The five shopping habits that are costing you money—and how to break them.
BY SARA ACEVEDO
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This past week, I was helping a client prepare for an upcoming trip. Between her and her husband, they had spent nearly $3,000 shopping for things they thought they needed: new clothes for dinners, activities, and specific occasions throughout their itinerary. The purchases weren’t necessarily bad. The problem was that they’d been made without a plan.
As we started trying everything on, it became clear that much of what they’d purchased was unnecessary. They already owned pieces that worked but hadn’t taken the time to put outfits together before shopping. By the time we finished, we’d significantly reduced what they needed to pack, put together outfits they actually liked, and identified what was worth keeping and what could go back.
It’s something I see often, and it isn’t limited to travel. A wedding comes up, and suddenly you’re buying an expensive dress you’ll wear once. An important meeting has you questioning your entire wardrobe. A first date sends you shopping for something new, usually in a style that doesn’t even suit your personality.
The common thread isn’t a lack of clothing. It’s a lack of planning. And more often than not, spending more money doesn’t solve the problem.
5 Shopping Habits That Are Costing You Money
1. Panic Shopping. Buying for an upcoming trip, event, or occasion without considering what you already own.
2. Not Knowing How to Put Outfits Together. Buying one-off pieces without thinking about the full look or what else is needed to make the outfit work.
3. Not Understanding Your Personal Style. Buying things you admire on other people without considering whether they suit your body, your taste, or the way you actually live.
4. Shopping Because Something Is on Sale. Allowing a discount to influence your decision rather than asking whether you genuinely need, love, or will wear the item.
5. Following Trends Too Closely. Buying what’s current without considering whether the silhouette flatters you or works with the rest of your wardrobe.
How to Shop More Intentionally
The solution isn’t necessarily to stop shopping. It’s to understand what you’re shopping for before you start. I’ve put together a practical checklist to help you plan ahead, make better use of what you own, and shop with intention.
Buy Less Randomly. Wear More of What You Own
The most effective wardrobes aren’t necessarily the largest or the most expensive. They’re the ones that have been considered. When you understand your personal style, know what works for your body, and plan around your actual life, shopping becomes easier. You make fewer unnecessary purchases, get more use out of what you own, and spend your money on pieces that genuinely improve your wardrobe.
And perhaps most importantly, getting dressed stops feeling like a problem you need to solve with another purchase.
Need help figuring it out? I offer personal style consultations and personal shopping services to help you define your style, make sense of your wardrobe, and shop with a clear plan. If you have questions or aren’t sure where to begin, simply reply to this email. I’d be happy to help.
Enjoy!
