Confessions of a Relapsing Shopaholic

Well, it's happened again - my insatiable desire for shopping has returned full force and I am once again reeling from overspending.  It all began with one innocent trip to an outlet mall about a month ago where I dropped a modest amount at the BR Factory Store (2 skirts, neither of which I've yet worn) and then a more obscene amount at the Ann Taylor Factory Store (of which a pair of shoes and a cardigan I have not yet worn).  Then came the unexpected purchase at a charity event (items acquired here), followed by a self-induced shopping ban which lasted all of 2.5 weeks, which ended with a trip to a local boutique to use my Groupon (I.am.sucker.), and then caving in again this past weekend at the mall. 

So, now I'm feeling the pinch of my extravagance and am contemplating which items need to go back to the store.  Should it be the dress I bought from the local boutique - very high price tag, but also something totally unique and different (posted about it here), or will it be some of the Ann Taylor items I bought in a state of madness induced by the 40% off already reduced items sign at the storefront (posted about these here).  Or, will it be the shoes that are making their way to my front doorstep that I couldn't resist buying after just having dropped some cash at the brick&mortar AT store (see below).  Oh, and the shoes below are not the same color (as far as I can tell, they just look it - but if they are, I'm not afflicted enough to keep both - or AM I????)






In an effort to prevent my fellow shoppers from experiencing a similar relapse to mine, I am not posting the link to buy this online.  Trust me, you'll thank me later :)

 

Sadly, I've been working from home so much lately, I am only getting dressed in work attire about 1 day a week - so if I should be buying anything, it should be PJ's (I laugh as I type this in my Victoria's Secret pink argyle flannel set).



Oiiiiiii, thus begins the vicious cycle of binge-shopping, returning, buying more items when returning, returning them again, buying, returning, buying, returning, shopping, shopping, shopping - you get the gist!

In college, I worked at Banana Republic, and distinctly remember a very frequent customer (one that came into the store at least every three days or so), who was always buying a boatload of clothes, and then returning them a few days later.  They all had the tags on them, but I'm sure some of them had been worn - in fact, I wonder if she bought items based on how easily she could hide the tag.  Hey-I'm not passing judgement, the dress that I'm thinking of returning was taken out for a spin when I was in the office last week, and I masterfully tucked the tags into the back of my bra - given that the dress was silk, I'm amazed people didn't notice (or did they??)

Readers:

1.  How many of you find yourself in the vicious cycle of buying & returning? 

2.  How do you save face when you see the same store associates who you know recognize you?

3.  What do you do to control your habit and exercise restraint? 

Really Petite has a great post about how not to fall prey to impulse buys - sadly, the intoxication of an outlet, a charity event, a Groupon, and then a sale overtook my senses!  I hope you will learn from it. 

I.have.a.problem...again.