How to Buy What You Need (and nothing more)

Resist shopping temptationsI have a confession to make: I love going shopping. I love having new and pretty clothes and wearing them for the first time. How does that fit in with a sustainable lifestyle? I guess every girl knows the common problem: You buy something, you wear it a couple of times and slowly the excitement wears of. It’s just something in your closet that was en vogue for some time (maybe you don’t even like it anymore). You need to buy something new.

It’s a never ending circle and depending on your spending habits, quite an expensive one. So today I decided to put together some tips on how you can reduce your spending habits and buying less stuff that you don’t need at all. These aren’t world-changing, brand-new tips, but it’s good to remember it from time to time.

Does the new piece fit in with the clothes you already own?

Try to picture at least three different outfits you could wear the new item with. If it’s a jeans with a really colourful pattern for example, but you don’t have any tops or jackets to go with it, I would highly recommend to reconsider buying it.

Likewise, try to imagine wearing it in different seasons

Of course, if it’s a winter coat, that doesn’t work out, but consider how the pieces would transition into different season. Would this dress look good with and without tights? Can I wear that shirt with a cardigan on top? What would this skirt look like with boots or with ballet flats? You get the deal.

Leave the store

I almost never buy things the same day I see them at the store. I try them on, I think about it for a few days, try them on again, if I still like it I buy it (or if I’m not sure I come back again). This sounds as if it’s quite an effort, but it’s actually okay and this system has saved me from so many purchases I would have regretted later. I can think about if I really want those shoes for example at home and if I still do after a few days, it’s a deal.

Know what you want

If you stick to this, you won’t end up with stuff that’s actually not even your style. Thanks to Pinterest you can just look at your last outfit pins. Do you see a jean jacket on almost every picture? Well, you can savely say that buying one would be okay.

I hope this helped the next time you want to go shopping. What are your favourite tips on buying only what you need?

2 Comments

  • Ali Mackin
    May 7, 2013

     

    Great post and so true. I am pretty good a controlling myself but I could always do better : O

    Cute blog following on bloglovin

    Ali of

    http://www.dressingken.com

  • Ice pandora
    May 8, 2013

     

    I think the same way about
    #1, like creating an outfit in
    your head with this new
    piece of garment in your
    hand! Anyway thanks for
    the tips c:

    xx http://icepandora.blogspot.com


Meet Hanna
Hanna's Places - a green lifestyle blog

Hanna’s Places is a green lifestyle magazine written by Hanna Ulatowski. It’s all about slowing down in a fast-paced society and finding ways to live a more sustainable, simple lifestyle.

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