Confessions of a No Buyer

My perfume habit exploded March of 2012. I don't want to say it was because I found myself unexpectedly single, but rather I found myself unexpectedly back behind the wheel of my own happiness. Relying on my previous partner for most of my happiness was pretty uncomfortable, but suddenly having all the control back for me was just scary. I wanted to do a good job, spoil myself, set myself up for a brighter future where I didn't rely on someone like that again. I decided to start splurging on myself, I always used to save my money. For what? I never knew, until someday in April where I went on a shopping spree with my best friend and came home glowing like that boy had never happened.

If I said unhappiness was driving my fragrance obsession that would be a total lie. It's the opposite actually, it was ALL about the happiness. The happiness when I felt the new box, the happiness of the first spray, the feeling of fulfillment, feeling spoiled in a good way, and the happiness of sharing the news with my friends. And you know what for those few months where I was getting back on my feet after being shaken up that bad, it was totally justified. I deserved it. The problem was my happiness training wheels became my permanent happiness wheels. 50 some bottles and 2 years later, I'm looking back at how much Ive bought like...what the hell? I even bought a few perfumes to open up this year that I bought last year! *face palm* I really just didn't know when to stop. Perfumes brought so much light into my life! I was worried that if I didn't have a new purchase or trade to look forward to every couple of weeks the lights would turn out and I would be alone in the darkness. I have suffered depression in the past and worry of it someday returning.

I decided to stop compulsively buying perfumes Nov 2013. If I said I didn't have days where I still think about making an "exception" I'd be lying again. But with my meager 3 month no-buy wisdom I am starting to realize that we can always make "exceptions". There will always be the LTD, the incredible deal, the discontinued, and the once in a life time purchases. I now find it pretty funny that I once thought without frequent perfume purchases my happiness would turn off. Truth be told a few weeks later when I had the itch for a pick me up, instead of buying a perfume I just watched something funny on netflix. That alone did the trick and I was just stunned how easy it could be. Future pick me ups that might of been perfume purchases turned into dinner with friends, playing with pets, and window shopping with my mom. We are lucky to live in a world where happiness is just around the corner if you look hard enough for it.

Sometimes my perfume friends ask me if I'm excited for the end of my no buy on Dec 31st 2014. Actually I am, but really I only plan on buying 2-3 bottles in 2015. Some find it surprising. But for those who ever substituted something in their life with a shopping addiction, you understand how it is once you're over it.

Fellow 2014 No-Buyers, here's to you!