I Can’t Be Trusted With My Own Wallet

How many days does it take to create a habit? Because I am certainly not there yet with strategic shopping.

Back story: back when I tossed 75% of my wardrobe I made a spreadsheet. I’m not a number cruncher by nature so there are no cool formulas in it but it gets the job done. I’ve listed sections of my wardrobe on spreadsheets in a workbook – casual wear, office wear, workout wear, shoes, etc – itemized what I have and identified what I think I need. Items that are worn out, like my workhorse six-year-old Lululemon capris that I have already had repaired once, are identified to be replaced.

Both my existing two pairs of jeans (two pairs!! I normally own at least seven) need to be replaced. But I created a priority order for new items and one pair of jeans was first. Then another area of my wardrobe will get some love and attention.

So I went Mavi on Friday (they have long inseams which are much needed by me) and tried on seven different pairs of jeans. Black jeans, skinny jeans and my old standby, the bootcut Molly.

First, why did I try on so many different pairs? I knew that I wanted a pair of bootcut jeans with a decent rise length. I wasn’t shopping for a new experience jean. There is a plan to my shopping. There is a strategy.

Or so I thought.

Skinny jeans. They scare me. But I’m still curious so when I tried a few pairs on and they looked okay I started to think I should buy two pairs of jeans, bootcut and skinny. And then a pair of the skinny jeans were a bit big at the waist so I tried on a smaller size.

And I got really excited by the fact that I was in a smaller size. Who cares that it is a different style of jean, who cares that it is super stretchy. I was in a smaller than usual size. This should be celebrated. These jeans should be purchased just so I can look at the size on that tag.

So I bought two pairs of jeans. And then agonized over the purchase for a day before I returned the skinny jeans. It’s not that they couldn’t work in my wardrobe, it’s not that I didn’t like them, it’s that they were not part of the plan. And I want to put an end to emotionally driven purchases. When I returned them I knew it was the right choice.

I also want to start thinking of purchases in terms of working hours and income. The next few weeks will be my last receiving maternity leave benefits. I receive the maximum, about $800 every two weeks. Are skinny jeans, that I may never have the courage to wear and will sit in my closet a lot, worth 6% of my monthly income? No.

With all of this in mind, I’m leaving my wallet at home more and just bringing enough cash with me for what I intend to buy. There are very few true emergencies where you would need money or credit cards on you. A bonus to living in the city is that even when I am at the park, seawall, YMCA swimming pool or out for coffee with friends, I am never that far from home should I urgently need my wallet.