I too was tempted by the Banana 40% off coupons. I went in on 9/2 to get a price reduction on a pair of jeans (yes, I had succumbed to the “one last shopping trip before 9/1″ for “needed” black pants and ended up buying pants AND jeans), but I couldn’t use the coupon on the jeans because they had just gone on sale, for about the equivalent of 40% off. So I had this coupon burning a hole in my pocket. I didn’t even look at the clothes, but I went straight for the jewelry. I bought a necklace (it WAS a good deal), but I had just bought 2 other necklaces this past weekend, boutique shopping in my neighborhood.
Let me back up a little… My motivations for joining this diet are: saving money, saving space, curbing my consumption habits, and developing my personal style. I’ve never had a knack for accessorizing, and I own very little in the way of accessories and jewelry. I’ve been building up a nicer clothes wardrobe the past few years, mostly nice work clothes, but I’m not that great at putting together an outfit.
But if my main goal is to save money, I need to be really careful about buying accessories and try to find a balance there. I bought the 2 necklaces last weekend in anticipation of this diet, thinking that if I can’t buy new clothes, I’ll need other ways to combine what I have in new ways. I’m excited about that, but I’m seeing now that buying jewelry, accessories, and shoes could easily just replace clothes in my shopping and spending habits. I’ve been thinking (and bragging to my bf) that this diet wouldn’t be so hard for me. Two days in, and I’m already learning something about myself. It’s going to be a struggle to figure out how to balance my various diet-related goals in the coming year.
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Here’s a tip on how to make the most of your jewelry investment, or, indeed, any new purchase: make a point of putting together ensembles as soon as possible and then wear the daylights out of your new purchases, so they become part of your getting-dressed thought process. Perhaps you need to see things to be reminded of how you want to put them together–take pictures or hang things together on a hanger–at least the night before.
I don’t do my best outfit assembling when I’m rushed in the morning–I’ll go for the familiar fallbacks. This way, you add more familiarity to new purchases. Make ‘em work.
You can get great accessories at second-hand shops and thrift stores without too much damage to your wallet. I try to add one accessory (scarf, necklace, bracelet, belt, something!) to my outfit every day to keep things interesting.
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