Over the last year I’ve been doing a lot of shopping. I got tired of looking like a person wearing a paper sack and revamped my wardrobe. Just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I have to dress like a slob, right? So, I have a better wardrobe for work and casual stuff and I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me gain confidence in myself.

However, I started to get a bit addicted to the shopping — a new pair of shoes here, new pants there, etc. I don’t have to have designer labels and most of my clothes come from Kohls, Torrid, Fashion Bug and Lane Bryant, but added it up it’s still a lot. Same with shoes — I buy them at Payless, Kohls and DSW, but they still add up. So, I’ve been staying away from clothing and shoe stores and it’s really helped. I still look online and in catalogs but I usually don’t buy. There’s something about buying online or from a catalog that is easier for me to avoid than when I’m in a store. I guess because when I’m in a store it truly is instant gratification.

Today was a test. My boss and I took some girls shopping for some outfits to wear to a banquet for an award we’re giving their dad. We went to a bunch of stores that had stuff I really liked. Now, I did bring some cash with me but I didn’t buy anything with them. However, it did get me jonesin’ for some shoes. So, I stopped by Payless on the way home and bought some black ankle boots and lavender plaid wedges — total was $51.98.

So, I spent cash that I already had on me that I thought I might spend earlier, but I didn’t spend all of it. I took it from cash I was going to use if I needed more groceries this week, but I’m OK and will be fine until I get paid on Friday. The best part about this is I did not get into any of the money I have in savings for this shopping trip. I won’t lie, I thought about it, had all these reasons why I deserve to get something new. In the end, I left the money in savings and used envelope money that I could afford to use.

So yes, I did do some shopping, but I was responsible about it.