"Confessions of Shopaholic"

For Christmas I asked for Lauren Conrad's book Style. I am halfway through it, and find it to be quite interesting. One of the most interesting sections that stuck out in my mind, so far, is her guidelines to organizing your closet. Lauren suggests that you start with a large duffel bag (for items that you aren't ready to part with yet), two tote bags (for items that do not fit correctly, or ones that would look better on a friend), and some trash bags (for items to be donated or items that need to be tossed). She then continues to explain that the items you put in the duffel bag should be stored away under your bed, testing your dedication to them; in six months did you remember what you packed under there? The answer, as she says, is most likely no, and it is time to finally "break-up" with them.

Of course, the famous scene in the film Sex and the City where Carrie cleans out her gush-worthy closet, comes to mind.

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This book has inspired my group of friends to do the same, going through our closets and organizing. Though none of our closets contain nearly the amount of clothes Carrie has, nor are they of dream-closet status, we experienced much anxiety when letting go of old clothes - especially the memories they brought with them. Although, different from Lauren's style, we don't feel the need to have a separate bag for "clothes that would look better on a friend" - we normally scourge each other's donation bags before they head off to Good Will.

So now that it's a new year, our closets are clean, and our wallets are full... I ask: how do we continue to keep our unnecessary purchases at a low when the 70%-off-everything sales are suffocating us?

In Style, Lauren mentions some old rules:

1. If something new enters your closet, something old must leave it.
2. If you're unsure about an item, put it on hold until the end of the day - coming back if only you still want it when you finish shopping.
3. Go shopping with a friend who knows your closet and will stop you from buying things similar to items you already have.

But what happens when these strategies don't work? Here are some ideas to keep your thrifty self under control in this post-Christmas season:

• First of all, check out the store's return policy. If the store gives money back in a 30 day limit with a receipt and tags, remember that. If a store only offers store credit, think about the amount of shopping you will do at that specific store.
• For stores with a worry free return policy, it's okay to give into temptation sometimes and buy that impulse item. Try taking it home - but leaving the tag on it and storing the receipt somewhere safe - and style it with some of your own clothes to see if it works with the items you already have. Also, see how many things in your closet already resemble it or take into consideration how many times you'll wear it. If you find that the item doesn't work with the clothes you have, you can find comfort in getting your money back for the item.
• Just because an item is on sale, does not mean that you have to buy it! This is a very helpful tip when clearance prices are staring you in the face. Yes, it may only be $10, but will you wear it more than it hangs in your closet?
• Post-Christmas sales oftentimes last past new years, despite their urgency and claim to end. So don't worry about scoring a great deal Black Friday style - with one day and one day only to get it at that price. And if that after Christmas sale is really pulling at your wallet - remember that in a few short months Spring will be back and you won't want to wear all of the scarves and hats you bulked up on.

Coming from a shopaholic, I know the stresses of the word "sale" and it's direct correlation to the amount of money in your wallet! It is, indeed, the season to indulge, but sometimes we have to recognize that our indulgences should be aimed in different areas of our lives, and not only at the mall.