Confessions of a Shopaholic

For a long time I used shopping as a way to distract myself when I was feeling down. And because I felt down pretty much all the time, I shopped A LOT! I used to have to go through my wardrobe 3 or 4 times a year to clear out my old clothes and make way for my new ones. I spent money as if it didn't matter, oh but it did! And now I am paying for it, literally. And what do I have to show for all the money I've spent on clothes and shoes over the years? Not a helluva lot!

Eventually I had to face up to my credit debt problem and stop buying shit every time I was in a bad mood. I'd be lying if I said I've completely kicked the habit, but, I can definitely say that I've gotten a handle on it. I do still indulge in the occasional spot of retail therapy, but when I do, I have strict rules about what I can spend money on, and how much money I can spend. And now that I'm not dealing with buyer's remorse, a bit of retail therapy often does lift me up out of a funk.

Actually, as a free extra tip for all y'alls: getting dressed up is one of the best way to kick a funk to the curb. It's damn hard to feel down on life when you're dressed to the nines.

Joni's Top Ten Style Tips #4: Know when to spend and when to save

Unlike what popular culture would have us believe, being a 20-something doesn't mean having unfettered access to a steady cash flow. Most of us live on a budget. I live on a reallllly tight budget. But for many of us, myself included, fashion is important and looking good matters a lot! And it is possible to look great and not break the bank. They key is knowing what things to spend money on, and what to get as cheaply as possible.

Obviously, anything that can be got on sale is better than paying full price. But that's not what I'm talking about. Some things are worth paying money for, some things, not so much. If it's something that is a super-of-the-moment fad, it is probably not worth spending a lot of money on. Any piece of quality clothing that suits your body shape is worth spending a lot of money on.

As a general rule for myself, I don't spend a lot of money on my wardrobe staples. I like clothes that are fairly plain, because they are easy to mix and match. I like bright colours, but generally avoid patterns. So when I find something that is a flattering cut and cheap, I will buy it in a few different colours. When I was still living in Calgary, I was a regular at Old Navy for this very reason. Alas, we don't have Old Navy here in Melbourne, but we do have KMart. And KMart, I have discovered, has the solution to all life's problems. I recently bought 3 skirts, 2 shirts, and a new pair of tights from there for a whooping $79.

Some things that I think are worth spending money on?

1) A good hairdo!
I haven't made having awesome hair one of my style tips, but, in retrospect I should have. Don't just trust your hairdresser to know what they are doing. Shop around! You want to go to a hairdresser who reflects the style you are looking to achieve. You should be in awe of the hairstyles the people leaving your hairdresser have. Why? Because when you have a really great hairdo, you've already won the looking good battle. If you've got a crap hairdo, any attempt to look stylish is gonna fall on it's face.

2) Shoes!

I tend to do a lot of walking, so my shoes need to be made for walking, cuz that's just what they'll do! Don't let your shoes walk all over you! I am not a woman who can walk in heels, and yet, I am a woman with a secret chamber of fabulous shoes that I can (mostly) walk in. Comfortable and stylish shoes are no longer mutually exclusive things. The problem, of course, is that the stylish comfy shoes tend to be a bit on the extreme price side (like my under $500 boots). They are worth saving up for though, I PROMISE!

3) Good quality, flattering clothing.
It's cute, it's funky, it's well made, it looks great on you, and you're going to be one of only a handful of people to own it? Yeah, it's worth it. There is a store full of such goodies down the street from me. It's my save-up-and-treat-myself store.

So my little fashionistas, the next time you're out on a shopping binge, take a look at what you've got in your hand, how much you're being asked to shell out for it, and ask yourself "Is this really going to give me value for money?" No? Put it down and walk away. If you change your mind, you can always go back for it later.