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| Violin & Sheet // Personal Picture |
3 months have passed since my Shopping Fast experiment ended. When you pay close attention to puchases for six months, there is always some apprehension as to how the new habits will turn out - similarly to a food diet in a way. Here are a few observations and learnings from my own experience, 3 months later.
Globally, the shopping fast had a positive effect on my current mindset and habits - if I compare with January to March 2014, the improvements are quite incredible. My purchases went down, were more carefully thought and planned, I spent a lot less time and money on material acquisitions and managed to direct my focus elsewhere with little effort.
On Shopping Habits
Three months is still short to draw conclusions here, but the first signs are promising. Since the end of the fast, I have purchased a couple of items during winter sales, a bento box for soups and two pairs of jeans (to replace old, torn pairs).The shopping fast effect: When you are on a shopping fast, you become aware of how often you end up browsing online or physical stores, going on shopping trips etc., because you "forbid" yourself from getting anything new. At some point, for the fast to work, you have to replace these with something else. In my case, I discovered interesting editorial sites (Aeon magazine, Medium...) to read from, and swapped shopping afternoons for reading or writing sessions, violin, meet-ups with friends or video gaming.
After six months, I have discovered (or re-discovered) tons of activities I liked doing, and, even though the shopping fast is over, I now browse and shop much less often than before, because I like the new substitute activities better.
On Temptation
I still want new stuff now and then. I think that's unavoidable. I had a small wishlist for winter sales, and I have a few items in mind to celebrate the arrival of Spring. There is a number of video games I want to put my hands on, and my soon-to-be appartment gave me decoration ideas.The shopping fast effect: I don't think you should expect a shopping fast to eradicate the wish for new items - if it does, all the better, of course. However, browsing less and spending more time on other projects makes temptations fewer and farther apart.
Further to this, I also noticed that I act upon these temptations less often than before. The reason is simple: I now need to convince myself to go shopping, even if there is a precise item I'd like to get for myself. Why? Because I'd rather be doing something else instead of wasting my time in shops. I only noticed this recently, when I tore open two pairs of jeans in a week and needed to convince myself to find the time to go buy a replacement pair.
On Money
I can't say much on spending habits these days, as I am in a non-regular situation right now (in the middle of a move), so I'm saving more than usual, and I'll soon be spending more than usual. However, there are things of note when it comes to item pricing and my own values regarding how much I'm willing to spend on objects.The shopping fast effect: I have realized that expensive items tend to, unconsciously, be seen more positively, either because we associate it with higher quality, or with a certain social status, or with a more ethical production method. I have also realized that, despite all my questioning about price and marketing and consumer psychology, this is something I am still influenced by, as we probably all are.
However, the shopping fast forced me to be more aware of what I'm buying - since I needed to justify my purchases as "fast allowed' for six months - and I am now more mindful before I settle for a purchase. It this price justified? Can I get better quality for the same price, or the same quality for cheaper? Is this the kind of vendor I want to give my money to?
As a result, I changed some of my spending habits in surprising areas, like groceries. I have also reaffirmed my efforts to be a more conscious consumer, as best I can with my available time and money.
Other Changes
As I mentioned in a recent post, I have rediscovered parts of myself recently - passions, activities, projects long forgotten, probably because of the semi-automatic mode we navigate in our daily life. This has started long before the shopping fast experiment, but I believe spending less time shopping or thinking about purchases, and making myself find new activities, accelerated the process.Weirdly, natural beauty products: I have no idea whether this is due to the shopping fast, or if this questioning just happened to bloom at the same time, but I started switching to a more natural body care routine right at the time of the fast experiment. I think one of the reasons may be linked to not buying any new product unless my stock was depleted - and discovering how much I've stocked in less than 2 years in Paris. It might also be linked to the efforts to be a more conscious consumer I mentioned above. In any case, that's an interesting change I've experienced these past few months.
Overall, I feel like I levelled up a lot these past months. I have decided to take writing more seriously, I have stabilized my shopping habits, and I feel like I have more free mental space than ever. Again, how much of this is linked to the shopping fast itself is hard to say, but, if you are on a simplification journey, I warmly recommend to give it a try yourself. Let me know if you're interested in some sort of Shopping Recasting starter guide, I can add this to my posting queue.
Inspirational. I've replaced clothes shopping with sewing my own. It's almost impossible to go back to 'fast fashion' now I've had full control over what to make and how, let alone the ethics and quality of the finished garment. It's now a matter of 'need', not want.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! I actually would like to have the skill and patience to alter/sew my clothes myself. I guess that's also very satisfying to wear something you put time and energy actually making yourself. I can imagine it's hard to go back to anything else after that :)
DeleteInteresting I should find this post today. Thank you for your thoughts on shopping! I just finished going through my wardrobe and simplifying into only the pieces I love wearing and that work for me right now. The rest I put away and plan to donate if I don't find myself needing or really wanting any of them at the end of this process. I also plan to start a shopping fast through the summer and enjoyed reading your thoughts on the process. I am a shopper out of stress and I'm hoping to find other activities to replace the shopping. My to do list instead of shopping: read, exercise (yes I actually like to exercise), and do something with my kids outside. Just a starting point but we will see!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy this could help! I think it does help to discard items little by little, butting them away at first before making the actual leap. Somehow it feels less abrupt doesn't it? Hopefully a shopping fast will help you figure out the cues that make you want to shop, how to avoid them and what to replace shopping with. I a way a shopping fast helps knowing oneself better and that's always helpful :)
DeleteYou are doing so well! I'm glad your fast had such an impact. It's really interesting to read. Keep us posted :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think there is still a way to go, but I'm also positively suprised at the magnitude of the fast's effects. It does take time but I thought I would take more time than that (for example to stop wanting to go shopping). I'll definitely keep you guys posted about long term evolutions :)
DeleteFunny, I’m having a similar experience with shopping but without having done a shopping fast. I have been rather strict about what enters my wardrobe since last summer though, using Into Mind’s capsule wardrobe approach. I have not eliminated all spontaneous clothes purchases, but I now stick to a shopping list for let’s say 90% of my purchases. In a way, this makes shopping harder (when the thing you want is hard to find). Then again, sometimes it makes it easier because in one trip you don’t have to do all the stores or look at all the clothes options. Anyhow last Saturday I went out shopping with my spring/summer shopping list, for a couple of hours. And when I came back (having ticked of two of my boxes, but not having found two other ‘needs’), I realized I seem to be at a turning point where clothes shopping is becoming more of a chore than a fun diversion. After two hours I find my self-discipline withering, and I get headaches from sensory overload :p. I have turned to online shopping many times over the last year, but have also had some bad experiences with ‘inadequate’ things from shops with bad return policies. So even that is becoming a hassle. Maybe it’s a good thing. If things go on like this, I might naturally arrive at a slower purchasing pace. (Though not in the near future. All in all there’s still maybe 10 things lined up already to be purchased or replaced over next the couple of months.) Ideally I would like to have less than 5 stores where I know I can find my ‘staples’ and then only visit those. And only buy from other sources when I really want to, like when finding something beautiful in unexpected places :).
ReplyDeleteAh that's interesting, I found the same thing when I started paying more attention to my wardrobe and the provenance of my clothes. On one hand I saved time by knowing where to go buy clothes and limiting myself to a selection of pieces with quite strict criteria, on the other hand shopping for clothes became more and more of a chore. But I never really like shopping for clothes in the first place, so I never knew if my experience was reliable or not.
DeleteIn the end, the way it turned out for me is I stepped away from lists, once I knew exactly what style and details work for me, and rather set shopping periods for me (sales seasons, really) and go out to see if there is anything I need and like, instead of going shopping with a specific item in mind (I often come out empty handed in the end). It sound more loose a method than sticking to a list, but I found it to work much better as I don't "force" myself to buy a "not quite right" item just because it's on my list, and since I don't have a list, I need to justify the necessity of the purchase all the more, so I've made much fewer purchase mistakes since then. Did you notice the same or do you still need the lists to build your wardrobe at this point?
You make a good point. I do try to be strict with myself when in doubt about an item: do I really like it or do I just wanna cross something off my list? But I do think I still need lists at this point, because when I do spontaneous shopping I usually return with 'easy' and/or 'fun' items, like accessories, dresses, supercasual clothes... Whereas my wardrobe analysis (yes, I did all that) has clearly shown that I need more work appropriate and practical clothes like pants (hard to find a good pair) and comfortable yet stylish shoes (ditto). My style is still cristallizing and due to financial reasons I obviously haven't been able to replace all of my clothes yet, so there's really still wardrobe gaps...
DeleteIt's true that it's harder to give up on lists when your wardrobe basis is not completely formed yet. I guess in my case the shift happened when all my "needed" staples for my daily lifestyle and climate situations were covered and the "unticked" items were more of "nice to have" additions to bring cohesion to the whole, add a bit of colour/novelty to my outfits or optimize the wears of what I currently own. In other words, things I can wait months, or even years, before I stumble upon something that fills the bill. Meaning I can afford to just go shopping in my favourite vendors when sales come around, and maybe happen upon something that was floating in my head for months (like the Sento jacket I got last December, I was looking for a sort of ethnic/oriental styled jacket or cardigan for like 2 years, but it always has been more of a nice to have for me). Maybe you could divide your list in 2? The first list would be the priority items, the ones that fill a gap in your wardrobe in order to make it cohesive for your lifestyle and daily needs, and the ones that are floating in your head to complete your outfits, make them more "you" or correspond to a "fun" item but are not in a hurry to find...
DeleteLoved this post. I want to comment so often and never get around to it. But every time I read, I am struck by how elegantly-written your posts are, and how thought-provoking. Would love to see any Shopping Recasting starter guide you develop.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting this time then :) I'll definitely put together such guide, hoping my own experience can help proposing a method that works for other people too.
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ReplyDeleteI went on a fast several years ago and although undocumented, my results were very similar to yours.
ReplyDeleteThe long term effect for me is because there has been less turnover in my clothes (less in, so less out) my clothes are actually wearing out and reaching a point where they can't be mended anymore (I sew and alter). It was something I wasn't expecting, so where I used to buy one or two pieces a season, this last year it's been a little bit more.
I was very strict for a very long time and I think the little voice I used to curtail the habit was not a very positive voice, so I also feel a lot of guilt about shopping now. I didn't want that to happen (no one wants to be unhappy with themselves) and I think out of everything, that's the only thing I would do differently, I would be nicer to myself during the fast (not more lenient, just kinder).
That's an interesting point indeed! When you own fewer items, they get worn out more quickly. I also noticed the same these past few years, and it's especially annoying when you spend a bit more money in hopes to get quality, but one quality shirts gets used more quickly than 5 cheap ones that turn over with each other! I guess that's the reason one my adequate wardrobe number has never been very low (I own about 100 items for daily clothing). Especially when you are picky about items, or, in your case, sewing takes time I guess, so it's quite a hassle to have to replace worn favourites :)
DeleteThe point about how you keep up with stricter shopping habits is a good one too - it shouldn't make you feel guilty or bad about yourself. I totally agree with you that it's important to be kind with oneself :) I remember reading somewhere that you should treat yourself the way you'd treat your best friend. Whenever I beat myself up about something, I imagine how I would comfort my best friends if it were them who commited that mistake, it usually generates a much kinder inner voice.