Are you a shopaholic? I used to be, but I made a significant realization that eventually led to curing this very expensive habit. I talked about it in this old post:

A few months ago, I was feeling a bit restless bordering on panic mode, having just resigned from my regular job. Although I was able to pocket a lump sum, I don’t have a job anymore and however big the amount of money I have, it can only last for so long.

How will I able to sustain myself? How can I buy my stuff? How about my shopping and dining out?

Those were the thoughts that raced through my head whenever I allowed myself time to reflect on my situation. Although I did eventually got into web freelancing, my income was still much leaner than my salary as an employee. It entered my mind that I may have made a wrong decision letting go of a job that was supposed to give me financial stability, but I held fast to it and tried to find something valuable in the experience than wallow in regret.

Until recently, a beautiful realization came to me when I was at the shopping mall. I haven’t gone shopping for a while so I thought that maybe it would be a refreshing treat after beating myself with a lot of freelance work online. I had a good look around, stopped to admire some lovely pieces-clothes, bags, shoes, the usual stuff that filled my shopping bags before. Summer had just began and there were a lot of cute summer dresses on display, some nice pair of shorts and slip-ons. But no matter how charming they were, I simply didn’t have the desire to buy them.

Everytime I held a T-shirt or a pair of sandals in my hand, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘Do I really need this?‘ or ‘Where will I use this?‘. Surprisingly, being a compulsive shopper that I was, asking these questions was enough for me to let go of the item. And as I put more and more items back into the rack, I realized I really have so few things that I need to buy. Unlike the time when I was still working in a physical office, when it seemed that I needed a new batch of clothes every month, or that I needed another pair of shoes to go with the new dress I just bought, or that the leather of my bag had cracked and I needed a replacement. I was in a frenzy cycle of habitual spending, all the while thinking that those are necessities I can’t live without.

But now, all the things inside my closet are at least 6-month old and I don’t feel like they need to be replaced any time soon. I have streamlined my shopping list to the bare essentials and have cut not only my expenses, but the number of trips I make to the store. The less I go there, the less opportunity for spending.

Why the sudden change in my behavior? (which only confirms that yes, shopaholism is curable).

One big factor is because I’m not going out as much anymore, which brings me to another realization that a lot of our supposed needs are being dictated by the environment and the lifestyle that fills our everyday life. They are not really inherent need, but rather a desire to fit in and not be left out.

Case in point, in an office full of pretty, smart-dressed co-workers, you would feel out of place with your lousy shirt and outdated jeans. The need to belong is often satisfiable by purchasing articles like clothes, gadgets and accessories that make you look more current, more fresh. Funny how a complimentary remark such as ‘Hey, you look good in that new dress” can strengthen the desire to  buy some more new dresses. If you’re not careful, being current and fresh often whips up a habit of thoughtless shopping.

And that’s how I was until I decided to quit my regular job to try freelance work.

They say that you’ll only learn the value of something when you no longer have it. Ironically, I realized how non-valuable were the items that I was spending for before, thinking they were the most important things, now that I don’t have them. Having the money to buy whatever you want can actually mislabel the things in your life and trick you into spending more for what appears to be your necessities at the moment. But I’ve found out as I learn the essence of working to enjoy life, most of these things you won’t even miss when they’re gone.

Working at home put me in a different perspective and redefined the way I value my income. All it really took was to ask myself how much do I really need. And if you can answer it honestly, you’ll be surprised to know how little and how few your needs really are.