How to Combat Shopping Anxiety

This could be a completely original experience, but I highly doubt it. Let me set the scene real quick before I get into it. If you've been here before, you know I live life on a strict budget, which can get stressful when shopping for clothes. My lack-mentality, goes straight into asking "What do I need right now?" and "What can I afford/not afford?" Whilst doing anything from a mindset of lack is draining, when trying to get a few new seasonal bits in the wardrobe, it sucks the fun out of it completely, and I end up making way more wardrobe mistakes than I can afford to. Mistakes like, buying things I actually don't like, but just buying because I know I need something along those lines/ to fill a gap. Buying things in the wrong size, as I'm trying to shop for my future body. Or even buying things in an isolated style that works with nothing that I already own, because I'm building too far in the future.

Below are some tips that have seriously changed the way I shop (in no particular order). And some-day when budget is no longer an issue, I hope to still have them in my arsenal.

1. Utilise the favourite feature - If you're shopping online or on an app, it could be called a Wishlist, anywhere that you can save some items. Narrow down your choices by choosing all the items that meet some parts of your criteria. Nothing will meet every single one of your needs, but you'll find that there are multiple items that are intersection between your wants and needs.

2. When you start feeling anxious/ overwhelmed, log off and try again later - You need a warm jumper because it's winter, and it needs to be something that you can also wear to work, but it also needs to go with casual clothes incase you need to quickly pop down the shops, but it also has to be in a neutral tone - No I mean - I've been needing some colour in my wardrobe, so maybe this can be the piece that really stands out. But wait! So and so's brunch is coming up, so it needs to be dressy enough to wear there, but not too dressy, because it's warm enough to just chuck on or layer up. Speaking of layers, maybe I should prioritise my base layers with this budget and then build from there later with my next pay check. You see what just happened there? Who in their right mind could make a decision, let alone the right decision when considering everything at one time. Log off, have a cup of tea or touch some grass. Gather your thoughts, and come back when you're not trying to solve problems that don't even exist yet.

3. Sleep on it - So you've got your shortlist, or your top 2-3 items. All of them meet your criteria and would all look killer in their own respect. Make sure they're saved to your Wishlist, sleep on it and make your decision in the morning. If you wake up and find yourself longing for that one item, you'll know you're on the right track.

4. Don't be rushed or swayed by "Selling fast' or "Low Stock" messaging - Cause believe me, if it's selling THAT fast, too many people have it, and you don't want it. Most of this messaging is marketing tactics to get you to panic buy. Don't fall for it!

5. Choose Quality Always (CQA) - when on a budget, it's not unlike you to try and stock up instead of zeroing in on one item that is beautifully fitting and beautifully made. Let's be honest about how far £100 can stretch for example. On Shein, that could get you about five tops and maybe four bottoms, and what would those items be made out of? Exactly! - Plastic and slave labour. And how long would those items last until the colour starts to fade and the threads start to unravel? Right again! - No where near long enough. Know that making good fashion decisions one quality item at a time, is just as effective as stock piling as many pieces as you can afford at that exact moment. Don't be the person that doesn't remember what they even spent their money on, because of the frequency of how many cheap items you've had to discard. I've been that girl, and she is not cute.

   

   Proof within the pudding.

6. If time is of the essence, take stock of your wardrobe - Define what it is you're actually looking for. A replacement to a staple piece/ a piece to elevate what you already have/ something that needs to work particularly well with a select few existing items. Go into your closet and identify where this new addition fits into your curated piece of art This would be a great time to get rid (and by get rid I mean recycle or donate) of what's no longer serving you. Maybe the answer to what you need lays within what you no longer need.

7. Will I still be in love with this one year from now? - Trend items usually sell like hot cakes. Discounts are-a-plenty when fashion brands are trying their harderst to supply the consumers "needs". Ask yourself - better yet envision yourself - wearing this item a year from now. And though people are free to change and evolve their style, think about if what you are buying today, will still speak to your personal style POV a year down the line.

8. Am I close to a discount season? - Take today for example, Christmas Eve. Two days from now, you're most loved item could drastically drop in price and allow you to get a bit more for your money. Treat those Wishlist items like poker. Know when to hold em, know when to fold em.