UnShopping

My first book, “UnShopping:  Recovery Solutions from an Ex-Shopaholic,” contains the best of my smart shopping solutions from “Recovering Shopaholic,” categorized into logical sections related to various shopping-related situations and challenges.   These solutions have all been revised and enhanced from the original versions that appeared on the blog.

UnShopping: Recovery Solutions from an Ex-Shopaholic

About “UnShopping”

“UnShopping:  Recovery Solutions from an Ex-Shopaholic” contains 48 tips and strategies organized into six sections that address particular facets of the shopping experience. The book may be read cover to cover or used as a reference to address an individual reader’s specific issues and questions.

The book begins with twelve “quick tips” that you can use to start shopping smarter right away.  From there, I delve into topics related to accountability, general shopping strategies, and tips for before you shop as well as for while you’re in the store (or browsing online).  I also include a number of “special topics,” such as resale shopping, shopping with friends, shopping during times of transition, and dealing with holiday shopping challenges.

Reviews / Interviews for “Unshopping”

Table of Contents

Section One – 12 Quick Tips to Start Shopping Smarter

  • Set a Clothing Budget and Stick to It!
  • Shop With a List and Only Buy What’s on That List
  • Never Buy Something on Sale That You Wouldn’t Pay Full Price For
  • Always Aim for Quality Over Quantity!
  • Wear Your Favorite Clothes When Shopping
  • Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired
  • Everything You Buy Should Be as Close To a “10” as Possible
  • Return Anything You Haven’t Worn Within a Month
  • Take a “Power Pause” Before Buying
  • Don’t Buy “Wardrobe Orphans”
  • Buy For Your Current Body and Lifestyle
  • Buy Pieces that Resonate With Your Personal Style Aesthetic

Section Two – Accountability

  • Track Your Spending
  • Track What You Buy
  • Track What You Do and Don’t Wear
  • Do a Closet Inventory
  • Set a Clothing Budget
  • Set Some Goals around Your Shopping and Recovery
  • “Cold Turkey” May Not be the Answer
  • Consider Setting a “One-In, One-Out” Rule
  • Set Limits on How Many Items You Can Buy
  • For Your Consideration… A Purchasing Rule Related to Item Categories

Section Three – General Shopping Tips and Strategies

  • Sometimes “Cheap” is Really More Expensive
  • How to Successfully Shop a Sale
  • Why You Might Want to Skip the Next “Big Sale”
  • How to Avoid Three Major Shopping Mistakes
  • How to Shop Smarter Online
  • Avoiding the “Serial Return Phenomenon”

Section Four – Before You Shop

  • Shopping Lessons From Your Closet Favorites
  • Learn from Your Shopping Mistakes
  • Shop for Your Life!
  • Why Create a Shopping Priorities List and How to Do It
  • Focus on Wardrobe Needs Instead of Wants
  • Don’t Neglect Key Areas of Your Wardrobe

Section Five – While You’re in the Store

  • Don’t Focus Too Much on Sizes
  • Fitting Room Tips
  • Aim for “8”s or Higher
  • Questions to Ask Before Buying Anything New
  • The Wrong Reasons for Buying Something
  • Salespeople Are Not Your Friends!
  • Try On New Pieces Again at Home

Section Six – Special Topics

  • How to Incorporate New Fashion Trends
  • The Pros and Cons of Resale Shopping
  • Tips for Successful Resale Shopping
  • A Tricky Situation… Shopping with Friends
  • How to Shop for a Life in Transition
  • Dealing with Black Friday and Cyber Monday
  • Alternate Ways of Approaching Holiday Gifts

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where can I buy the book?

A. The book is available via the Amazon Kindle Store.

Q. What if I don’t have a Kindle or other e-reader?

A. My book can also be read using the Free Kindle Reader App for your Web Browser, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android phone or device.

Q. Is this book available in print format?

A. No, it’s a digital book.

Q. How long is the book?

A. The PDF version of the book is 98 pages long, with a total of 33,690 words (the number of pages in e-readers varies based upon font size and other settings).  However, the best part about the book is that you can start anywhere by selecting the particular section or solution that’s most relevant to your individual needs.