Tips Refrain from excessive shopping for the shopaholics like me!

Its a lovely Friday afternoon and i soo wish i can go off from the office right now..
my mind is contemplating to go to this shopping centre... (apparently heard awesome Raya bazaar going on there...) or should i just go home??hmmm

With Raya sales going on everywhere.. is not so easy to NOT to shop! Everything about Raya is so easy to attain lately.. just a click away whether you at home (online boutique mind you!)  or you're just at the shopping malls with slashed prices which are sooo tempting!! I tried to refrain myself from going to malls during Ramadhan.. did it worked? err NO.

With all the Raya brands emerging, latest kaftans, latest baju raya , latest tudung >> bahh how on earth we puasa from Spending??

Okays.. take a deep breath..

For those of you in dilemma like me, here are the steps below to help you:

1. Buy what you NEED. (Need vs Desire) Learn to say NO to yourself and take account what you already have for Raya. Just because you already shop baju raya A at designer A doesnt mean you have to splurge another baju at Designer boutique B.

2. Plan you Shopping Raya Months before Ramadhan. Make a habit to plan the color coordination, family color scheme, find clothing materials (for those who make) months before Ramadhan.
Most designers close their tailoring booking 1 month before Puasa. So, plan nicely or else you will end-up purchasing unnecessary baju raya at the very last minute! No-no!

3.When tempted to buy, BUY TIME. Count sheep backwards 10 - 9 - 8.. hehehe I noticed time always tell..
Always buy time to bring you back to reality. Question your mind again and again if buying that particular item is necessary.
Im a spontaneous shopper myself and i find it hard to resist temptation if i dont apply time.
Always tell yourself, "will buy later, after buka.. " (dont worry about the shop, it wont go anywhere..!)
..and online shoppers; close that laptop! close that window and reopen them again in 1/2 hours. You'd be surprise how you realised you dont want to buy that item later!

4. You dont have to follow what others buy. Just because your lil missy friend bought baju raya from a famous designer C, you are inclined to follow. We all know the power of 'Peer Pressure'. ..
It can do wonders for these shops and do damage for us.(burning pockets anyone?)
 So ladies, unless you already plan to buy from that designer, than dont waste time trying to follow what other girls are buying. Oh. unless you dont mind having a BORIA RAYA...

5. Recycle. Just because you bought something last raya (the past year) you cant reuse them again this Raya?
Accessories or perhaps shoes can always be worn again. Nobody is gonna remember every detailed item you wore during last raya! Its just us! So, before you end up buying head to toe, take a deep breath and recall if there is anything in your wardrobe you can recycle...

6. Remember the NEEDY. Not everyone is fortunate like us.
Remember there are some parts of the world who are literally poor and cant afford to celebrate Eid.
Even the Gaza war, the African countries children.. none of them has the luxury to buy like us.
always look down.. and be grateful

7.  Its okay to be calculative. Fasting is not only by refraining from makan or doing harm to others.
Puasa is also refraining from doing harms way to ourselves. if shopping and spending money (maxing out our cc) is health hazardous, then its ok to Not do it. Afterall, think about the money you can save for something else. A fancy designer baju cost thousands (one time wear) vs a work designer bag which you can wear at for the whole year?  or perhaps vs the couch that you have always wanted to get ?
So before you splurge.. think...

8. Give. Puasa month is an awesome time to be Generous. Packup old stuffs and start to give away to the need ones. Or perhaps a lil donation to the unfortunate / handicap children so that they can enjoy their Raya. After all good deeds often multiplies.. so dont wait too long to help these kids out!

I hope these lil words help!
Now im off to PARAM & home for iftar..
Selamat berbuka loves! and happy fridays to you!

Xoxo
ms Dreamyz