New Year’s Resolution Check-In--Hi, I’m Marta, Recovering Shopaholic
This year, I have decided to give myself a no-buy rule. Now that we’re heading into the third month of 2025, I want to reflect on how this challenge has been going. But first, let me address the why of it all. Last year, my resolution was to shop more sustainably by trying to thrift at least 80% of the clothes I bought within the year. I made sure to really assess if the things I found cute were items I was going to get good use out of or merely a fleeting trend. I love a challenge, so I wanted to up the ante this year and only buy second-hand. This was an exciting goal for the year ahead as I love to thrift. However, life had a different plan for me this year! With a quick turnaround, I had accepted an internship in Toronto and was restricted to a very tight budget. A bi-weekly thrift haul wasn’t really in my cards (no pun intended). And there it was…my first reason for doing a no-buy – FINANCES (the frontal lobe is definitely developing!).
As I packed my bags for the year ahead, I filled two suitcases to the brim, trying to plan for every season that Toronto could possibly throw at me. A mild and wet winter, and an outrageously hot summer. My entire closet had made it into those suitcases. Once I arrived in Kingston to empty my room, I had yet another closet to empty. Then came my second reason for my resolution: I have ENOUGH clothes as it is. It reminded me of an ad I had seen, of people wearing all their clothes at once. I mean, what is the sense of having seven scarves, three toques, and an absurd amount of maxi skirts?
So, you might ask, how has it been so far? I am happy to say that as February comes to an end, I have not bought ANY new clothes. But, I won’t lie, it has been a very difficult few months, both creatively and as a consumer. Creatively, it’s been difficult to think of new combinations and various outfits with the same pieces. It feels like one piece of clothing has a limit to the amount of outfits it can make. I will note, however, that I have done this challenge during the winter,hich I find especially difficult to dress for.
As an individual that falls heavily promotes consumerism, it’s been difficult to not…well…consume. At times, I’ve felt unfashionable because I’m not mimicking the newest trends. My wardrobe felt very dated.
As I mentioned, I have always been someone that loves to shop and curate a wardrobe I’m proud of. My dopamine receptors started to quite literally crave shopping,going to the thrift store and sifting through the racks to find a beautiful new sweater. The rush, oh how I miss it! I have been Pavloved to associate shopping with a surge of dopamine, just for it to quickly dissipate and leave me feeling unsatisfied with my closet the next day.
My 2025 resolution of limiting my shopping has been a transformative experience, and there have been a lot of temptations along the way. I’ve learned more about myself and about versatile, sustainable fashion than ever before! I am continually committed to this journey and I would encourage all of you reading to try it yourself. It will help your wallet and your dopamine receptors!
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