i've asked this before, many many times...but as the recession digs in deeper i am becoming more and more curious. so i am checking in again with all of you.
have you stopped shopping?
or cut back on your shopping significantly?
or changed your shopping ways, in general?
at all?
if so, why? if not, why not?

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why am i asking this? well...
lately, i have found myself turning away from buying new items at retail in a big way. i walk by lots of lovely stores (this is new york city after all!) but i cannot motivate myself to walk into any of them.
i feel like this lack of interest in shopping has a few sources in my psyche:
one: we just moved from san francisco to new york (back at the end of march), into a significantly more expensive abode than the one we had in san francisco. as such, i'm thinking about ways to save money, and buying lots of clothes kind of goes against that feeling that i need to budget.
two: this is related to one...i'm finding much more focused on all things interior, choosing to spend what disposable income we have on outfitting or embellishing the apartment rather than trying to stuff more clothes into my teensy closet.
three: i am unmoved by what's on offer at the moment at most of the big retailers. either it's too bland, or it doesn't suit my style. for instance, those platform gladiator sandals. or the grunge "look". i like what i have already, and i don't see anything that i want to buy new, so why bother looking with any seriousness?
four: building upon three... i am fairly happy with what i already own, i don't *NEED* anything. i'm "shopping my own closet" and all that.
six: i am too busy chasing a little baby girl (who is nearly a toddler!) around to think about clothes as much for the time being. also, my friend lisa thinks that my prolonged, severe state of sleep deprivation (see: little girl and her penchant for not sleeping) is contributing to my disinterest in current fashions or shopping. i told her...that getting sleep doesn't mean i am going to somehow suddenly perk up and tow the current fashion party line (i.e., even if i manage to score some zzz, i'm not going to suddenly start sporting those terrible platform gladiator sandals!!).
five: i suppose i am feeling the current zeitgeist of not shopping, of cutting back, that just seems to be in the air these days. the feeling is palpable. it just hangs there in the air like a raincloud...

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so, again, anyway: do you feel it too, this current cultural movement away from shopping? is the recession affecting you (or your habits) at all? if so, how?