Shopaholics Anonymous: Here's how to get rid of your bad shopping habit

Maybe you're single and getting your first paycheck or freshly promoted with a significant increase in your salary. You are flush with cash and the world is your oyster. This is pretty much the best time to hit up the shops and spoil yourself rotten on a regular basis. This is the era of Treat Yo’ Self.

But while it’s well and good to pamper yourself with some well-deserved retail therapy, it is just as important not to go overboard and purchase everything you see. It's okay to have lemmings or things that you want because they’re trendy or much-raved about, but it's not healthy (emotionally and financially) to constantly indulge those urges.

As fellow beauty addicts, we know it can be a real struggle (especially when the bright red SALE sign looks more like a green light to go shopping) so we're sharing some of our favorite tips for kicking the habit of impulse-buying everything in our path.

Is there such a thing as too much lipstick??? (via nymag.com)

Impose a shopping ban but keep your limitations realistic

Lead in with simply going cold turkey. Depending on your level of self-discipline, this can work like a charm. I know a lot of people who impose shopping bans for Lent, but you can also do it in favor of contributing to a cause or a charity to help you stay motivated. Another option is to hold back from mid-year sales and only allow yourself to splurge on holiday collections, which has so many gift sets and value sets that make the wait so worthwhile.

If you're used to buying something every week, a year-long ban may make you too impatient or leave you feeling deprived and depressed. So start with an easier goal, like only shopping at the end of the month. The more you reach your goals, the more better you'll feel about them and increasing the spacing between your bans.

Isla Fisher in Confessions of a A Shopaholic (Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer)

Know when to shop

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to shopping. Holiday sales are common but some brands also have post-holiday sales to offload their leftover holiday collections. If you’re patient enough to sit out the holiday shopping, you’ll be rewarded with a lot of half-priced items.

Pro tip: If you have a particular product or brand that you want to shop for, make sure to follow their social media pages for sale updates. It also pays to be kind - leave your number with your suki at the makeup counter so she can text you when the item you've been eyeing goes on sale, and maybe she can even reserve stocks for you!

Yups, she's probably right behind you. (via gobankingrates.com

Don’t always listen to the SA

Remember: SA stands for Sales Assistant/Attendant. They are ultimately there to make a sale, so don’t get roped into a purchase just because the SA praised how the makeup you tried on looks "so great" on you. Or worse yet, don't be feel like you have to buy just because the SA appears intimidating and you’re too embarrassed to say no.

Make sure to do a bit of research before you purchase, especially the product you're interested in is a bit on the pricey side. Project Vanity has growing database of no-BS reviews, and if what you're looking for isn't available, send us a message and we'll look into it!

Image via yourcareereverywhere.com

Don’t deprive yourself, but be budget-conscious

Self-pity is the enemy, especially if you like to engage in retail therapy. Allow yourself to buy a few big-ticket items once in a while with a budget specially allotted for the purchase, rather than giving yourself free reign to binge-buy cheap items whenever you feel like. Even small, under P200 purchases add up in the long run, and simply leave you with subpar products that aren't even worth the small investment.

While there’s no shortage of new and noteworthy drugstore brands, think about how much you'd be willing to spend for a particular product and find the best performer for your budget. Get the drugstore version if it functions well enough, but if it'll make you happy and suit your needs best, it may better to invest in the pricier option. It’s a happy compromise that won’t leave you feeling empty-handed, literally.

Go on a media blackout

Is 50% of the internet devoted to marketing? I can’t confirm that, though it sometimes feels like it. All I have to do is go online to get tempted, especially with the Instagram feeds of the beauty gurus I follow. It’s wave after wave of the latest and greatest products, and it makes me feel things that I didn’t even know about only moments ago. So when I catch myself on the road to temptation, it helps to stay away from social media for a few hours.

Do the tips sound extreme, or do you have more extreme practices? Share them!