Ever since I’ve adopted “Buy what I love” as my shopping mantra, I’ve become a much pickier shopper.
Exhibit A: This month, I visited FOUR different Banana Republics, checked out three Forever 21′s, ventured through two Macy’s and J.Crew’s, traipsed through a Ross and an Ann Taylor Loft’s, and bought… basically nothing.
Exhibit B: When I see a $59 BR shirt marked down to $22, the first thing that I think about isn’t “such a deal! Must have it!”. It’s also not “do I need it?” Because, let’s be honest, I will never truly NEED a silk/cashmere blend from Banana Republic. Instead, my first thought has become “Do I love it?”
I’ve found this philosophy (actual philosophers, please do not stone me for ascribing the lofty title of “philosophy” to a shopping belief) to be surprisingly liberating.
No need to feel guilty over paying for a $300, full-priced coat if it’s something you love (and if it’s affordable). On the same token, I’m freed from the nagging feeling that if I did not grab that shirt (which is in a nice color, and fits pretty well, even though it’s cut a little long… and the color isn’t quite right against my skin tone… but it’s only $20) on the sales rack, I’m missing out.
If a pair of shoes is half a size too big, if the shirt sleeves feel a bit funny, if the dress looks gorgeous on the top but falls awkwardly on the bottom – I do not buy them. This way, I will have the funds AND the closet space to buy clothes that I love – clothes that I look and feel great in.
There are so many great sales this holiday season. Sometimes, it is a little hard to walk by aisles and aisles of 50%+ off clothing. But you know what they say: true love waits. 
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Ever since I was young, whenever my Mom and I would go shopping and I would try something on, she would ask me one question:
“Do you love it?”
So I love this post because I have followed this “philosophy” as well for many years now.
I love just about everything when it comes to shopping, but I do ask myself: does it fit well? Will it look good years from now? Will it go out of style?
Clothes that fit well go a long way. I don’t mind plonking down money for a purse that I know will look good 10 years from now.
But of course, these days, I feel guilty spending money on such things, especially when there are families out there who are losing their homes and can’t put food on the table.
I think like this too when I buy something. If I am not 100% in love with it, I wouldn’t buy it. So far, it has helped me save so much more money!
I try and think like this too, but sometimes I still get taken in by a bargain!
My problem is that I’m much more likely to fall in love with something completely impractical. Like a gorgeous yellow jacket I saw this weekend. I guess it depends on the situation, because at that point I had to ask myself if I needed it (the grey one I had just bought would suffice) and if it would provide me with the greater wearing potential. (It would not, so I left it. [sigh])
I agree though…I used to buy more things I kinda liked that were on sale, as opposed to paying a little bit more for something I loved. Half the time I would regret it as soon as I saw something else that was closer to what I actually wanted, but I’d already spent money on the other. (Hope that makes sense)
That is always my philosophy for shopping as well. Do love it and DO I NEED IT!!
I need a new hand bag now but cant find anything that I really LOVE!
It really is a good way to shop! Bargains are great especially these days you can find great deals but in the end it also adds up!
This is definitely a great shopping philosophy for your wallet…but also kind of depressing when you try on tons of clothes and realize that you don’t love any of it. But in the end, it does help save money.
My grandmother had a similar philosophy in that she would go home and think about the item and if she really wanted it the next day then she would go back and buy it.
Good job on avoiding all the sales. My problem is that I find myself loving too much! I tend to do a pretty job of determining what will look good before I even take the item off of the rack. I’ve gone a little bit overboard on sales these past few months. There are too many fabulous deals. $200 DKNY and ABS dresses both for $15, $300 Calvin Klein pencil skirt for $40, $298 leather Elliot Lucca leather bag for $64…I could go on and on. I live in NYC, so a large chunk of my budget goes to just living, before I can even get to saving. 10% of my pretax income goes to my 401k and I save approximately 12-15% of my post tax income. I tend to cook at home a lot and bring my lunch to work. I make sacrifices in other areas to support any shopping splurges. I am running out of closet space, which in turn makes me become a bit pickier.
Rachel, where are you finding these amazing deals in NYC? And please tell me.
I completely agree about all of the sale stuff this season. Everything at BR is practically free right now, but it all looks meh on me, so I passed on everything. I happened to wander into the Gap the other day on a whim, and I found the perfect adorable winter-casual top in eggplant that I happily forked over $23 (on sale!) for.
This is a smart philosophy… one that I’m trying to follow myself! It’s a struggle though… it’s hard to find things I really love, and the sale prices are so tempting!!
This is one of the best lessons I took from an ex… If I don’t love someone, I don’t buy it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a fitting room with an arm full of clothes, tried them all on, and walked out with nothing. But my wallet thanks me!!
Also, saw your recent post with the GAP dress you bought – I absolutely love it!! I love the color red! How does it fit?