I will see if I can get by without it, or get a used item. So far so good (yes I know it's only January!).

I have also cancelled all junk mail/catalogues, and my one magazine subscription.

Thanks for the motivational post :)

Remember that Sex And the City episode where Carrie realizes that she has $40,000 in shoes and has no savings account? That was my 20s. God, I was stupid.

I recently signed up for Amazon Prime - yes it's $75/year BUT I can order toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, etc to be delivered to my house at no charge! I still check prices & they even offer coupons sometimes. I haven't been to Target in 2 weeks. I figure it's about $6/month for the service and would spend way more than that on impulse purchases twice a week. Once I considered the cost of gas and my time, Prime is a clear money-saver for me.

molly h - that quote is absolutely perfect!

I'm still a sucker for all things vintage on eBay. I find that sniping (via esnipe.com) not only enables me to put in a bid for something without raising interest in the item (and driving up the price) but also enables me to decide well in advance what I'm willing to pay for something. I can also change my mind and remove my bid without the seller ever knowing, right up until minutes before the auction is over. It also helps me avoid last-minute heated bidding wars. It has certainly cut down on the amount of stuff I have coming to my house in the mail (not to mention all the boxes and packing material I feel terrible about just throwing away) - I'm sure my mail carrier is happy, too.

wow. your point is well-illustrated but did it need such a gender-based assumption about one individual?

I think the point is that both men and women have their weak areas...

I wrote a blog post about this. I have cut back a lot, especially at places like HomeSense. I now take photos with my phone of things I think I want to buy for my home. More often than not, I bring the photos home, hold the photo of the item up in the room I think it may go in and decide it doesn't work for one reason or another. I still get the high of finding something but usually don't end up buying it.

When I'm at Target (or shopping anywhere) I make a list of what I need. Then I go straight to those sections and pick them up, and don't deviate anywhere else. It works really well! (Except I am a sucker for the clearance bins at Target....)

Also, I do a lot of shopping online instead of in person. I find shopping online makes it easier to control your spending because you can see the totals before you check out and you have extra time to step away from the computer and do other things before coming back and deciding if you REALLY need that item. Also, often you can find awesome discounts and coupons for use online.

My boyfriend likes to tell me that I "visit" things. So I will usually only buy things if I go back a few times. There were a ton of items that I saw the first time and thought "I need that". I told myself that if I still wanted it in a week that I would go back and buy it. It's pretty rare that I go back and buy it later.

I also like Pinterest for this.

"Reward yourself with experiences instead of things." Speaking my language!

Something that helps me from buying impulsively is to imagine the state and place of the object in a few years from now. Will it wear poorly, easily scratch, or easily soak in dirt stains that are impossible to get out? Will it be covered in dust and hair, left to rot under some random household furniture at some later date, forgotten? Or will it be stuffed into my knick knack drawer a few months later either because it wasn't completely necessary is now takes up space and wasn't as useful as I thought it was? If it fits into these categories, I set it back down.

Seeing the object for what it may become has really helped me with preventing myself from bringing random objects home.

Are there really that few people who buy just what they need and no more? Surely not! And a collection of books is not clutter, it is called a library.

wonderful ideas. I enjoy reading everyone's comments. The stores are so big nowadays, too big. Some days I think it is good exercise going from one end of the store to the other but it is expensive "exercise". I try to do the "do I WANT it or do I NEED it". Thank you for the information. Really like your articles. Learn something new each time I read them.

A friend recently told me Sephora has a return policy that includes opened items. Maybe there is hope for you to recoup some cash.

My Target fast came about as a necessity - I was majorly underemployed for a good 2 years and barely getting by. I just recently started a new, much better paying job and it is hard not to see those numbers in my checking account and want to go crazy. But I am trying to remain on my same frugal budget despite the change in income! A few things that helped me were using a calculator and adding up items as I put them in the cart. That $5 on a candle, $12 on a scarf really does add up, but sometimes you don't realize it until you get to checkout. One of my biggest problems is clothing. I've found if I do laundry it helps remind me of items I already own and like! (this might be a very sad commentary on how long I go without doing laundry, but it works for me) My own cure for Target-mania is just to go there a lot. The effect eventually wears off. I live right down the street from one and use it a lot for getting everyday items. I breeze right past the shiny, colorful stuff because I see it so much. A little exposure therapy.

This post is really interesting! I am having to be frugal with what i buy due to being made redundant last year and the job market so far evading me(!!! frustrating!!) but I am like a magpie. I long for new shiny things especially for my home and kids! Since not being in a position to buy things like i used to. It's given me time to give my spending more thought! For instance, I have a terrible magazine habit...I LOVE interior mags....sigh! I positively drool when i see the latest issues out. So having had to recently do an expenditure sheet, i was shocked to see i was spending around £20 a month on magazines. I have a toy chest full of them. Two book cases getting heavier with the weight of magazines (and books!). So my answer to being more frugal and mindful. I took out a magazine subscription to two of my favourite mags. The cost is minimal compared to my monthly spend and over this next year, I will probably save myself £200....yikes!! Which could be put to actually buying an investment piece of furniture that i've been oggling from the magazines. Currently we are waiting to hear if we are going to be moving house and i'm desperate to have a home i can be proud of. My current home is cluttered and drives me crazy. So i'm going to take these tips in this article and really try to be more frugal and save for the home i really desire for my family and me!

I rarely go out shopping in my home country. Yet when I go to the US twice a year, to visit family, I find that half of my non- family time is spent shopping, rather than going into NYC to museums of look up old friends. I have a sense of panic, that if I don't take advantage of the cheep US prices NOW, I will spend so much more at home.
Ben Franklin wrote that nothing is more expensive, than never turning down a bargain.
(The fact that American clothing all seems to be cut for whales, has made turning down shopping easier.)
So rather than buying gifts that fill closets, I just go to over priced Whole Foods, and buy a stash of funky American boutique chocolates, maple syrup, and other delicacies. And a discount art supply store. (the tubes of paint get eaten up too!)
And rather than massage my soul with a fashion statement, Twice a year I get a good massage!

This is a good post. I am a minimalist, but my soon-to-be-ex-husband has major hoarding tendencies. He cannot shop without buying a ton of things, buying in bulk (things that will spoil and/or are unneeded), etc. I am unhappy about the divorce, but the aspect of doing my own thing shopping-wise will be a great relief to me.

I strive to only buy things that are vintage, well-made, and needed. I deviate from this when it comes to clothing, being on the verge of a plus size means that I am not able to thrift all my clothes.

I never shop at Target, Walmart, etc. Those stores are overwhelming.and ugly and trick you into buying cheap crap. I buy from locally owned stores. Exceptions are groceries when the farmer's market is not in season. There is a lovely local co-op in town; I shop there, but I cannot afford to buy everything there. I am now rearranging my spending so I can buy everything there.

Which is not to say I do not spend. My biggest weakness is art. My second-biggest weakness is food; I like to eat out :( My project for 2013 as I rebuild after the end of my relationship would be to cook at home much more. I love cooking from scratch, I just need to reconnect to that.

Where

Yeah, no one buys a plunger just for fun! He probably also used the bathroom at Target while there.

I managed to curb my book collecting mania by joining the not-for-profit PaperbackSwap.com. http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/how_to_swap_books.php. You list a minimum of 10 books you are willing to mail to another member and automatically get 2 free credits, enabling you to choose immediately from the more than 4 million books currently listed with paperbackswap. I won't go into all the details, but the club's system makes it very easy to order a book, or respond to a request for one of your books. The price to mail a paperback to someone is usually about $2.47. And you get a book back for free that you can read and then re-list. If books you want aren't immediately available, you can make a wishlist and you will be in line to get that book when someone finally lists it. You can get most anything your heart desires to read (cookbooks, poetry, audio books, etc. — even hardback books) are all included. And you will be super-motivated to read them, yet not keep them, since there's something in it for you: a free book. There's also a CD swap and a DVD swap in operation. For those of us who are limited in our ability to get to the library for whatever reason, this is a great way to get a lot to read while not having the books collect dust in your home unless you really want them to.

Wow - that sounds like a fantastic program, I'll have to check it out!

Turn shopping into a race against the clock. Make your list, walk through the door and go! See how fast you can get your shopping done and out the door. When you are concentrating on the efficiency of your shopping you don't have time to browse. If you are at all competitive you will find this shopping style addicting.

Great post and a comment section really worth going through (I join the others wishing @glasseye the best as you seek a life both stable and creative). I've done a lot of the stuff mentioned above, but also this: I no longer get things because they're a bargain. Even if I'm talking about a beautiful silk scarf for $1 from the Salvation Army, after all the "would I really wear/use it?" questions, I ask myself, "Would I pay $100 for that?" If the answer is no, then I don't get it. Nothing is a bargain if it goes unused and unloved.

I do all of this already and it was always out of necessity. I ended subscriptions to mags as they just piled up, but I've kept some old ones. I stopped purchasing books and used the library, etc. I don't tend to follow trends either. I actually have never enjoyed shopping and if you do so with other people they try to influence you to buy items that are their taste or maybe things that you really don't want or need, so I rarely go shopping with other people. I would say evaluate your purchases and what drives you to make them. I would say rethink your friendships and associations with others if you find people are not supportive of your life -- what you value, even if this means spending more time alone. I'd much prefer a walk in the park, hiking or going to a museum than shopping with friends as an activity, but I've had a difficult time finding other like-minded individuals. People should support and value who you are rather than trying to influence you to be like them and if anyone hasn't been reading much about spending and how people in the US got themselves into financial troubles -- a lot of people mentioned keeping up with their friends/associations as a source of creating financial difficulties. Little things add up and truthfully does it really make you happy -- usually not as I find it fleeting.

I too wish glasseye all the best with their new home. I hope all goes well for you from now on.
I think the trick is to identify a want versus a need and decluttering to identify what you have and want to keep.
I love Ikea but have not been in one in many years. There is now one in the city four hours one way from me and I have been in that city twice since it opened and drove past it both times without going in. Why, because I don't need anything that they sell at this time.
The other bonus, aside from money saved, is time. I have spent too much time in the past on my decluttering and hauling stuff to thrift shops etc. Due to my location, these are all long journeys, and I realize there is more fun stuff to do than unload my vehicle on my trips. I treat thrift shops and most others as a museum or art gallery, very neat to see what is there but rarely do I have to take anything home.

This just sounds like a luxury problem...

Well, all this flap about not spending, not buying, purging, saving, etc. is great except for one thing: This website, for example, will cease to exist because without people using the advertisers that support it, it will be gone. Same with Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, the little shop around the corner from you, etc...doesn't matter, when you stop buying, they stop selling, then they go out of business and guess where that leaves the economy? But this purging and simplifying is just another passing fad, similar to the "country" look and wallpaper borders of 10 years ago, or the sappy words everyone has on their walls right now. "Live, Love, Laugh," "Always Kiss Me Goodnight" or "Keep Calm and Carry On." In another 5 years or another faze of your life, you will return to shopping, justifying it however you please. And I'll bet you the minimalist craze doesn't apply to your kids and their eternal whine for more toys, more electronics. Just something to think about.

Try shopping at another inexpensive local grocery stores for produce and other food items and just buy meat, fish and chicken from Whole Foods.

I don't think people are giving up on shopping forever, they are just trying to be more mindful about the things they purchase.

Target, books and just a quick bite to eat at a coffee shop while I am out running errands ends up with me needlessly spending. I am trying to cook more at home,eat lunch before I go out to run errands and to take my Rubbermaid refillable water bottle with me so I don't end up buying water or a diet soda.

I am also trying to buy things I will need such as toiletries in bulk when they come on sale so I don't have to run to the store as often where I might be tempted on an impulse purchase. I have purchased 12 antiperspirant/ deodorants, 6 bars of my winter soap, a large bulk size bottle of shampoo, 12 conditioners, 12 packages of toothpaste and dental floss, 4 extra toothbrushes, 12 containers of feminine hygiene supplies and 4 bottles of moisturizers.

Your comment about American clothing seeming to be cut for whales reminded me of my retail experience. The Europeans and especially Asians seemed to find American sizes to be enormous while Americans always think the sizes are cut too small..

Getting our groceries delivered is the best way to help my husband not impulse buy. He is a sucker for a 'deal' ... But he is also very good at keeping receipts, and I am very good at talking to sales clerks "my husband thought I would like this, but he was wrong..."

Great tips. I also find that canceling catalogs or sales emails from retailers helps me. If I don't see what's out there, I'm not tempted. Pinterest can be counter-productive for this, though!

I keep 2 shopping lists on my fridge. One is groceries/toiletries, the other is other stuff (lightbulbs, items of clothing, books, etc.). I write things on these lists and I stick to them. If my son needs a pair of snow boots, I start scouting for them when I'm out and about doing other errands or I check on ebay first. I don't usually buy the first thing I see. It deeply satisfies me to combine errands and find the best price and fill the real needs in our house.

Another fad? Perhaps. But I read the book Your Money or Your Life in the 1990s and simplifying books then, too. For me it's not about not shopping at all, but rather about shopping for what I need and making wise choices with my money. As I get older I want less clutter around me and the things that are there I want to have meaning. A friend was downsizing three or four years ago. She was in her early 50s. Her three daughters were worried about her going to a smaller home and having fewer things. I reminded her that her daughters, all in their 20s, were at the age of accumulating/gathering and buying, while she (their mom) was at an age of making choices about other ways to spend her money than square footage. She still wanted (and has) a nice home, just one that was big enough to have the occasional overnight guest. I wish I had not accumulated as much as I did, because I now have to use valuable time discarding in some way or another. For me this is not a fad. I started getting my finances in better shape around 1995. Today I own my home and car and am paying out of pocket tuition and such for my third graduate degree (total cost will be something like $35K, and I have one more semester to pay) and am traveling some with plans for much more in the next few years. When I decided to pay off all my debts, I had to consider my spending and shopping habits. Over time I have tweaked this, and I am now pretty good about not bringing a lot into my house that is not consumable...though I do bring in certain items from my travels as reminders, like a cook ankh bought at the library gift shop in Alexandria.

I was thinking about my evolution to mostly online shopping over the weekend and realized that time was, as I said above, a big factor. But another one was the frustration of shopping locally. First, most of the stores in my small city do not carry brands that I have found online and want, many of them green cleaning products and toiletries or the non-traditional, like a shampoo that has no sulfates and is not widely advertised on TV. Then when I do buy something that is carried here locally, I go in and find empty shelves (such as out of my mascara or makeup color) and have to go back two, three, even four times. I just over time found it easier to buy online. I have Amazon Prime at the student rate right now (free the first year, discounted until I am no longer in school), but the post above about it being $6 a day makes that seem very affordable in the future.

Clearly this is an extremely popular post and I'm thankful for it and everyone's tips. Comfort in numbers. :) This also seems timely because my boyfriend very recently made an observation/comment regarding how I buy things, then return them so frequently. I guess I could attribute it to 'buyer's remorse', but it goes deeper than that.

The fact is, I'm a sucker for a bargain. I almost feel guilty for passing something up that is a 'good deal'. The problem therein lies, where to store all of these good deals. In addition, and with reference to Target...the dollar bins...they lure me in every single freakin time. Let's face it, there's a holiday or prominent event every single month of the year and Target knows it. They put the pink and red Valentines goodies out the 1st of january, mid january...the st. paddy's day green rolls in and for someone like myself who LOVES to decorate my home for whatever occasion.... it's a complete trap. And you know you'd better hurry and pick it up before it's gone...oh and it will be gone in a blink of an eye.... and that's where the buying and returning comes in. My issues was after I buy something, it would sit on the floor with the receipt on top of it while I made my decision. This isn't good for a couple of reasons: this stuff is taking up floor real estate in my office and it creates anxiety (the buyers remorse) and makes more work for me. In other words....i bought it because I'm pretty sure I want it and I definitely don't want to miss out and have it be gone the next time I'm there, so I'll think about it for a couple of days, but if I decide against it, then back to the store I go which sucks up time. Oh and of course on the 'return' trip....there are those dollar bins again...*sigh*; it's a vicious cycle. But I decided, I needed to break this habit and there were a few things that helped with this: Hoarders and Extreme Couponing. If you've got Netflix...watch them in that order and do it all at once. It'll leave you feeling like a dirty glutton.

The first of these shows, if you're like me, will make you squirm, then go on a massive cleanse of all of the unnecessary items in your home; you do not need 5 spatulas.
The second, again if you're like me....will intrigue you if you've got a bit of a competitive side and you'll be determined to NOT pay full price for anything. And no...I do not have a stock room filled with Yakisoba noodles, nor do I have a decade supply of diapers for a child I don't have, but I do spend some time finding deals and hunting down a coupon for them and when something that gets used regularly in my house goes on sale, clearance, etc....I load up. Two recent examples of the new me, are that last week, I saved more than I spent at the grocery store because I planned out my shop with a list, used manufacturer coupons and took advantage of that store's deals for the week. It was a proud moment and I even kept the receipt:) Also, when Target puts stuff on sale, such as the 'buy 3 and get a $5 target gift card', or clearances items, I take full advantage. Let's just say, we won't need shaving gel or feminine things for the rest of this year (no kidding) and I paid very little for it all. Oh and the Target red card is a must...you get 5% back on everything, so if Target is a place you go regularly...it's worth it.

As for the newfound courage to curb the urge to buy...when I'm in the store and I see something I may want...it goes in the cart, no questions. I then have the entire time whilst I'm there (working off a list for the things I need) to ask myself the following: Do I need this item, will it serve a purpose, where will I store it and is there something else I could use this money for that would give me more satisfaction. i.e. is having this scarf more important than putting the money towards the dive vacation we so desperately want to take. Some days...it might be yes. If the day has been particularly jacked up and a small reward is going to make me feel a great deal better, then I walk out with it feeling like I made a solid decision. Other days, I put it back and I feel great because I didn't succumb to temptation or the 'bargain'. Granted...it's going to take saying 'no' to a lot of little things to buy that vacation, but the point is more to see what can accumulate when you just say 'no'.

To sum it up and I feel like this could cover a few topics, but the idea is the same.....deprive yourself of everything and when your willpower is on a break, you'll go bananas. But....be sensible, take pleasure in what you already have, and/or using your money in ways that bring greater satisfaction and you'll find that you have less crap lying around and you'll feel better all around.

I always put down things I don't really need and give it a second thought. AND if I watch the show "Hoarders" it helps to remind me to live with less!

Also try this: Instead of asking yourself, "Do I need this," tell yourself, "I don't need this." 99% of the time it's true. From snacks to shoes to bad relationships... What you need is limited to a set of clothes, enough food to keep you alive, and shelter to keep you out of the elements. Probably also a job to pay for those things.

Relearn what the word "need" really means, and it's easier to understand that you don't need most of what you have.

Check Craigslist, garage sales, estate sales for vintage wardrobes. They tend to be made better than new ones. Better craftsmanship. Mid century modern is a popular style now so you'll pay more for those. If you happen to like other design styles you can find some incredible bargains.

Ugh, just visited the Everday Minimalist site. While most of us speak/write conversationally and regularly use poor grammar, her phraseology is annoying to read.

With regard to my prior comment, apparently the Everday Minimalist blog is written by multiple authors so my earlier comment doesn't apply to all blog entries.

I had the same problem at Target. My "creative' solution is to "shop" by putting all those fun little knickyknacks in the cart, and then leave the cart (still full of those extraneous items - sorry Target employees) carrying only what I came in for to the checkout.

It doesn't always work - this is a continual challenge - but i actually made up a little business card. ( I notice it's missing right now!) On one side I list some important long term goals; on the other questions:

Will this make you happier in an hour? a week A year?

Is it more important to you to have this OR to ( your choice - travel, have a nicer home, ride horses, make home repairs/renovations, help someone else, have a more secure future?)

Will this help you to achieve your goals or take you farther away?

And only one more: actually, I am such a shoe addict that I can't allow myself to "look." period. For some people it may be other things. I actually had to make myself take inventory....

My weakness is TJMaxx and Homegoods. I alternate between buying clothes and buying kitchen/home stuff. That is, if I run out of excuse to buy clothes, I'd convince self to buy kitchen items. Doesn't help that I am new to baking and in need of everything. I know I can find them from thrift shops, goodwill, and garage sale but I can't resist a new potato masher, a silicone spatula, or a set of measuring cups.

Thank god I don't go to Target, Walmart, 99cent Stores, Ross, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack or any other big stores with gazillion items.

The only way for me to curtail impulse buy is internet shopping. I buy from Amazon. Due to return shipping I almost always never buy on impulse. Instead I have items in the basket and think about it for days or weeks before "buy".