u/burntsugarsnitch

I repurchased my holy grail mascara yesterday. I prefer to support brick-and-mortar retailers, but this item is an online exclusive and cannot be shipped to a store.

I know my weaknesses with online shopping:
-Impulse-buying for the fantasy self
-Meeting the free shipping minimum
-Getting dopamine hits from tracking the location of the package, then wanting to repeat the cycle

I kept these weaknesses in mind yesterday and made a conscious commitment to remove the fun from my online shopping experience. I did not browse for the fantasy self. I paid for shipping, and I’m not checking on the status of my order. I want the experience to feel like business-as-usual instead of being a costly and unnecessary addiction.

By my standards, I have not placed an online order in a while (it’s been a few weeks). I’ve felt a lot of peace and clarity within that time. I deactivated social media and aspired to save money instead of spending it. I’ve taken time to appreciate and care for the things I already own. This feels so much better than distracting myself with a constant flow of purchases. My daily life is finally starting to feel steady and comfortable.

I recently posted about giving away most of my makeup collection. Just want to share that I have NO REGRETS. In fact, I’m thriving. No more analysis-paralysis. No more sitting around watching my unused products gather dust. I actually use less makeup now because I’m cultivating confidence in myself and my natural appearance.

I want everyone to feel this good! 🩷

I moved recently. My new living space is smaller but more luxurious than where I lived before. I gave away most of my clothing & makeup collection to avoid feeling suffocated by my stuff.

I am thriving with less. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can manage my surroundings and make decisions.

When I was drowning in possessions, I felt like there was never enough time to upkeep it all—and that caused me stress. The stress made me resent caring for my possessions. Then I started buying replacements because it seemed more convenient than learning how to take care of things. The caveat is that I was filled with guilt.

Now I actually ENJOY taking care of my stuff because I have the time and energy to do so. My space is cuter, cleaner, and fills me with a sense of peace and self-acceptance. I no longer feel like my possessions are possessing me.

It’s wonderful to feel like I can finally manage the things I own. ❤️

I’ve said those words before. Over the last six months, I’ve had some success managing my shopping addiction. Then I’d slip up and start overbuying from my wishlist.

This time feels different. My living situation is changing and I need to downsize. While I recognize my abundance, owning too much is truly a burden. Each time I purchase something new, it means I’ll get less use out of what I already own—and when I don’t use my possessions, I feel like an irresponsible consumer.

Our possessions take up literal space in our lives while making the fantasy self feel deceptively within reach. No single piece of clothing has changed my life. In fact, most of my stuff has forced me to recognize my lack of self-control has a direct impact on my surroundings. My closet rod recently broke from the weight of my clothing collection.

Enough is enough. For several weeks, I’ve avoided shopping apps and social media. I genuinely feel happier and more at ease.

My new goal is to feel like I can manage what I already own.