It was around July that my shopping habits went from a level of regular, consistent indulgence, to a 100% complete halt.  Once I knew I was accepted into this Masters program and knew I was going to be living in Malta, I didn’t allow myself to shop at all.  I needed to save, and after all, all these things that I wanted, did I really need at the end of the day?  Obviously, the answer was no.

Since I’ve been here, so as of late September, I am very proud to say that I’ve only purchased one article of clothing. Yes, ONE. And it was this red coat from Zara, which I’d decided that I needed due to the fact that I brought zero coats with me because they were too heavy and would have caused me to surpass my baggage weight restrictions, which would have thus caused me to pay an extra €300 or something crazy for going over.  Just ONE coat, for about €70/$100, in the span of about 2 months now?  I think that’s pretty darn good.

It’s actually been very good for me.  Don’t get me wrong, I still like to window shop and go into stores just to browse.  But it’s a good feeling to walk out empty-handed.  And the more I say no, the more I realize that I don’t need to say yes – I never needed the things I thought I did, and I’m fine without them.  I wasn’t able to bring a lot of the material goods (CLOTHES) that I have at home because I just didn’t have the room/weight space left for it all.  And I’m honestly managing fine.  Do I WANT my Sparkle & Fade wide leg pants that I ordered from Urban Outfitters on sale with free shipping?  Of course I do.  Do I need them?  Probably not.

Today is a scary day for the wallets of addictive, compulsive shoppers like myself (and a wonderful day for the retailers due to consumers such as myself): Black Friday.  Although I am nearly 7,000 miles away from the action this year, which you’d think is a great thing for me, the internet makes it far too easy to indulge in Black Friday sales, no matter where you are in the world.  Not to mention Cyber Monday in a couple days.  I need to stay away.

But what’s a girl to do when she’s plagued with cramps and killer back aches (that glorious time of the month), and all she can do to feel better is pop a couple ibuprofen and snuggle in bed with her laptop until the pain goes away?

Plus, my friend informed me that Nordstrom ships to Malta.  Aw shiii…

What??  Look at this.  Sitting in my Nordstrom wish list from back in July when I was browsing during the huge Anniversary Sale: gorgeous tortoise shell Michael Kors watch that I am obsessed with.  No, but LOOK AT HOW GOOD THE PRICE WAS.  Unfortunately this was when I had just made the no-more-shopping vow to myself, so even against a very strong urge (I’d been wanting this watch for a good six months), I managed to convince myself not to buy it.  So mad right now, though.  That ish is $275 now.  And Black Friday is not helping me out at all.  Ugh.  #NON-buyersremorse

Ahhhh, must sign off before I relapse!  I’m pathetic.  #firstworldproblems