~Ban Island~ Moral Support! ~Let’s Resist Temptation Together!~

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#721
I find Instagram tough. I see bags, I want, I buy. I do NOT need. I have more than enough for every occasion. Not that I do much socially lately. My lifestyle is very casual. If I am going to categorize my obsession with bags, it would be more as a collector.
I also ‘collect’ other things like scarves thinking it’s a must have & I will get a lot of use from them. I don’t.
Anyway, it is not doing me any good. Just clogging my closet & giving me a sloppy feeling. I notice diminishing returns with my purchases lately. Meaning the complacency I anticipate does not happen
I am really trying to find constructive diversions from my former habits. Like reading books more frequently than I do & photography.
I know I will always love bags & scarves. Just hoping a little restraint will put things into perspective & I can appreciate the things I already own. Any future purchases will hopefully be well thought out & meaningful
 
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#722
iluvbagsnshoes said:
Hi everyone,
I wanted to jump on this thread so that I can say "out loud" that I am going on a complete shopping ban. I'm not sure of the length yet- at least 30 days but probably longer. My shopping has gotten out of hand lately. I spend so much time shopping in person or online, then returning/exchanging, selling, shipping... I don't have a good sense of my style and I buy as an outlet for stress, boredom, and a desire for a creative outlet. I plan to replace shopping with exercise, cleaning or an artistic pursuit such as making jewelry. I work and I'm in a full-time graduate school program, and my shopping is stealing time from these pursuits and my time with my new husband.
I spent the morning unsubscribing from all shopping-related emails and social media pages. Thanks for reading- if you have any advice I'd love to hear it!
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Congratulations on voicing the desire to start - that is a win. You have already done a good self assessment of why you want to go on a ban and have plans for substitute activities- way to go! We’re here to support you!

Belgian22 said:
Happy to share February is almost over and I have not bought another bag. I actually sold two bags! That’s all for now!
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Congratulations on the progress- way to go!

iluvbagsnshoes said:
Thank you so much for the encouragement, ladies! I feel really good about my choice to stop shopping for a while. Last night I sat down and made a necklace, and today I went to the gym- so things are off to a good start.
I really like both of your thoughts about setting goals and having something to look forward to. I'm thinking that this should not be an item to buy, but maybe an experience. I would like to change my thinking around rewards.
After the 30 days I plan to assess where I'm at. I will likely need to go longer, but we'll see. I'm hoping to develop an appreciation for what I have, to cull and edit the things I want to keep, and get rid of everything else. I'm very drawn to the idea of minimalism, yet my house is cluttered. I know it will take time, but I'm really ready this time.
Thanks again!
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In addition to @bakeacookie and @can_do_mom ‘s comments, have you considered starting in your closet, taking everything out and deciding keep (things you love and wear), doing alterations, sell, donate or toss for each item? Then inventory each item you are keeping? You can get into tracking wears later, if it helps you. Also if looking to declutter your house as mentioned above, perhaps try setting a timer for 8 mins and work on a small area. Take everything out, select your favourites to keep, toss the rest, organize what you keep. Once the timer is up you can choose to keep going or stop. Consistently done, it turns into four hours over a month! Hope it helps.
 
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#723
Keren16 said:
I find Instagram tough. I see bags, I want, I buy. I do NOT need. I have more than enough for every occasion. Not that I do much socially lately. My lifestyle is very casual. If I am going to categorize my obsession with bags, it would be more as a collector.
I also ‘collect’ other things like scarves thinking it’s a must have & I will get a lot of use from them. I don’t.
Anyway, it is not doing me any good. Just clogging my closet & giving me a sloppy feeling. I notice diminishing returns with my purchases lately. Meaning the complacency I anticipate does not happen
I am really trying to find constructive diversions from my former habits. Like reading books more frequently than I do & photography.
I know I will always love bags & scarves. Just hoping a little restraint will put things into perspective & I can appreciate the things I already own. Any future purchases will hopefully be well thought out & meaningful
Click to expand...
Hi Keren16, I can empathize with you. Looking at Instagram too long makes me start googling more brands and bags. I’ve tried to adopt an appreciation for the things that look great on others and tell myself it doesn’t mean I have to own it. Taking a pause on acquisitions and enjoying what you already own (and once coveted and hunted) is a place I have been. Especially, being able to plan and consider future acquisitions calmly - that’s great forward thinking. Perhaps in time, you can also use what you have more frequently or look at your current wardrobe in subsections and identify the least loved item/least used item and slowly release these items until you get to a curated collection of well loved items that you use regularly? I think you’ve already got a good plan for alternative activities (I am reading a lot more, too!). Just give yourself the time and space to let the cooling down happen and you’ll do great! Best wishes on your journey!
 
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#724
Proud of myself...
I have been checking daily the past 2 months for a certain bag to go on sale so that I could buy it (talk about becoming obsessed with it!). Then today, I realized that I don’t really need it so have officially stopped.

I reached this decision by asking myself the 2 very basic questions:

1) What problem would this potential purchase help solve?
2) Do I already have an item that fulfills that purpose.

When I honestly answered those questions without stretching the answer to self-justify, I realized that I no longer need or want this additional bag [emoji1360]
 
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#725
letsgoshopn said:
Proud of myself...
I have been checking daily the past 2 months for a certain bag to go on sale so that I could buy it (talk about becoming obsessed with it!). Then today, I realized that I don’t really need it so have officially stopped.

I reached this decision by asking myself the 2 very basic questions:

1) What problem would this potential purchase help solve?
2) Do I already have an item that fulfills that purpose.

When I honestly answered those questions without stretching the answer to self-justify, I realized that I no longer need or want this additional bag [emoji1360]
Click to expand...

Great work! That is awesome!!
 
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#726
letsgoshopn said:
Proud of myself...
I have been checking daily the past 2 months for a certain bag to go on sale so that I could buy it (talk about becoming obsessed with it!). Then today, I realized that I don’t really need it so have officially stopped.

I reached this decision by asking myself the 2 very basic questions:

1) What problem would this potential purchase help solve?
2) Do I already have an item that fulfills that purpose.

When I honestly answered those questions without stretching the answer to self-justify, I realized that I no longer need or want this additional bag [emoji1360]
Click to expand...
That is fantastic! Thanks for sharing your questions, as I am sure that will help me and others, too!
 
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#727
letsgoshopn said:
Proud of myself...
I have been checking daily the past 2 months for a certain bag to go on sale so that I could buy it (talk about becoming obsessed with it!). Then today, I realized that I don’t really need it so have officially stopped.

I reached this decision by asking myself the 2 very basic questions:

1) What problem would this potential purchase help solve?
2) Do I already have an item that fulfills that purpose.

When I honestly answered those questions without stretching the answer to self-justify, I realized that I no longer need or want this additional bag [emoji1360]
Click to expand...

Great job!
 
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#728
Ladies -
Check out & follow these Minimalist pages on Facebook. They have helped provide me constant (and I NEED constant) reminders of how much my purchases are weighing me down.

Just do a search for:
@becomingminimalist
@breakthetwitch
 
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#731
I consigned even more bags than I thought I would, and am donating even more than I ever thought I would. The pride and satisfaction I took in curating my special/unique-to-me collection just didn't make it worth it in the face of how overwhelmed I personally was feeling. I don't like just having things, I like to use them - and I was overwhelmed by the idea of having to make decisions about which bag to wear when, or even remembering all of the bags - they were taking up mental space and energy. The bags I have left are no longer flashy, they're pretty basic, I don't think anyone would look at my bags themselves and think, "wow, what a striking bag!" But they offer a subtle touch by way of color and they are all workhorses. So for me this is beyond just ban island, I've just realized I'm not going to place as much energy and, yes, joy, into my bags. I'll enjoy the artistry of various high end bags, but for my life, just my humble stable of workhorse bags is fine. I'm going through the same thing with other accessories and perfumes, which I also collected.

I *do* still have way more bags than the average person, though, lol :-) I'm no minimalist, that's for sure. But the range I have now will all see use for the rest of my life.
 
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#733
Some of you already know this, but our family suffered a terrible loss when my husband and children’s father unexpectedly passed away on Monday at the age of 54. I am heartbroken. I haven’t forgotten you but I won’t be focusing on the ban or bags right now. Hug your loved ones and tell them you love them!
 
#734
can_do_mom said:
Some of you already know this, but our family suffered a terrible loss when my husband and children’s father unexpectedly passed away on Monday at the age of 54. I am heartbroken. I haven’t forgotten you but I won’t be focusing on the ban or bags right now. Hug your loved ones and tell them you love them!
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Prayers are with you. Am SO sorry.
 
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