As longtime readers of “Recovering Shopaholic” may recall, I used to publish useful links lists on specific topics every Friday (you can see the resources archive here), and I also include links at the end of some standard posts.  Although I’ll probably still do these things on occasion, I’ve decided to consolidate most of my helpful links into a monthly post.

Sharing resources and tips from around the world!

Included below is the July 2014 edition.  This list features articles on the standard “Recovering Shopaholic” topics of shopping, wardrobe management, and style, as well as a few others I think you might enjoy on alternate subjects.  I hope you enjoy this month’s assortment of links.  Please feel free to share any thoughts you have on these articles in the comments section. You’re also welcome to include any other links you feel may interest your fellow readers.

On Shopping and Shopping Psychology

• Many of us struggle with shopping consciously and wisely during sales.  Jill Chivers recently published her “7 Simple Truths about Sales,” which includes a few pieces of sage advice for navigating the tricky waters of sales shopping.  Many of these tips will be familiar to you (and have been mentioned here), but they definitely bear repeating!
• There is often a lot of focus (by me and others) on the negative aspects of shopping, but shopping in and of itself is basically a morally neutral activity.  Of course, many of us take it too far such that there are adverse effects, but there are also some benefits to shopping.  Jill Chivers summarizes an article on this topic from “Psychology Today” and outlines five life circumstances in which shopping can be helpful.
• Lots of articles from Jill Chivers today, but she is writing some of the best stuff out there on shopping psychology!  I love that she reviews a lot of the research and summarizes it succinctly and compellingly.  In one of her recent posts, she summarizes another “Psychology Today” article on the emotions that drive our purchases and how marketers tap into them to get us to buy more.

On Style and Wardrobe Management

• I write a lot about wardrobe management and have offered various tips on how we can successfully de-clutter our closets and cultivate more workable wardrobes (I’m still working on both of these things!).  I recently discovered a blog series called “Wardrobe Rehab – 6 Steps to Your Perfect Closet.”  This series walks us through the steps of culling, style definition, gathering essentials, closet organization, choosing a color palette, and focusing our shopping.
• In my June useful links post, I mentioned the “10 Item Wardrobe” approach to minimalist fashion.  While some people swear by swear by such a philosophy, Bridgette Raes isn’t buying it.  Read her alternate tips for gaining control of your closet.
• If you’re trying to shop your closet more than the stores, you’ll need to learn to better use what you have.  Imogen Lamport gives us lots of ideas in “How to Create More Outfits from your Existing Wardrobe,” as well as some links to click if you want to dig deeper with certain topics.
• As those who have read my jewelry inventory posts (here and here) know, I have a lot of necklaces.  But what stops me from wearing them more often is not knowing which necklaces work with the various necklines on my tops and dresses. This guest post on “Wardrobe Oxygen” provides lots of tips and visuals to help us wear and enjoy our necklaces.

On Other Topics

• In all of the busyness and noise of our day-to-day lives, it can be difficult to carve out some space and quiet time for ourselves.  In a recent compelling post (which starts with a quote that particularly resonated with me), Courtney Carver of “Be More with Less” suggests ten ways in which we can cultivate more peace in our fast-paced world.  This article inspired the post I will publish here on Friday, so stay tuned!
• In the same vein as the link above, “The Minimalists” recently shared their approach to managing email.   Most of us receive more email than we know what to do with and spend far more time on dealing with this influx of information than we’d like.  “Check Email Like a Minimalist” outlines five simple (but not necessarily easy) changes we can all make to stop email from consuming too much of our time and our lives.   I probably won’t commit to suggestion #1, but the others all seem doable, and I’m sure they would be highly effective as well!
• In response to my “Shopping and Wardrobe Goals for 2014”post earlier this year, a reader shared an article which argues for using systems instead of goals.  I recently re-read that article, “The Case for Having No Goals in Your Life,” and decided to include it here.  Although I’ve been a long-time proponent of setting goals and using the SMART principle, I’m strongly considering giving systems a try for a while instead.  Who knows?  It might work a lot better and cause me less stress and anxiety, too!
• I share a lot of style-related posts (including one today!) from the always compelling and very prolific Bridgette Raes, but she occasionally writes on alternate subjects.  A few months ago, she recounted the story of how she almost threw in the towel on her business last year.  Fortunately for her – and for all of us who love her posts, she persevered and has achieved far more success than she would have dreamed.  I really needed to read (and re-read!) “Don’t Quit Before the Miracle,” as I often get discouraged about blogging as well as other areas of life.  Bridgette didn’t give up and she encourages us not to do so, either!

In Conclusion

I know that the number of links in these posts can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to click through all of them!  The reason I call these monthly installments “grab bags” of useful links is that you can pick and choose the ones you’d like to read and leave the rest.

If you’re like me and suffer from “fear of missing out” (FOMO), you may have to remind yourself that there will always be interesting articles to read (just like there will always be pretty clothes to buy).   We don’t have to read them all (or buy them all) today!  My useful links posts are no exception, so just read the ones you feel most drawn to.

Before You Go – A Few Comments and a Request

Before I go, I’d like to extend a warm thank you to all those who have purchased my book, “UnShopping:  Recovery Solutions from an Ex-Shopaholic.”  If you’ve read the book, I’d really appreciate your taking a few minutes to post a short review on Amazon (thanks to those who have already done so!).  There are 12 reviews so far and it would be wonderful if I could get a few more, as reviews help others decide whether or not a book is right for them.  If you have a bit of time to share your thoughts, it will make a difference – both to me and to future readers.

I really appreciate all of the wonderful discussion that resulted from my last post, “The Folly of it All!”  If you don’t usually read the comments on my posts, you might want to visit the website to read the latest installment, as there is lots of food for thought there!

I’ll be back on Friday with a post on a topic that has plagued me for many years, information overload.  I’ve made some decisions and taken a few powerful actions that I hope will be useful to others who struggle with that issue.  Stay tuned….