By: Sara Koonar

I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic on Wednesday, a film about a girl who can’t drop her shopping habit, and it got me thinking. We are in a recession and not too many of us can afford to buy a new pair of pink pumps just for the fun of it. Many of us are swimming in credit card debt because of our urge to splurge. Here are four easy steps to take if you find yourself in a Shopaholic situation. I hope they help!

Confessions of a Shopaholic is in theatres now!

1. De-clutter: I have a closet overflowing with clothing and accessories that I have maybe worn once or twice, or not even at all. Dump out your closet and start sorting through what you have. Sweaters in one pile, pants in another. Slowly you will realize you have a lot of things you never knew you did. Next time you stop off at the mall and see something you want, you will be able to stand back and think, “do I already own this?” If so, you are saving yourself from spending another hundred dollars on a black cardigan that is already at home, waiting to be worn.

2. Cash-in: The great thing about consignment stores is you get to give away the clothes you never wear and get paid for it. Type “consignment store” into Google and find one near you. Another option is a garage sale. People love garage sales! Trust me, your junk is someone else’s treasure. Lastly, take your unwanted clothes (preferably ones you have not worn out) and put them on eBay. Band tees and brand name labels usually go fast. You could make a killing on stuff that a day ago was just taking up space in your closet.

3. Budget: The best way to keep track of your spending is to create a budget. First calculate how much you make and then subtract what you spend. Start with your priorities like rent, food, and bills. The amount you have left over will be your shopping budget. If you don’t step over that budget line you will successfully be able to pay your bills and rent each month without fault. It really is easy if you think about it.

4. Shop Smart: After you have cleaned out your closet, cashed in on your old clothes and budgeted your spending, you can now go shopping. But, be smart about it. Shop at stores like H&M and Zara that have clothing that resembles what you saw on the designer runways but at a fraction of the price. No one is going to be looking at your tags and receipts. A cute outfit is a cute outfit regardless of how much you paid for it.

Happy Shopping