As many of you know, I recently accepted a challenge from a reader to not shop for a month. I committed to go the entire month of May without buying any new clothing, shoes, or accessories.
At first, it was really easy for me to refrain from shopping. In fact, I started to feel like it would be “a piece of cake” for me to breeze through the challenge and I even considered the possibility of extending my shopping hiatus.
The ever alluring store sales – so difficult to resist!
Then, It Happened…
Then, it happened… I learned about the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Nordstrom’s sales, here’s the bottom line. They only have sales three times per year – two half-yearly sales in May and November, and the “Grand Poohbah” of sales, their Anniversary Sale in July. I can’t remember the last time I haven’t shopped at one of these sales. After all, Nordstrom is my favorite store, I love shopping there, and I’m a “regular.” Many of the salespeople know my name and greet me warmly when I arrive. I feel “at home” there, like I’m in my element.
I 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.
Recovering Shopaholic 