You know that moment when you think you are the ONLY person that does something weird, but then come to found out a lot of people do the same thing? Pretty awesome feeling right?! The other day I was talking to my ever, so savvy friend and he mention shopping around for his “next phone.” This was strange, coming from someone that had the same old phone for years and only recently got a new one after being peer pressured by me (I know, I’m terrible!). But after a few minutes, he says “the moment is gone” and that he was only trying to get a “feel” for it. Some of you might be thinking “What does that mean?!” But as soon as he said that, a mental picture of my open checkout cart on Aliexpress popped into my head. I couldn’t help but laugh and get this strange sense of camaraderie. Let me explain.
The old Marielle use to go to the store and buy things she didn’t really need. It only made me feel guilty (and broke) after. I made the decision to face my “monsters”, and one of my goals has been to stop buying things on a whim (the last time I did that I ended up regretting it! Read here). I knew when I started that I wasn’t going to be an easy journey! So I didn’t beat myself over my relapse. Instead, I started to do some online window shopping. Sounds like a bad idea? It might be for some, but for me it’s therapeutic! But I will be completely honest; it does take a bit of a self-restraint. Every once in a while when I get “itchy fingers” to buy something, I log into my aliexpress site, (or any site that allows me to add to my cart before entering my payment information) and start adding to it. Some of the things I add are craft related. Sometimes I add clothes, shoes. When I’m done, I go back and look at everything on my cart and ask myself “Do you even need that?!!” now if I “want it,” but if I “need it.” The answer is 100% time NO. So I close my 15 open tabs of items and go back to doing something more productive. I’ve been unknowingly doing this for some times now, and I found myself spending less and less. This may not work for everyone, but it seems to be working well for me. This month reports had me smiling from ears to ears. I was so tired on February 1st that I planned on going to bed without doing my report! But as I was getting into bed, my foot hit my money bin. Talk about fate!
Net Worth Report for January 2014
I better not let my husband read this LOL, because I am still one of those people that buys stuff I don’t need & I don’t really want to stop yet hahaha 🙂
Well i have managed not to buy something i do not need for a long time we always save little bits during the year and then we all decide something we want and get it once the money has been saved little bits at a time lol.
I am a total shop-a-holic, especially when it comes to my daughter. I haven’t been spending as much lately, but i’m still going a bit overboard. I mean, for Valentine’s Day she ended up with three outfits! Still doing better than before though. Oh geesh, I need help,haha!
LOL we all could use a little help when it comes to over spending! Hard to stop when we want to spoil our kids huh! heheh
I do that too with online shopping. I almost always go back later and delete the shopping cart!
Oh i’m so happy that I’m not alone!! I go back to and delete items! lol
We have downsized in the past few years so shopping is not high on my list. And I am not a big online shopper
On the plus side, Aliexpress does have cheaper prices so even if you do splurge a bit, your wallet is hit a little less hard. 🙂 I’m an aliexpress window shopper as well.. I want everything but only buy a few things in the end!
I stopped buying wants a while back now-and stick to needs only! This really does sound like a great idea for those who enjoy shopping but really have to cut back!
I confess to be a big spender too but I admire your resolute. I will give window shopping a go
Congrats in your progress go go go!
I stopped buying wants the second I had my second child. With four kids, they have needs that are far greater than any want . It’s tough with a large family so you really set priorities
My Hubs does a lot of searching and searching online looking for the best deals before he every buys anything.. I am not much of a shopper not in a store or online.
I like window shopping when I am bored, but I usually do it in person instead of online.
I do a lot of window shopping. I often have full carts that are left that way online. I find what i like and put it into my cart. i walk away. If I can come back in a few days and still agree it is good for our family I can check out. But most of the time, I am able to see that it’s really not needed and I close out the tab. It saves a lot of money.
I love window shopping and then I love the feeling of clicking off and having not brought yes I get a pang of ohh I do wish at first but the longer last well I didn’t really need it go me part lasts so much longer 🙂 x
i keep a few items in my cart and leave. sometimes the price goes down and then, well…
We window shop all the time, whether in a brick and mortar shop or online. If online we will add items to our cart and let them sit. We usually forget about them until we go to shop and have to remove then and laugh at what we would have wasted our money on.
I think I need this. I shop a LOT! Maybe a bit too much at times. If I had this I might curtail my shopping a bit. I buy things that I don’t need and sometimes end up in my closet never used. I need to window shop more.
I do a lot of window shopping myself. Trying to break the buying on a whim addiction was super hard, but I have slowly weaned myself away from doing that. Now my obsession is saving for trips lol.
Lol. I’ll probably would never admit this to people especially my boyfie but yes – I am one of those people too haha!
I stay away from stuff because my restraint is not that great. I applaud your progress Mariells
I personally have never been able to just window shop. There is just something about knowing you can’t have what is in the window…
I need to do a lot more window shopping and less actual shopping!
I used to buy stuff I didnt’ need all the time until my husband started really cracking down on the budget! I miss it. HAHAHA
I recently went through my yarn stash and found so many colors and textures. I have just taken to browsing and making actual plans for what I have instead of what I want.
i’m trying to not shop for stuff i don’t need as i’m saving for a trip to California with son
I’m probably like most guys, I can’t stand shopping! When I need something, I do my research and go buy it, and only ‘IT’ with cash.
Like they say: a good salesperson is the one the loves to shop and having a balance between what you really needs and not, makes one a wiser shopper!
I am trying to be good and not buy stuff I don’t need. I have been not to bad this year but we are only one month in 🙂
I am so bad with shopping! I should take some of your advice and try it out! Thanks!
My tried and true method, online or in person is, if I don’t need it, I don’t buy it. But if I’m still thinking about it three days later…then I go back and get it LOL
This sounds like a great way to keep spending under control. I browse a lot, but rarely buy. In fact, I just splurged for the first time in years and bought myself an inexpensive DSLR camera. I mostly bought it for blogging though, so does that still count as something for me?
I like to look at things to buy online. I also often put things in my Cart and then don’t buy anything. It’s easier than going to the actual store and trying stuff on or carrying it around and then putting it back. It does offer some satisfaction and saves you lots of money. Not a bad deal.
So easy to push that add to cart and the “buy it” button. I only buy few things on line. I used to buy some stuff because I could and then hubby got laid off in 2008 and life shifted. Fortunately we didn’t spend til it hurts kind of people. I felt blessed that we would be okay. Glad that you’re working on it. Good for you!
That’s great that you were able to face that monster and take it on!
I am not a shopper, but I know someone in my family that is and I think I’ll share this post.
Haha, great post! And yes, “Talk about fate”. Karma kicks ya in the booty (or footy!) at the most needed times, for sure. 🙂
so many cute ideas in this post very funny!
I am so compulsive. Buy way too much stuff
I go through phases,,, some phase I save every penny and will not part with it for nothing and the phase right now I’m in a shopping mood.. drives me crazy.. BUT at least that’s life..lol
So glad you’re doing a great job Marielle!!
I used to buy lots of make up and now I have piles of items I may be love but since I do not go out very often I do not use much. Now I apply my lessons learnt to other stuff too.
Fan R @TeddyOutReady
Lol! I do this so often with online shopping! I put a bunch of stuff in my cart & then go to another site to do the same thing. I end up with like 5 browser tabs open. Then I end up emptying them all. Lol. But my bank account stays happy!
Shopping is fun though but make sure to have the limit on spending. Shop wise and save.
My wife is a compulsive window shopper looking for the absolute best deal. I leave it to her to make the purchasing decision
This is so awesome! I love these budgeting charts! I want to show them to my high school students at school! I very much relate to you about how you would buy things you did not need..I have definitely become much better about trying not to do this as often:)
I never never buy what I don’t need. I don’t really like shopping
Good for you, nice change
I’m good as long as I don’t go into Forever21.
No, I never like window shopping. Just do few online analysis before actual shopping.
I think i need to save a lot from now on lol.. ive been buying online since i got my credit card.
I LOVE going out and finding clearance items! It makes me so happy when I can pair a clearance item and a coupon and get it for super cheap!
This is funny, I do this all the time.