4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy New Clothes, According to ‘Reformed Shopaholic’ Christina Mychas
Written by
Andrea Norris
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Amen Oyiboke
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Do you struggle to stick to your clothing budget? According to Capital One Shopping Research, clothing is the most common area of impulse buying, even more so than impulse food purchases.
YouTuber Christina Mychas, a wardrobe stylist and reformed shopaholic, recommends asking yourself four questions before you purchase any item of clothing. Mychas teaches the Minimalist-ish Method, which promotes intentional spending without deprivation.
While Mychas’ questions are specifically for clothes shopping, you can also use them to make mindful spending decisions in other areas. The more intentional you are with your budget, the more likely you are to achieve your financial goals.
‘Is It a Hell Yes?’
Since overcoming her overspending, Mychas says she has no time or money to accept wardrobe purchases she feels lukewarm about. Her advice is to say no if you’re feeling any hesitation about a clothing purchase.
If you have difficulty distinguishing between a “hell yes” and a “maybe,” try using the 24-hour rule: This rule states that whenever you want to make an unplanned purchase, wait 24 hours before buying. The urgency to buy will often be gone by the next day. If not, and if the item is still a must-have, go ahead and spend.
‘Am I Happy To Spend This Money?’
Mychas believes fashion is a form of expression, so clothing isn’t necessarily a waste of money if the purchase is intentional — you’ve thought about it and determined you can afford it.
Emotional shoppers may want to use caution when asking this question. A LendingTree survey revealed that stress, excitement and happiness are the top three feelings that drive emotional shoppers to spend. So separating your excitement about the item you want to buy from the happiness spending often provides may be challenging.
Following Mychas’ advice can help keep your emotional impulse shopping in check and minimize the guilt that often follows these purchases.
‘Am I Shopping Out of Boredom?’
Another emotion that drives impulse shopping is boredom. Mychas acknowledges that online shopping was once a hobby for her and actually made her feel productive.
If you find yourself browsing online clothing or other shopping sites when bored, ask yourself a follow-up question: How else can I better spend my time?
PenFed Credit Union suggests you “redirect yourself to a healthier choice.” Come up with a few alternative activities you can turn to when you feel the urge to fill your time shopping.
‘Do I Own Something Similar?’
If you know you spend more than you should on clothing, an easy way to cut back is to avoid buying new items that are similar to those that are already in your wardrobe. Once again, thinking about the purchase before buying can help you transition from impulse to intentional spending.
Mychas says, “If you slow down and start to ask yourself some of these questions before buying, then I think you’ll start to feel a lot better and more intentional about the purchases that you do make.”
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