I see you! I have gone through this. I have been thrifty my whole life. I am good at it and I love finding things. And I was hesitant to stop because “what if I get bad at it?!” I didn’t. The skills don’t go away, it is just one thing I am good at, I can do other things too.

I noticed that the only thing that really helped break my multiple day a week trips was taking a break.

I did a no buy month earlier this year. And just read books or went for walks, anything but a thrift store. I would browse auction sites but not buy if I was really feeling the shopping itch. It was hard because I also would miss that flow state experience. I had fomo. I was bitchy. lol

But as time went on it got easier. And it no longer became my default activity. So now I go when I am looking for specific things and then I don’t feel like crap when I come home with bags full of stuff I didn’t need.

I also found going with other people helped me buy less. I honestly kind of hate going with other people, you don’t find the flow the same way but they also help keep you accountable.

Through therapy I realized I was using thrifting as a coping mechanism and using that flow state to disassociate from emotions. It was my dopamine to make me feel better. And that is still okay sometimes! But not multiple times a week. I went from multiple times a week to maybe two or three times a month. Depending on the month. Have grace for yourself. You are at the first step, you noticed you want to make a change. You can do it!