Hello dear readers!! It’s been a minute (or two ;)) since my last blog post but I am back. Life happens, and I needed to take a break from blogging to focus on other things. Our capacity for what we can handle is only so much and something had to go. Initially, I thought my blogging break would be significantly shorter than what it was. That’s the thing with life, you never really know what the next bend or bump in the road might be.
Now, I had planned on starting back with a life lately post, but that one needs a little more time before it’s ready. With the annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale going on right now I figured that this one was a little more pressing. Because who doesn’t love a good sale, am I right?!? 🙂
Shopping Mindfully
I’ve covered the Nordstrom Sale before, and while all of those points are still valid, there is something about bringing mindfulness into our everyday tasks. The Nordstrom Sale can be pretty intense. There are so many good deals to be found. Which makes it super easy to go overboard and to get caught up in the euphoria.
That’s where mindfulness comes in. Mindfulness is about being present and staying in the moment. It keeps you grounded and helps you to recognize the difference between emotion mind and making a decision based on your wise mind. Emotion mind can be more impulsive. I was definitely in emotion mind 10 years ago when my BFF and I went to Vegas for a week. I came home with 6(?) new bags from Coach and Michael Kors!! They were all purchased at the outlet malls but still. It literally went from “which one should I get” to “I’ll get both and that one too!” I still cringe about this to this day. Such a waste. Though I do still have and use some of those purses to this day. The rest were lovingly passed along to family and friends over the years.
Emotion mind can cloud our judgement. It can lead to impulsively buying more than we really want or need. In the above example, while definitely excessive, I was never at risk of spiralling into debt over my decisions. Not everyone can say the same. I was also able to tighten my purse strings over the next few years to make up for it. I don’t think I purchased another designer handbag for another 3-4 years.
Shopping mindfully helps you to recognize when you are start to get in over your head. It gives you the awareness to really look at an item and figure out if it’s a want or a need.
Determining Want VS Need
When shopping the Nordstrom sale this time, I went into it knowing that I needed to replace a pair of shoes that I love that had broken (and been fixed) twice already. So I specifically was looking for shoes in a similar style and didn’t even glance at another other style of shoe. Which can be tough when there are so many pretty shoes on display. And on sale!
For the last year, I have been looking at a particular style of coat. I knew the cut and style that I wanted but the colour available was never quite right. The price tag involved meant that I knew I needed to be 100% satisfied. When I saw this Ted Baker coat, in a shade of baby blue, I knew that it was exactly what I was looking for. It was also such a great price and I know that this coat is one that I will wear for years. The cost per wear of something like this needs to be considered. Living in Toronto, we have long seasons of cold weather so I know that I will get a lot of wear out of it. It’s also a colour that will go with pretty much everything I already own.
Though, maybe you are looking to splurge on something that isn’t really needed? Something that will put a spring in your step and make you smile?
How do you mindfully shop for something that is really a splurge without feeling guilty for it afterwards?
How to mindfully Shop
It goes back to recognizing what frame of mind you are in. A good way of knowing if you are in emotion mind vs wise mind is asking yourself a series of questions.
- Can I afford this item? There is no sense buying something that will make you feel good for 5 minutes but  it means that you can’t pay for a necessity. The prettiest coat in the world is not worth going without dinner.
- Does this suit my lifestyle? Realistically, how often can you wear it? Will you wear it? We all have that one item in our closet that looks fabulous on us but that we never actually take out and show off. There were so many jeans on sale but I hardly ever wear jeans. Buying a new pair wouldn’t suit my lifestyle because I am mostly in dresses and skirts. Even on my days off.
- Is this item a trend? Will it be dated in a few months/years? Then put it back. These items you can always find for less in another store down the mall. Trust me.
- Do I have something similar? I recently cleaned out my closet and was amazed at the sheer number of striped tops I have. They are all slightly different and I wear all of them but still. The last thing I need is anything striped!!
- What is the quality of the item? If you are investing in something, you want to make sure that the quality of the material, the cut and the stitching are all top notch. There is nothing worse than paying good money for something only to have it fall apart after a few wears. As I said above, I needed to replace a pair of shoes. When looking for something new I would check the heel and how it is constructed and how thick or thin it is. If it is designed the same way as the last pair than maybe I keep looking. There is nothing worse than getting your heel caught in a crack in the sidewalk and having it snap on the way to your event!
The world right now is kind of a mess. Sometimes talking about things like clothes and shopping might seem a little frivolous but it can actually be a form of self-care. As long as you know that you are not making decisions that might make things worse for yourself in the long run. From time to time picking up something new that will put a smile on our face can be a good thing. Like everything though, it all needs to be done in moderation.
In the comments below, share what tips you have for shopping more mindfully?
As always, thanks for reading!! I appreciate that you took the time out from your busy lives to read this post.
