Cutting down on impulse purchases

[summercomfort]

So I've been thinking about impulse purchases vs. doing fulfilling activities, especially given that:
(a) the holiday season is coming up, and
(b) I really have waaaay too much stuff

I feel like over the past few years of ample disposable income, I've fallen into a bad habit of buying things just because I can -- driven by curiosity or convenience or sometimes as a form of retail therapy.

But really, I don't need a lot of these things, and when I really sit down to think about it, I think I would rather make something, or read a book, or spend time with people.

(This is coming on the heels of me buying yet another thing online that turned out to be not-what-I-expected. And now I'm stuck with a thing that I don't actually want or need, which cost a lot of resources to be made and then delivered to my door, but didn't cost enough actual money to merit the cost of returning.)

So for the rest of November and December I'm going to try to refrain from impulse purchases, both online and in real life. Impulse purchases like:
- chocolate when I really should be eating fruit and veggies
- food that I vaguely planned to make but might end up wilting in the fridge
- gadgets that look fun in stores or Kickstarter
- cute t-shirts that I end up wearing once
- random stationery and books I never get around to reading

If I feel like getting a present for someone, maybe I should have a good conversation with them instead. Or draw a picture for them. Or send them something that I already have.

Basically I should really have less shopping in my life.