Are you a secret shopper? Then you need to hear this…

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It’s a widely held belief that women shop together, in groups, as a pack – a hominid hangover when we used to gather berries and similar foodstuff for our cave kin. Over time and with the advent of walk-in wardrobes and inquisitive spouses, ‘gathering’ missions became more clandestine and less community-based – a byproduct of buying a bit more than we really should. Sounds familiar? Let me ask you this:

  • Do you shop alone?
  • Use separate credit cards?
  • Have parcels sent to a PO box?
  • Are your special hiding places so guarded even you can’t find them?

Then it’s time to hand over those receipts Secret Shopper, your cover’s been blown.

Out of the 9 Happy Closet shopping types, the Secret Shopper is the most lethal and crafty. There’s a good reason why she doesn’t want anyone to know how much she shops. It’s because she doesn’t even know how much she shops. A lot of her clothes haven’t even been worn, and her husband just can’t understand why she continues to buy when she already has so much. As a result, GUILT keeps her locked into an endless cycle of buying and stashing. The last time she took a good look at her closet, it was like seeing things for the first time.

Discover Your Closet Type Here

Ignorance is not bliss – not in a happy closet. It creates a disconnect between what we buy and what we admit to having bought.  OUT OF SIGHT may be OUT OF MIND but it also leaves you OUT OF POCKET… It’s time to take stock of your clothing collateral and confront the underlying behaviour that got you here in the first place.

The best part? It just takes two simple steps. Here’s how:

  • Step 1: Name it and Shame it: Remove every item stashed in bags and boxes inside your closet. Place them around the room where they are clearly visible and photograph the evidence. Four of the same Zara necklace? GASP! Who knew? Use this as your phone screensaver or post your #HaulofShame on social media. Every time you get tempted by some new loot, look at what you already have and ask yourself ‘Why?’
  • Step 2: Pay and Display: Place receipts where they can be seen – on the mirror, on the fridge door, on the wine rack – whatever you use most on a daily basis. A visual keeps us tethered to reality. You are less likely to over-shop if you’ve already spent €500 on shoes in one month.

Visibility is accountability, my friends. You are less likely to make repeat or comfort purchases if you see what you already have.

It’s time to drop the M16 agent act. Your secret’s out…