I have two shopping rules: 1- go in with a list- if it's not on the list, I can't get it on that day. I must leave the store without the extra item. This forces me to think ahead before I go into a store. 2- wait 24 hours. If I am still thinking of the item and I have the money and space for it, then I can go get it. This method really cuts down on impulse buying, ensures I stay on budget, and keeps me from buying duplicates.. :). I do sometimes go back a few days later, but it is a conscious, intentional purchase then.
I take pictures of everything that I like, (that I don't need, but just want it) and walk away. I think about it 24 hours before I act on it. 99% of the time I never go back to look at the picture or get the item. I am especially drawn towards artsy items, and unless I can put it to use that day, I won't buy it; just taking a picture.
I’m on a “no spend” year and it’s been much more challenging than I thought. I certainly have lots of products and items to make it through the year already. I’m surprised at my habits. I have tons of hair and skin care products and I have to on purpose stop myself from buying more. I’m committed to examining all parts of me over the course of the year.
In my homeland Mexico, there is a saying: women always want more clothes and less kilos (weight) and I think that is truly a mindset that we have to change, to accept who we are and stop looking things to fix the way we feel about ourselves. Great video Vera, I really enjoy listening to you and learning, have a wonderful Sunday, love and peace to you
"The good deal" is my battle cry for shopping and purchasing. Even a top from the thrift store for $2 is a bad deal if I don't really need, like, or look good in it. I've spent that $2 or $10 or more on clearance and sale items a hundred times. It's amazing how those single purchases add up to hundreds of dollars.
It really does add up :) Sales can be nice if it is something you were going to buy anyway (like your standard brand of toothpaste or something like that), but you're not saving anything if you didn't need the item in the first place :)
It’s interesting that as I have gotten older and wiser and started to live more mindfully, almost everything which is not food feels more and more overpriced. It’s not really about the price, however. I simply feel that the item does not carry enough value for me to be worth paying for to add to my life.
Omg you said crowded, tired and hot and those were my exact emotions at Hobby Lobby today. Huge lines and tons of people i left and now home watching TH-cam and playing with my dog.
Meagan R, that was me yesterday at Hobby Lobby it was soooo HOT, CROWDED, and all of a sudden it all looked a bunch of junk… the lines were crazy too…I went home and made a cafe latte.. 😂
The first one is very true for me, I buy clothes when I’m not feeling good, thinking « if I buy this, I will finally be the classy and feminine woman that I imagine ». It’s good to have a reminder that its not going to work. I should tell myself that I already am classy and feminine when I want to buy and new item, and see if I still want it. Thanks for your videos, I enjoy them every time 😊
Thanks Cheryl! :) Haha yes that sounds like something I might do occassionally too. Especially when the memory is special, and you want something to remember it by.
You do not need as many clothes as you think. I find folding and storing clothes a pain. There's something about getting rid of clothing that's emotionally difficult. Best not to get it in the first place.
In the last five years I received many clothes from my extended family; they rarely match with the clothes I already had, so I always bought something to match. I never used all of that clothes, included the ones I choose. Since I started decluttering my wardrobe, I know what I like to wear. Now if I buy something, is something I truly like and wear at least three time a week!
It is so refreshing to hear honest, heartfelt, and thoughtful information from Vera. It takes a brave and skillful person to dive deep in subjects and make it very simple to understand. Always grateful for insights.
I bought a lot this year and last one, from makeup to crafting stuff. I bought a few cloth items and I did a desktop make over. Do I regret purchasing those things? No, I usually don't buy like this, the last couple of years have been hard but they allowed me to explore my artistic and creative sides. Looking forward to 2022 I don't have any purchases planned, this year I realized that I'm able to differentiate when buying something has purpose and when is mindless.
Decluttering was really rewarding at first, I could even say exciting, progress was huge in a small amount of time… Now it becomes a little bit harder because I don’t see so much stuff going out of the home and it takes more time and sometimes decision making is more difficult (it’s easier to declutter tee shirts than to declutter a cooking chef)... But how freeing is the process !!! Thanks for your precious advices !!!
I used to have two pets and spent a lot of time vacuuming, so my ex bought a "Roomba". I found myself sitting on the sofa watching the thing for an hour, placing bets on when it would get the big dustbunny! Lol. Seriously though, it was an expensive purchase and cleaning it out took awhile, not to mention it could get caught on cords and shut off. Not worth it for me, but we did enjoy the break for awhile.
Hahaha watching when it will get to the big dustbunny, that's probably something I would do :D Or hiding one or two little grains of rice and seeing if it discovers them haha
The topic of this conversation is perfect for this time of the year, when ppl spend what they don’t have bc of “Black Friday” & “Christmas gifts”. In my country, I see hundreds of people spending their savings online & in local stores. It’s sad to see that they don’t think about the months to come… Also, it’s summer here, so ppl buy more & more. In January, they don’t have any money at all. This mindset is sad & sick. Thank u so much Vera, for this conversation, bc sometimes I feel like I’m an alien, bc I don’t buy like them. Wish u the best always ❤️🌸🌺
Thank you for taking us behind the reasons we purchase things we don't need. I tend to buy things that I need only. Just because I can't afford to get anything I'm not going to use. I don't know if I'd spend money in any other way if I did have money.
Thanks for the video! I really like your calm, quiet approach to sharing tips and strategies. My favourite rule for shopping is to wait. Maybe a day for a medium sized purchase, or wait longer for a large purchase. If after a day or a week, if I determine that I really need something, they I buy it. Most times I find out that I don't really need to buy the item in the first place :)
Hello Vera There is a saying once you know better you do better. So now that I'm older and wiser I buy things I really need. Once awhile I may buy something that's not necessary.Thanks for the video.❤
Great reminders, Vera, as I sit here looking at my donate pile from my recent decluttering. I can’t help but think about the wasted money.😖 But I don’t shop as therapy anymore thankfully.☺️
Hi Teresa! Yes decluttering can be painful, because we're confronted with the not-so-great choices we've made in the past :) But in my experience, it's always worth it in the end haha. :) Take care and have an awesome day!
I did a big declutter last year, and then a no spend. I made one of the mistakes you mentioned i over decluttered, had to go to low buy as was missing things i had given away. Starting February i am going to try a no buy for 4 months.
Hi Vera! Thank you for another great video! I recently realized that most of my clothes have patterns or logo on them which can make it harder to mix and match when deciding the outfit. I don’t mind to repeat the same outfits because if I see a person wearing the same outfit over and over, that means to me that this person really loves this outfit! But when I try to mix and match the clothes, it’s been very hard thus I say the famous phrase of “I don’t have any clothes!” even though that’s not true 😂 I looked at my closet and saw ZERO plain white or black t-shirts/long sleeve shirts and no plain sweats/hoodies. I also love gray colors, but most of my favorite items are gray as well as two of my winter jackets (light and heavy).. 🙄 So I recently made a policy for myself (not forever but for now) 1. No more buying gray color clothes even if they are cute and comfortable 2. No more buying patterns even if I found them very cute. I also know myself that I won’t enjoy wearing items that are not comfortable so my another policy is to only buy clothes that are 100% comfortable (no more saying “but” or excuses because of the design/looks, etc). Plus I have been not purchasing items impulsively by giving myself a wait time which has been working great so far! I say all these because you really helped me to become a better consumer. Thank you✨
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences Yui! These sound like very sensible policies for shopping mindfully :) Take care and have a great week!
I find what you said about emotional insecurity true for me. If I push myself to go out to the store after work to pick up an essential item and I start feeling a lot of emotions I try to practice HALT which means if im hungry angry lonely or tired I hit the pause button put everything back except what i needed and go home. If its important to me I go back but 99 percent of the time its not needed. I also try not to shop online if im overly tired I wait until im rested. I also try to think about the item in terms of money vs momentary pleasure. I ask myself do I see myself wearing or using this often or is it only an ok item? I will sit with that until i have the answer. For example i have chickens and I love them. I often buy clothes that are funny and chicken themed related. I ask myself when looking at the item do they have my size? Do they have a color I like to wear? Do i really see myself wearing it with what it says on it or do I just find it funny? Often I may just need to share the picture with others have a laugh and end up not even wanting to purchase it. I also like what you said about finding new hobbies to do if im bored its a lot easier to scroll online and start seeing items I want to buy. I'm trying to break myself of this habit. Even if i want to do something and dont know what I get up go outside or even start a load of laundry that usually helps and I can refocus and it motivates me to do another activity
Really helpful video; it's so useful to see reasons for why we buy things laid out like that. I could relate to several, but I would say I was more often motivated by a mix of numbers 2 and 8. For me however it wasn't about external approval but more about an inner sense of image/identity. I felt if I buy this or that thing I will feel more like the type of person I want to be, which I guess was in part motivated by feelings of insecurity. This was even present when I became a minimalist and started to declutter. I found myself buying things or replacing recently decultured things with items that felt more minimalist as a way to reinforce the growing sense of myself as a minimalist. The contradiction makes me smile now. :-)
Love these tips! I also make sure that I'm using my clothes that I've bought. I have a different coloured hanger to separate the clothes that I've used since the previous November. November is the month I've arbitrarily selected to go through my clothes. I'll go through them every November and, if I've not used those clothes, I'll donate them. That way I'm not holding on to something that I know I've not been using, and maybe they'll find a good home where they'll be used more. It's good to see what I've not used because it helps me realise that I don't need more because I have clothes that I'm not even using still!
A timely video Vera! Especially with the pandemic and people being stuck at home, buying online can be deceivingly therapeutic, what with the 11.11, Black Friday and other flash sales. One method that I use to curb my buying urges is to write down the items that I would like to buy, and then revisit them at a later point in time-very often, I end up crossing out a lot of items. I'd like to think of this as my cool down approach. 😏
Hi Vera, not sure if you’ll read this but I just wanted to say how grateful I am. I casually came across your channel and been binge watching many of your videos and what you say resonates so much with me. I’ve been decluttering since the start of the year and I feel like it’s a never ending process, but I’m enjoying the journey and looking forward to getting to a point where I’m happy with my existing stuff. My main temptation has always been resisting a good deal and always stocking up on things I like, but I’m working on it and your videos are helping a lot. Looking forward to another video soon. 🤩🤩
Hi Vera, I have been doing better about using up what I have now since the last time I commented to you. I only went once to a store and bought a special sale promo. And I am still using up what I have. Even if I had fail once with a store promo I've done better than what I've bought in the past. Your video rings so true to what I don't need and how I may feel about it after I've bought and wonder what the heck was I thinking. There is really no need for me to have so much stuff. What a waste it can be. Love your videos and ideas. Thanks.
Excellent, Vera 🪶 Your beautiful work and insight has helped myself and my partner so much 💞 We love starting our day with your videos on our weekends - so refreshing and inspiring to live a more simple, happy, Zen life. Thank you so much for all you do - it is truly beautiful 🌊🍂☀️
These are such important things to understand and you've presented excellent tips for navigating the pitfalls of living in a consumer culture. Thank you!
o my god Vera. you couldn't post this video in a more proper time; at least for me. I've been overwhelmed by my own shopping recently. although I've been living more intentionally. Thank you
I think I’m more of a sucker for a good deal but back in my couponing days I def learned that there’s not much that you can’t get a good deal on if you wait for the next sale/deal/offerings. I also learned the diff between my “keepers” and fave items vs what I could get for super cheap or free. I think I was getting dopamine hits or something from just how much I could get for next to nothing. Lol. I don’t even think I wanted the stuff as much as I wanted to go have fun working all those “deals.” I also was pretty bad about thinking the next magical cleaning gadget was going to suddenly make chores fun or a breeze or motivate me to actually clean. I also would just “go on hunts” at the thrift store for fun and to just get out of the house. I still very much enjoy that as “me time” Bcuz I just love “the hunt.” I really don’t know tho if that’s so bad. If I pay $3 for a shirt and I wear it a few times, I already got my money’s worth and I also don’t mind putting it back in my donate pile. Bcuz sure. I could go hiking or something else for fun but I bet I’d spend more on proper shoes or gear or equipment than I would on a thrift store hunt. I’m still trying to work that out tho as I feel like it’s far better than doing such things at full new retail prices. And I def question myself a lot more when I go about whether I’ll really use the item or not. And then I just don’t go quite as much as I used to either. If it’s not clothes, I think a bit more before i buy about things like if it’s REALLY useful or where its new home will be. I think the driver behind all that is prob thinking I’m gonna get too bored and stale if I don’t change it up every so often. I also have a lot of curiosity about what’s even “out there.” So it might be more like FOMO or such for me. But I’ve always loved a good puzzle so to me it’s rather fun and a kind of exploratory thing, such as digging for buried treasures or solving this mystery of “what’s in that bag” or “what came down the pike” at the thrift store lately.
Its annoying when cosmetics or other stuff doesnt work for you and you have to gift/give/throw it away.. At some point you know what products work for you (at least for some time) and you hope they dont get discontinued. Theres almost inevitably a period of experimentation when youre inplementing the knowledge youve gained about skin care for example.. Im glad mine is largely over 😅
I agree, there's some value in experimentation when it comes to these things, but now that I know which products work for me, it makes everything a lot easier :)
Hi Vera less is way more! Minimalism and frugality makes you focus on what truly matters to you, and that makes life so much easier and better. Costs way less of your time, energie and money. So there is more to enjoy what you have or really want. Have a good week and take care❤️
It doesn’t matter how many clothes I had I would only wear the same stuff all the time. I decluttered my clothes after watching a previous video of yours and now I have about 25 items and it’s been liberating. Can I ask are you going to do a new bujo video this year.:)
Hi Lynby! So happy you're enjoying your new wardrobe like that! :) About the bujo... I'm still not sure if I'll make a new video. I'm considering using the same setup myself as my previous one. :)
started watching your video but I am afraid was put off by the large titles which confirmed what you were saying. is it my computer? HOWEVER I continued watching and saw myself in the notion you put forward about shopping is fun..something to do when you are bored..me exactly..thankyou again
@@SimpleHappyZen sorry, not very good on the computer. but never mind, I still learnt a lot from it. have a great day and that tee shirt at the beginning is cool x
I often struggle with interior items. I am thinking of buying a set of new small Sonos speakers. I currently own two smaller Sonos speakers that is in my living room next to my TV. But every night I have to "borrow" one for my bedroom since I like to listen to soft meditation music at night time. But that also means that I have to take it back to my living room every morning. I have the money, but I can't seem to get a break on the savings as there is much more expenditure at times. I am a frugal person and I like to keep it at the absolute minimal of belongings so I guess it's just that. But at the same time I know for sure that I would enjoy and I would be greatful for the new speakers, even though I'd have to spend more than I'd like to. The same could be said about a new vacuum cleaner that's hand held, or a robot. It could be practical it both cases and I'm 100% sure I will buy them someday, if not now then later. The priorities is what's hard. Sure, saving the money, keep what you have and make the most out of it. At the same time it could just prove to be more of a neusance and that it would make life easier if one just spend a little more money on the items that can provide with a more lasting joyful outcome.
I have a closet full of clothes, bags, shoes, etc, and I often feel stressed about getting dressed to go out! No matter what I wear, I always feel everyone looks better than me! I think buying things is an addiction of sorts. How much is enough? I love the feeling of buying things in the moment, but the moment is over before I even leave the store!
One other belief that I would add to this list is buying for a cause, or buying just because. I feel like this is something that can really be applied to anything, but especially in the world of fashion, it seems like there will always be a justification for why we constantly buy things from one specific brand or cause. Brand names in general can be considered "high quality", but it's better to be intentional instead of buying everything under the sun "just because" if that makes sense.
Most people have problems with using money unwisely They buy things , not becayse they need them, but just because such unnecessary things are either cheap or popular
hey.. i was waiting for your bullet journal 2022 flipthrough and setup i think many of the subscribers are waiting for it too.. pleasee try to upload the video of it soon ☺✌
Very true. I used to go shopping to deal with crises and depression. It never made me feel better and would only distract me for the moment. After I got home with my stuff I'd feel worse actually... guilty and with less money.
Hi... Very informative and useful tips video. Shopping is a never ending activity now a days. We have to handle it very carefully. LESS IS MORE. Thanks for the same. Enjoy moments 🎉🎉
After four years of living minimally, I still have to wrestle with myself when shopping. I will go to buy a intentional item, but I will see other things I am tempted to buy, what helps me is I imagine bringing it home, and putting it in my closet, or walking around aimlessly looking for a spot to put it in my home, it stops me dead in my tracks… I do put it in the shopping cart, but when I’m ready to go to the register, 99.9% of the time, I put it back, and walk out what I went into the store to purchase..
Hello dear,, I’ve lost over 2 stones & most of my clothes don’t fit me anymore. So I was tempted to buy a lot but after thinking I only bought few items..
Hi Vera That was a really very nice video.Due to online shopping we get a lot of time to decide and choose on our purchases but sometimes it takes a lot of time creating a lot of anxiety and a habit of browsing the shopping apps in search of newer items published in regular basis.Please help how to cope up with this stess and anxiety.
I'm confused. One thought is cutting down to reduce clutter, and I mainly believe in this one. The other is to way stock up on sale cause of inflation in food arena. I don't have space for clutter, and already have way too much clutter. But about food? I still don't have " stock up room". Confusing for me. Plus dust/ cleaning- less stuff is less dirt. Confused. But what do I eat when my cupboard is bare/ fridge too? Takeout delivery? Help, thx.
I need help in this area, I love handbags, but I find myself actually almost hating the collection I have, I don’t know why I buy them all the time and then carry a few times and dislike them, out of all my “good” bags , I bought a canvas hobby lobby back pack that I am currently loving, it’s got no value or popularity, but is functional for me! What’s my problem?! Ugh!
Thanks for watching! What are your shopping rules?
P.S. Feel free to check out Skillshare and get a 1-month free trial: skl.sh/simplehappyzen01221
I have two shopping rules:
1- go in with a list- if it's not on the list, I can't get it on that day. I must leave the store without the extra item. This forces me to think ahead before I go into a store.
2- wait 24 hours. If I am still thinking of the item and I have the money and space for it, then I can go get it. This method really cuts down on impulse buying, ensures I stay on budget, and keeps me from buying duplicates.. :). I do sometimes go back a few days later, but it is a conscious, intentional purchase then.
I take pictures of everything that I like, (that I don't need, but just want it) and walk away. I think about it 24 hours before I act on it. 99% of the time I never go back to look at the picture or get the item. I am especially drawn towards artsy items, and unless I can put it to use that day, I won't buy it; just taking a picture.
I’m on a “no spend” year and it’s been much more challenging than I thought. I certainly have lots of products and items to make it through the year already. I’m surprised at my habits. I have tons of hair and skin care products and I have to on purpose stop myself from buying more. I’m committed to examining all parts of me over the course of the year.
That's awesome, good luck with the final weeks of your no spend year! :)
In my homeland Mexico, there is a saying: women always want more clothes and less kilos (weight) and I think that is truly a mindset that we have to change, to accept who we are and stop looking things to fix the way we feel about ourselves. Great video Vera, I really enjoy listening to you and learning, have a wonderful Sunday, love and peace to you
Yes, love what you said! Thanks Cristina, have a nice day today!
"The good deal" is my battle cry for shopping and purchasing. Even a top from the thrift store for $2 is a bad deal if I don't really need, like, or look good in it. I've spent that $2 or $10 or more on clearance and sale items a hundred times. It's amazing how those single purchases add up to hundreds of dollars.
It really does add up :) Sales can be nice if it is something you were going to buy anyway (like your standard brand of toothpaste or something like that), but you're not saving anything if you didn't need the item in the first place :)
hahah you saying "I think shopping is fun... unless is crowded...or hot...or I'm feeling tired" fully represents me 😁😅
😄
… or noisy, or I’m hungry… And they never have what I want! 🤣
It’s interesting that as I have gotten older and wiser and started to live more mindfully, almost everything which is not food feels more and more overpriced. It’s not really about the price, however. I simply feel that the item does not carry enough value for me to be worth paying for to add to my life.
Love that :)
Omg you said crowded, tired and hot and those were my exact emotions at Hobby Lobby today. Huge lines and tons of people i left and now home watching TH-cam and playing with my dog.
Meagan R, that was me yesterday at Hobby Lobby it was soooo HOT, CROWDED, and all of a sudden it all looked a bunch of junk… the lines were crazy too…I went home and made a cafe latte.. 😂
😄😂👍🏻
thank you! black friday deals make me feel like i need more money to buy stuff i dont need, but it's true places always have sales
Exactly :)
The first one is very true for me, I buy clothes when I’m not feeling good, thinking « if I buy this, I will finally be the classy and feminine woman that I imagine ». It’s good to have a reminder that its not going to work. I should tell myself that I already am classy and feminine when I want to buy and new item, and see if I still want it. Thanks for your videos, I enjoy them every time 😊
So happy you enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing your thoughts Elise! :)
Good advice 🙂 I bought a tee shirt at a bike shop on cycling trip and I never wear it, not even for pajamas.
Thanks Cheryl! :) Haha yes that sounds like something I might do occassionally too. Especially when the memory is special, and you want something to remember it by.
You do not need as many clothes as you think. I find folding and storing clothes a pain. There's something about getting rid of clothing that's emotionally difficult. Best not to get it in the first place.
In the last five years I received many clothes from my extended family; they rarely match with the clothes I already had, so I always bought something to match. I never used all of that clothes, included the ones I choose. Since I started decluttering my wardrobe, I know what I like to wear. Now if I buy something, is something I truly like and wear at least three time a week!
Hi Laura, happy to hear you're enjoying your decluttered wardrobe! :)
@@SimpleHappyZen thank you Vera! Have a nice day
It is so refreshing to hear honest, heartfelt, and thoughtful information from Vera. It takes a brave and skillful person to dive deep in subjects and make it very simple to understand. Always grateful for insights.
Thanks so much Renee for your kind words! :) I appreciate it. Take care and have a nice day today!
I bought a lot this year and last one, from makeup to crafting stuff. I bought a few cloth items and I did a desktop make over. Do I regret purchasing those things? No, I usually don't buy like this, the last couple of years have been hard but they allowed me to explore my artistic and creative sides. Looking forward to 2022 I don't have any purchases planned, this year I realized that I'm able to differentiate when buying something has purpose and when is mindless.
Decluttering was really rewarding at first, I could even say exciting, progress was huge in a small amount of time… Now it becomes a little bit harder because I don’t see so much stuff going out of the home and it takes more time and sometimes decision making is more difficult (it’s easier to declutter tee shirts than to declutter a cooking chef)... But how freeing is the process !!! Thanks for your precious advices !!!
Thanks for sharing your experiences! :) I agree that it's not always easy, and it's a process :) But I'm happy you're enjoying the results! :)
I used to have two pets and spent a lot of time vacuuming, so my ex bought a "Roomba". I found myself sitting on the sofa watching the thing for an hour, placing bets on when it would get the big dustbunny! Lol. Seriously though, it was an expensive purchase and cleaning it out took awhile, not to mention it could get caught on cords and shut off. Not worth it for me, but we did enjoy the break for awhile.
Hahaha watching when it will get to the big dustbunny, that's probably something I would do :D Or hiding one or two little grains of rice and seeing if it discovers them haha
The topic of this conversation is perfect for this time of the year, when ppl spend what they don’t have bc of “Black Friday” & “Christmas gifts”. In my country, I see hundreds of people spending their savings online & in local stores. It’s sad to see that they don’t think about the months to come… Also, it’s summer here, so ppl buy more & more. In January, they don’t have any money at all. This mindset is sad & sick. Thank u so much Vera, for this conversation, bc sometimes I feel like I’m an alien, bc I don’t buy like them. Wish u the best always ❤️🌸🌺
Thanks so much Lidiane, happy you enjoyed the vid! :)
Thank you for taking us behind the reasons we purchase things we don't need. I tend to buy things that I need only. Just because I can't afford to get anything I'm not going to use. I don't know if I'd spend money in any other way if I did have money.
Thanks for the video! I really like your calm, quiet approach to sharing tips and strategies. My favourite rule for shopping is to wait. Maybe a day for a medium sized purchase, or wait longer for a large purchase. If after a day or a week, if I determine that I really need something, they I buy it. Most times I find out that I don't really need to buy the item in the first place :)
Thanks so much Jasmine, that's a great strategy! :)
Hello Vera There is a saying once you know better you do better. So now that I'm older and wiser I buy things I really need. Once awhile I may buy something that's not necessary.Thanks for the video.❤
Love that! Thanks for sharing Cathy, have an awesome day today!
Great reminders, Vera, as I sit here looking at my donate pile from my recent decluttering. I can’t help but think about the wasted money.😖 But I don’t shop as therapy anymore thankfully.☺️
Hi Teresa! Yes decluttering can be painful, because we're confronted with the not-so-great choices we've made in the past :) But in my experience, it's always worth it in the end haha. :) Take care and have an awesome day!
I did a big declutter last year, and then a no spend. I made one of the mistakes you mentioned i over decluttered, had to go to low buy as was missing things i had given away.
Starting February i am going to try a no buy for 4 months.
Thanks for sharing Kat and wishing you all the best with your no buy goasl!
Hi Vera! Thank you for another great video! I recently realized that most of my clothes have patterns or logo on them which can make it harder to mix and match when deciding the outfit. I don’t mind to repeat the same outfits because if I see a person wearing the same outfit over and over, that means to me that this person really loves this outfit! But when I try to mix and match the clothes, it’s been very hard thus I say the famous phrase of “I don’t have any clothes!” even though that’s not true 😂 I looked at my closet and saw ZERO plain white or black t-shirts/long sleeve shirts and no plain sweats/hoodies. I also love gray colors, but most of my favorite items are gray as well as two of my winter jackets (light and heavy).. 🙄 So I recently made a policy for myself (not forever but for now) 1. No more buying gray color clothes even if they are cute and comfortable 2. No more buying patterns even if I found them very cute. I also know myself that I won’t enjoy wearing items that are not comfortable so my another policy is to only buy clothes that are 100% comfortable (no more saying “but” or excuses because of the design/looks, etc). Plus I have been not purchasing items impulsively by giving myself a wait time which has been working great so far! I say all these because you really helped me to become a better consumer. Thank you✨
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences Yui! These sound like very sensible policies for shopping mindfully :) Take care and have a great week!
I find what you said about emotional insecurity true for me. If I push myself to go out to the store after work to pick up an essential item and I start feeling a lot of emotions I try to practice HALT which means if im hungry angry lonely or tired I hit the pause button put everything back except what i needed and go home. If its important to me I go back but 99 percent of the time its not needed. I also try not to shop online if im overly tired I wait until im rested. I also try to think about the item in terms of money vs momentary pleasure. I ask myself do I see myself wearing or using this often or is it only an ok item? I will sit with that until i have the answer. For example i have chickens and I love them. I often buy clothes that are funny and chicken themed related. I ask myself when looking at the item do they have my size? Do they have a color I like to wear? Do i really see myself wearing it with what it says on it or do I just find it funny? Often I may just need to share the picture with others have a laugh and end up not even wanting to purchase it. I also like what you said about finding new hobbies to do if im bored its a lot easier to scroll online and start seeing items I want to buy. I'm trying to break myself of this habit. Even if i want to do something and dont know what I get up go outside or even start a load of laundry that usually helps and I can refocus and it motivates me to do another activity
Really helpful video; it's so useful to see reasons for why we buy things laid out like that. I could relate to several, but I would say I was more often motivated by a mix of numbers 2 and 8. For me however it wasn't about external approval but more about an inner sense of image/identity. I felt if I buy this or that thing I will feel more like the type of person I want to be, which I guess was in part motivated by feelings of insecurity. This was even present when I became a minimalist and started to declutter. I found myself buying things or replacing recently decultured things with items that felt more minimalist as a way to reinforce the growing sense of myself as a minimalist. The contradiction makes me smile now. :-)
Thanks so much for sharing, I think that many people can relate to that experience when they first start out with minimalism :) It's a funny irony :)
Love these tips! I also make sure that I'm using my clothes that I've bought. I have a different coloured hanger to separate the clothes that I've used since the previous November. November is the month I've arbitrarily selected to go through my clothes. I'll go through them every November and, if I've not used those clothes, I'll donate them. That way I'm not holding on to something that I know I've not been using, and maybe they'll find a good home where they'll be used more. It's good to see what I've not used because it helps me realise that I don't need more because I have clothes that I'm not even using still!
That sounds like a great strategy! :) Thanks for sharing!
A timely video Vera! Especially with the pandemic and people being stuck at home, buying online can be deceivingly therapeutic, what with the 11.11, Black Friday and other flash sales.
One method that I use to curb my buying urges is to write down the items that I would like to buy, and then revisit them at a later point in time-very often, I end up crossing out a lot of items. I'd like to think of this as my cool down approach. 😏
That sounds like a great strategy! :)
Psychology says, reading good books, working out daily, and meditation are the three habits that lead to an energetic and peaceful lifestyle.
The Good Deal Mindset hits me a lot
I’m starting to declutter
Good luck Rina! :)
Hi Vera, not sure if you’ll read this but I just wanted to say how grateful I am.
I casually came across your channel and been binge watching many of your videos and what you say resonates so much with me.
I’ve been decluttering since the start of the year and I feel like it’s a never ending process, but I’m enjoying the journey and looking forward to getting to a point where I’m happy with my existing stuff.
My main temptation has always been resisting a good deal and always stocking up on things I like, but I’m working on it and your videos are helping a lot.
Looking forward to another video soon. 🤩🤩
Thank you so much for your kind comment Alexandra! 🤗💕 Wishing you all the best on your decluttering journey
More the time pass more i get closer to your life style,thanks for sharing 💚
You're very welcome Samuele, enjoy your day!
Hi Vera, I have been doing better about using up what I have now since the last time I commented to you. I only went once to a store and bought a special sale promo. And I am still using up what I have. Even if I had fail once with a store promo I've done better than what I've bought in the past. Your video rings so true to what I don't need and how I may feel about it after I've bought and wonder what the heck was I thinking. There is really no need for me to have so much stuff. What a waste it can be. Love your videos and ideas. Thanks.
Thanks so much Denise, so happy you're enjoying using up what you have! 😄🍃🤗
Excellent, Vera 🪶 Your beautiful work and insight has helped myself and my partner so much 💞 We love starting our day with your videos on our weekends - so refreshing and inspiring to live a more simple, happy, Zen life.
Thank you so much for all you do - it is truly beautiful 🌊🍂☀️
Thank you so much for the kind words and the good vibes!! :) I appreciate your support :) Have a lovely week!
These are such important things to understand and you've presented excellent tips for navigating the pitfalls of living in a consumer culture. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words! :) Take care and have a nice day
I love the colour of your top. It looks so amazing on you!
Thank you so much! :)
This is something I'm truly working on and focusing on changing. The universe must have decided I needed to see this video to help
You can do it Stephanie! :)
Absolutely love your channel and tips ❤
Thank you so much Anita!! :)
o my god Vera. you couldn't post this video in a more proper time; at least for me. I've been overwhelmed by my own shopping recently. although I've been living more intentionally. Thank you
You're very welcome, happy you enjoyed the video and that the timing worked out! :)
I think I’m more of a sucker for a good deal but back in my couponing days I def learned that there’s not much that you can’t get a good deal on if you wait for the next sale/deal/offerings. I also learned the diff between my “keepers” and fave items vs what I could get for super cheap or free. I think I was getting dopamine hits or something from just how much I could get for next to nothing. Lol. I don’t even think I wanted the stuff as much as I wanted to go have fun working all those “deals.” I also was pretty bad about thinking the next magical cleaning gadget was going to suddenly make chores fun or a breeze or motivate me to actually clean. I also would just “go on hunts” at the thrift store for fun and to just get out of the house. I still very much enjoy that as “me time” Bcuz I just love “the hunt.” I really don’t know tho if that’s so bad. If I pay $3 for a shirt and I wear it a few times, I already got my money’s worth and I also don’t mind putting it back in my donate pile. Bcuz sure. I could go hiking or something else for fun but I bet I’d spend more on proper shoes or gear or equipment than I would on a thrift store hunt. I’m still trying to work that out tho as I feel like it’s far better than doing such things at full new retail prices. And I def question myself a lot more when I go about whether I’ll really use the item or not. And then I just don’t go quite as much as I used to either. If it’s not clothes, I think a bit more before i buy about things like if it’s REALLY useful or where its new home will be. I think the driver behind all that is prob thinking I’m gonna get too bored and stale if I don’t change it up every so often. I also have a lot of curiosity about what’s even “out there.” So it might be more like FOMO or such for me. But I’ve always loved a good puzzle so to me it’s rather fun and a kind of exploratory thing, such as digging for buried treasures or solving this mystery of “what’s in that bag” or “what came down the pike” at the thrift store lately.
Inspiring as always.Thank you for the valuable video🙏🙏⚘⚘⚘
Happy to hear it! :) Thanks, have a nice day today!
Awesome and informative advice. I think I needed to hear this today. 🙂💙🕊💙🦋💙
Happy to hear it, thank you Leah! :) Have a nice day today
Its annoying when cosmetics or other stuff doesnt work for you and you have to gift/give/throw it away.. At some point you know what products work for you (at least for some time) and you hope they dont get discontinued. Theres almost inevitably a period of experimentation when youre inplementing the knowledge youve gained about skin care for example.. Im glad mine is largely over 😅
I agree, there's some value in experimentation when it comes to these things, but now that I know which products work for me, it makes everything a lot easier :)
My wife and I hope you have a great holiday this year
Aw thank you both so much!! Wishing the same for you
I really needed this video. Thanks Vera.
You're very welcome! :) Have a lovely day
Hi Vera less is way more! Minimalism and frugality makes you focus on what truly matters to you, and that makes life so much easier and better. Costs way less of your time, energie and money. So there is more to enjoy what you have or really want. Have a good week and take care❤️
Well said! 🤗 Have a great weekend, luckily it's mostly dry today :)
I feel so inspired by you 🥰
Aw thank you Houda! :)
It doesn’t matter how many clothes I had I would only wear the same stuff all the time. I decluttered my clothes after watching a previous video of yours and now I have about 25 items and it’s been liberating. Can I ask are you going to do a new bujo video this year.:)
Hi Lynby! So happy you're enjoying your new wardrobe like that! :) About the bujo... I'm still not sure if I'll make a new video. I'm considering using the same setup myself as my previous one. :)
I really enjoyed watching your upload!
Keep up the excellent work!
I'm looking forward to another awesome video!
Take care and stay in touch! 🌷🙏🌷🙏
Thank you so much :)
Thank you for this video!!
You're very welcome Tia :) Enjoy your day!
started watching your video but I am afraid was put off by the large titles which confirmed what you were saying. is it my computer? HOWEVER I continued watching and saw myself in the notion you put forward about shopping is fun..something to do when you are bored..me exactly..thankyou again
Hi Julie! Is it possible you had English closed captions enabled? 😊
@@SimpleHappyZen sorry, not very good on the computer. but never mind, I still learnt a lot from it. have a great day and that tee shirt at the beginning is cool x
I often struggle with interior items. I am thinking of buying a set of new small Sonos speakers. I currently own two smaller Sonos speakers that is in my living room next to my TV. But every night I have to "borrow" one for my bedroom since I like to listen to soft meditation music at night time. But that also means that I have to take it back to my living room every morning. I have the money, but I can't seem to get a break on the savings as there is much more expenditure at times. I am a frugal person and I like to keep it at the absolute minimal of belongings so I guess it's just that. But at the same time I know for sure that I would enjoy and I would be greatful for the new speakers, even though I'd have to spend more than I'd like to. The same could be said about a new vacuum cleaner that's hand held, or a robot. It could be practical it both cases and I'm 100% sure I will buy them someday, if not now then later. The priorities is what's hard. Sure, saving the money, keep what you have and make the most out of it. At the same time it could just prove to be more of a neusance and that it would make life easier if one just spend a little more money on the items that can provide with a more lasting joyful outcome.
I have a closet full of clothes, bags, shoes, etc, and I often feel stressed about getting dressed to go out! No matter what I wear, I always feel everyone looks better than me! I think buying things is an addiction of sorts. How much is enough? I love the feeling of buying things in the moment, but the moment is over before I even leave the store!
I can relate, and used to feel similarly when I was younger and still buying lots of clothes
I've definitely gone shopping because I was bored lol. I don't do it anymore, but I used to.
Haha I used to do it too :)
One other belief that I would add to this list is buying for a cause, or buying just because. I feel like this is something that can really be applied to anything, but especially in the world of fashion, it seems like there will always be a justification for why we constantly buy things from one specific brand or cause. Brand names in general can be considered "high quality", but it's better to be intentional instead of buying everything under the sun "just because" if that makes sense.
Yes that makes total sense to me :)
Hi Vera i needed this video, thank you always 🇯🇵❤️
You're very welcome Moneth, take care and have a nice day today! :)
Excellent video! Perfect topic!
Thank you so much Claire 🤗🍃🌷
All of the above. ☮️
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Most people have problems with using money unwisely
They buy things , not becayse they need them, but just because such unnecessary things are either cheap or popular
I can see that :)
hey.. i was waiting for your bullet journal 2022 flipthrough and setup i think many of the subscribers are waiting for it too.. pleasee try to upload the video of it soon ☺✌
Thank you for letting me know! :) I can't make any promises haha, but I'll think about it :)
@@SimpleHappyZen thankyou so much... ❤
Never go shopping hungry, depressed, or bored. Its a recipe for disaster.Vicki
Hahaha true :) Thanks Vicki
Very true. I used to go shopping to deal with crises and depression. It never made me feel better and would only distract me for the moment. After I got home with my stuff I'd feel worse actually... guilty and with less money.
Hi... Very informative and useful tips video.
Shopping is a never ending activity now a days. We have to handle it very carefully.
LESS IS MORE.
Thanks for the same. Enjoy moments 🎉🎉
Thank you so much!! :) Glad you enjoyed the video. Have a nice week!
That's so funny but true, love this your so inspirational. Love from a new youtuber
Thank you so much Crystle :)
Great video, as usual . .
Thank you so much! :) Have an awesome day today!
After four years of living minimally, I still have to wrestle with myself when shopping. I will go to buy a intentional item, but I will see other things I am tempted to buy, what helps me is I imagine bringing it home, and putting it in my closet, or walking around aimlessly looking for a spot to put it in my home, it stops me dead in my tracks… I do put it in the shopping cart, but when I’m ready to go to the register, 99.9% of the time, I put it back, and walk out what I went into the store to purchase..
Ah I can relate to that :) It really helps to take a moment to think about having to find a place for something in your home :)
Hello dear,, I’ve lost over 2 stones & most of my clothes don’t fit me anymore. So I was tempted to buy a lot but after thinking I only bought few items..
I agree! ❤️
Thanks Kerry, have a great day! :)
Hi Vera
That was a really very nice video.Due to online shopping we get a lot of time to decide and choose on our purchases but sometimes it takes a lot of time creating a lot of anxiety and a habit of browsing the shopping apps in search of newer items published in regular basis.Please help how to cope up with this stess and anxiety.
I'm confused. One thought is cutting down to reduce clutter, and I mainly believe in this one. The other is to way stock up on sale cause of inflation in food arena. I don't have space for clutter, and already have way too much clutter. But about food? I still don't have " stock up room". Confusing for me. Plus dust/ cleaning- less stuff is less dirt. Confused. But what do I eat when my cupboard is bare/ fridge too? Takeout delivery? Help, thx.
I need help in this area, I love handbags, but I find myself actually almost hating the collection I have, I don’t know why I buy them all the time and then carry a few times and dislike them, out of all my “good” bags , I bought a canvas hobby lobby back pack that I am currently loving, it’s got no value or popularity, but is functional for me! What’s my problem?! Ugh!
Perhaps doing a no-buy challenge for handbags in 2022 could be a good idea! :) Just to see what happens and how you feel about them after a year
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Gorgeous lady 😻
Haha thank you Helen :)
leuke video
Dankjewel Naomi! :) Fijne dag!
They are getting to much money
Too much shopping i though its never too much shopping for women lol
Well i like your post
But you talk like a speedtrain lol, you show us making tea?
Mabye your sensitive because you where given everything in your life and never had to actually strive for anything worth while. Your life is to easy.
Do you have a tongue piercing or am I imagining that 😂
Ofcourse part2 would be extremely helpful for me 🌟🥹♥️🌾
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