Behavior & Psychology

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The Serial Return Phenomenon

I probably return half of the clothes, shoes, and accessories that I buy.  In some ways, this isn’t a bad thing.  When one tends toward impulse buying, some of the purchase decisions made are not good ones.  Thus, it can be good to realize buying mistakes and remedy them through the return process.  Better to make returns than to have clothes hanging in your closet with their tags still attached.

Returning to Shop More

However, I have to admit that a large portion of my returns are done with an alternate aim.  I often return unworn items to shop more or to do damage control for over-shopping.  When I’ve exceeded my shopping budget, returns can certainly mitigate the financial damage done, but wouldn’t it be better to stick to my budget in the first place?

This past weekend, I returned close to $800 worth of items bought in recent months.  I had reviewed my budget on Friday to learn the cold, hard truth of my overspending. By mid-March, I’d already exceeded my 2013 budget by close to $600 and I needed to right this wrong.

Serials Returns

Are you a “serial returner”?

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Challenge – Shopping with a Friend

Last Friday, I had lunch with a friend.  I get together with this friend every couple of months and we always meet at a restaurant next to the local mall.  After we spend an hour or two eating and talking, we always end up shopping together.  This activity may be benign for many people, but for a shopaholic, it can have disastrous results.

To add insult to injury, my friend is also a compulsive shopper, although I’m not sure to what degree she’s acknowledged her problem.  I have yet to tell her (or many others in my life) about this blog, so she isn’t even aware that I’m making a concerted effort to curtail my shopping habit.

Shopping with Friends

Shopping with a friend can be both fun and challenging…

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Thoughts on the Target Designer Collections

Shopping the Target Designer CollectionsOn Tuesday, I needed to return something to Target.  While I was there, I decided to check out their latest designer collaboration.  These designer collections, the most recent of which is Prabal Gurung, receive a lot of hype and often sell out within days of their release.  In fact, I half expected to see nothing left of this latest collection, as it was released on Sunday.

I knew I couldn’t buy anything, as I had already made my February clothing and accessory purchases, but I was curious as to the look and quality of the new collection.  I had seen quite a bit of buzz about these items on Facebook, with various stylists and style aficionados touting their “scores” from the coveted line.  I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about.

“Ho-Hum” and Not Worth the Fuss

When I reached the Prabal Gurung display, I was surprised that a wide assortment of garments and accessories was still available, although the size selection was a bit sparse.  I perused the offerings and my overall impression was “ho-hum” at best.   I’ve seen Prabal Gurung’s garments on celebrities and the Target offerings couldn’t hold a candle to the real thing in terms of fabric quality, design, and construction.  In my humble opinion, the Target pieces looked cheap and flimsy and not even worth their relatively low prices.

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Reflections on the First Month

January reflectionsIt’s been just over a month since I started my 2013 “recovering shopaholic” project, with the goal of decreasing my shopping, buying more consciously and smartly, and minimizing my wardrobe.  I created rules for myself to guide my way, including the rule of buying only one item of clothing and one accessory per month.

This rule serves two purposes:  it allows me to shop a little bit instead of going “cold turkey” and it forces me to be smarter with my purchases rather than buying haphazardly.  If I only set a monthly budget for myself without the purchase limits, I would probably keep making misguided purchases at consignment stores and during retail sales.

I gave myself a few loopholes in my rules.  I am allowed to make returns and exchange unworn items on a one for one basis.  In addition, workout/lounge wear is not included within the limits, nor are sleepwear and undergarments.  I don’t have a tendency to overbuy these items and they generally receive quite a bit of wear, so they are typically good purchases.

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History of a Shopaholic

So how did I get to where I am today?  A bit of history is in order now… I’ll do my best to give the “Cliff’s Notes” version starting with my childhood (after all, I am 46 – a full history would be a book, not a page!). 

A Shy and Insecure Childhood

path to where I am todayI was a very shy and insecure child who grew up in the affluent community of San Carlos, California, a suburb of San Francisco.   I never felt as if I could measure up to my peers in terms of how I looked and how I dressed.  My parents were not as wealthy as many in the community and couldn’t afford to purchase a full wardrobe of designer clothes for me every school year.

After my parents divorced when I was 14, the money was even tighter.  I also kept gaining weight in my early teen years and had to keep buying new clothes to accommodate my burgeoning proportions.  My chubby frame coupled with my tall height (I’m 5’10”) only served to increase my tremendous self-consciousness.

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