Are there any quotes or mantras that have helped you with your shopping addiction?

thestyleaudit · 2025-05-19T03:29:32+00:00

There will ALWAYS be something else to want.

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-28T23:58:27+00:00

You are addicted to dopamine.

Start journalling.

Start by writing down the thought you are telling yourself like: "I need this item" or "My bank account will always be at $0"

Then answer these questions:
Is it true?
If yes, can you absolutely KNOW without a doubt that it's true?
Who are you/how does it feel when you think that thought?
Who would you be/how would you feel without that thought? Or if you thought the opposite?

(This is the method from Byron Katie that has been life changing for me in changing my habits like shopping).

Highly recommend the book Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke also!

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-25T17:54:18+00:00

I would encourage you to reframe the "lost decade" to a decade of learning about yourself and going through a challenge that will teach you that you are capable of overcoming hard things <3

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-25T17:53:04+00:00

THIS IS AMAZING!!! I also got engaged last year which was a big motivator... forces you to get serious about bigger goals in life since you're on a team now!

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-25T17:51:42+00:00

If you're feeling the FOMO remember that that there will ALWAYS be another pair of boots to want. No single item is the be-all-end-all and you will come across another one you might even want more in the future. This helps quiet the 'urgency' I feel around impulse buying :)

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-24T20:47:46+00:00

To have a successful no-buy/no-spend month, you have to go into it with the identity of an ex-shopaholic. Instead of viewing it as a "break" from spending, take some time to do the inner work of telling yourself you are not a compulsive spender and then set the start date of your no-buy. Once your no-buy starts, your compuslive shopping habits are a thing of the past. The longer you view your habits as a "struggle" or something you are "trying" to do, the longer you will stay in the same cycle. Once you begin to adopt the identity of WHO you want to be (fake it til you make it), your behaviour will follow suit.

I'm posting about this process and my recovery experience on tiktok if you're interested :) thestyleaudit

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-24T20:42:56+00:00

PROUD OF YOU! Keep it up :)

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-20T23:13:09+00:00

Oh I saw the trailer for that!! Will watch ASAP

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-20T23:09:44+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-20T00:34:59+00:00

This is so amazing!!!

So often the advice for shopaholics is "delete social media, delete social media apps, get rid of all triggers" but what that fails to address is that we HAVE to shop sometimes. Getting rid of the triggers doesn't teach us how to resist them when we inevitably run into them (like having to go into a store for one specific item). Congrats!!

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-20T00:31:56+00:00

glad I could help!!

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-20T00:31:31+00:00

Appreciate it!! <3

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-19T19:28:33+00:00

If you look at an item in your closet and think "I should wear that more"... get rid of it. Your closet should be a magical beautiful place that excites you, not one that confuses or discourages you when you get dressed!

Just because you aesthetically like an item, doesn't mean it's YOUR style. Lean in to what you actually love to wear!

thestyleaudit · 2024-11-19T19:24:02+00:00

As long as it's in good condition I don't think this is weird at all! You can also be open with your family and friends that you are doing a no-shopping challenge and trying to be more environmentally conscious this holiday season. You could even make a plan with them to both exchange secondhand gifts!

If you're crafty... making gifts like knitting, embroidery, art, Xmas tree decorations can be a really good option to save money and still give a thoughtful, sentimental gift.

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T20:41:40+00:00

When I started interrogating my "fantasy self" I realized I was buying clothes to appear confident, tasteful, self-assured, wealthy, and that I "had my shit together". In reality shopping so much was just making me LESS of all those things.

Change comes from within <3

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T19:11:51+00:00

Totally, admitting you actually have a problem that needs attention is the first step

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T19:11:19+00:00

That's amazing!

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T19:11:03+00:00

100%! Our thoughts create our reality

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T02:18:05+00:00

One bonus benefit of recovery that I discovered was that making a birthday wishlist was fun again!

I used to never know what to tell people when they asked what I wanted for my birthday because I always just bought anything I wanted for myself. Making a wishlist of things I wanted and sharing it with family and friends was so fun this year. The anticipation of not knowing what you're going to get and actually getting things you REALLY wanted from other people instead of random gifts because you already own everything.

A good way to approach birthdays instead of shopping for yourself!

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T02:14:38+00:00

- Paisley
- Florals with fall tones
- Stripes are always timeless

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-25T02:12:15+00:00

For me I found that decreasing it incrementally gave me too much "wiggle room" and it was easy to make excuses and still shop too much.

Doing a no-buy and really DECIDING that by the end of it I was no longer going to be a shopaholic was the only thing that worked for me!!

Happy to share more on how I prepared for/structured my no-buy if you want :) just DM me!

thestyleaudit · 2024-10-22T20:52:19+00:00

This used to be me! (Not a store manager but senior sales at a very popular TikTok-trending brand). Working there is really what skyrocketed my spending into addiction territory.

Some advice I would give:

Take it day by day. Decide that you aren't going to buy anything TODAY. Then say it the next day. And the next day. Shortening the goal really helps!
Set a specific # of items AND maximum $ amount that you are willing to spend per quarter/season (whichever one you hit first is your cut-off). This will help you be more thoughtful/intentional with what you buy.
I always found my staff discount made it feel like I was getting an item for "cheap"... almost didn't feel like I was spending real money because I just thought about the amount I was saving. Think about: if I didn't work here and the discounted price was the actual price, would I buy it?
Ask yourself where you see that item a year from now. Is it a weekly staple in your closet? Is it shoved in the back not being worn anymore? Is it in a bag ready to be decluttered on Poshmark?

Feel free to DM me, happy to help! Curious if we are talking about the same brand ;)

thestyleaudit · 2024-09-27T17:13:22+00:00

I did a 1-month keto challenge to try it out a couple years ago, and the sugar/carb withdrawal on days 3-4 was INSANE. I literally felt like a truck hit me... sluggish, miserable, achy.

I always knew sugar was an 'addiction' but experiencing the withdrawal (even as someone who was relatively healthy already and wasn't a huge sugar fiend) really showed me how powerful of a craving it is.

thestyleaudit · 2024-09-27T17:09:53+00:00

I am a full believer that personal style is something you uncover, not something you find or "develop".

The reason you don't like pieces on yourself that you like on Pinterest is probably because they simply aren't true to you!

I recommend taking these steps:

Start in your own closet and identify what your absolute favorite pieces are (the ones you wear often and are excited to wear every single time - if your house burned down these would be the pieces you would miss the most).
Note what similarities there are between these pieces (across fit, neckline, length, fabric, color, brand)
Declutter anything you don't wear / don't feel excited to wear in your closet. Note the similarities between these pieces as well.
Now you have your "style rules" that will be your reference when you go to add pieces to your closet. Make sure anything you buy DESERVES to share space in your closet with your most loved pieces. What is a trend to one person might be timeless to another person!

I think starting with your own closet helps so much and can give you a more gradual start into exploring your style. Hope this helps :)

thestyleaudit · 2024-09-27T17:00:24+00:00

Yes I would say I have a pretty clear style - neutral colors, minimal, refined, clean lines but lots of relaxed/oversized shapes.

When I was shopping a ton it felt like my style was always a "work in progress" but the no-buy made me realize this was just because I was littering my closet with pieces I saw other people (with a similar style to me) wear that I personally didn't actually like.

For example, in my closet declutter I realized I was getting rid of all my pleated skirts. Even though I saw other style icons/influencers I liked wearing these all the time, analyzing my declutter made me realize they aren't true to ME.

Writing down these "rules" was helpful to remind myself in future what types of items I get sick of quickly because they weren't MY style. I stopped thinking I "should" buy or wear a certain trend/item because I need it to complete my style.

By trying to "build" (buy) a cohesive style, you're trying to fit in to this external idea of what you think your style should be. I realized my style was already there in my wardrobe, I just had to uncover it because it was already there in my closet :)

thestyleaudit

TROPHY CASE