Kick your shopping addiction and get a life.

&lsquoToday&rsquo financial editor Jean Chatzky offers tips on how to live more simply, so you have extra money &mdash and time &mdash for other pursuits.

Think you can't kick your shopping addiction? You haven't met Mary Carlomagno, who says that until just a few years ago, shopping was her single biggest vice. Today? It isn't even on the list.

Carlomagno was 35 and stuck in a major rut. She had lived in the same apartment for 10 years &mdash and hated it since the day she moved in &mdash worked at the same job for eight years and in the same industry for 14 years. She wanted to shake things up, but didn't know how. And though the thought of moving to the woods to find herself had crossed her mind, she was too scared to do anything that major.

Instead, she settled on subtle changes. For a year, she decided to give up something different each month: alcohol, shopping, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, chocolate and &mdash for good measure &mdash cursing, elevators and multi-tasking.
She soon realized that as a result of all these small changes she was able to live better on less money, and saved thousands of dollars in the process.

&ldquoI cut my spending so much that my financial adviser called to ask what I was doing differently,&rdquo says Carlomagno, who describes her year in her new (and charming) book &ldquoGive It Up: My Year of Learning to Live Better With Less.&rdquo Carlomagno's response: &ldquoI quit buying shoes.&rdquo
At the end of each month of abstinence, Carlomagno went back to most of her old habits. Today, she takes taxis, eats chocolate and drinks caffeine (though not as voraciously as she did before.) The one category that did permanently change was shopping.

After many garage sales and donations, she pared down from three double closets and an armoire to one single closet. Shopping no longer consumes all her free time. Friendships do not revolve around it. She even started a company, Order, to help others simplify their lives, manage clutter control, and get over shopping addictions.

If you're suffering with the same, you may be able to benefit from her advice.

• Treat your closet like a store. If you truly love clothing and shopping, you should do the things retailers do, such as:
• Take inventory. That means, first off, knowing what you already own. Take mental notes, paying particular attention to what you have put on your body over the past few weeks. Those are the bones of your working wardrobe. Use the rest of what you have to accessorize.
• Display items with care. Retailers display their favorite products &mdash you should, too. If you love hats, put them on a rack where you can see them. Keep in mind that stores do not give good real estate to unimpressive items. If you come across items that aren't nice enough to display, chances are they're not nice enough to be worn. Get rid of them. The upshot of this process: You'll know what you have in your current wardrobe and can begin to think of filling in any holes you find.
• Hit the stores with a list of exactly what you need.
• Adhere to the two-week rule. In her closet, Carlomagno dug up over $1,000 worth of clothes with their tags still hanging. So she created what she calls the two-week rule. "If you purchased an item and haven't worn it in two weeks, return it," she says. Two weeks is a long enough period to know that you either don't a) really love it or b) need it.
• Do not be sucked in by &ldquogood deals.&rdquo Everyone buckles every so often on a sale item. The problem is, sales aren't as few and far between as they used to be. &ldquoNow you can get everything cheap,&rdquo Carlomagno says. Note, however, that there is a difference between falling for a markdown on an item that you buy on impulse and earmarking an item at retail, then waiting for it to go on sale. The latter represents smart shopping behavior. Cultivate a relationship with a salesperson at your favorite store and make her your ally in this process.
• Seek support. If you're actively trying to curb your shopping, get your family and friends on your team. This can be tricky because, Carlomagno notes, you may have particular people in your circle who instigate shopping sprees. In their minds it may be a harmless pastime. But if you are racking up a lot of debt or spending every penny of your disposable income on clothes, it's harmful to you. You'll need to explain this &mdash and to offer other, cheaper, ways to pass the hours.

&ldquoThere are a lot of things you can do to appreciate fashion and clothing without shopping,&rdquo says Carlomagno. Visit a fashion or photography museum. Or simply grab a cup of coffee and perform your own impromptu Fashion Police. You just may find you can have an even better conversation over a cappuccino than over the Bloomingdale's rack.

About Christian Credit One, Inc.

Christian Credit One, Inc. is a national, non-profit Christian Credit Counseling  organization dedicated to helping consumers achieve financial wellness through Christian credit counseling and education. Established in 1994, Christian Credit One has helped over two million individuals achieve financial security. Christian Credit One is one of the top members of the American Association of Debt Management Organizations (AADMO), Christian Credit One manages clients across the country. Personalized and confidential consultations are available in person, by phone or online. Visit Christian Credit One or call 888-767-9155.

Greg McTaggart, Certified Credit Counselor with 22 years experience, licensed by AFCPE, Director of Christian Credit One and is an expert in budget and Christian credit counseling.  Having the combined experience as a licensed Real-estate salesman, Mortgage Broker, Real-estate Broker, Notary, Ace Member of the Cincinnati Credit Executives, Mortgage Assistance Counselor and Spokesperson of the radio talk show &ldquoThe Money Mentor&rdquo, Greg McTaggart is a qualified Christian Credit Counselor to help you.

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