Okay, I've been quietly reading this thread for a few weeks, hoping the answer would present itself. But, what do you guys mean when you say "shopping"? Clearly it's not adding TP to your list when you load the last roll on the holder and then getting it when you go to the store for milk and produce later in the week. Is it? I don't think that sort of shopping can be given up, not in practical terms.
But "shopping" still seems to mean something different to different people who post here. So what are we all talking about?
So when I started the thread, what O had in mind was cutting out ANY additional costs than necessities. For example..I allowed myself to spend money sparingly in these categories...(other than bills of course).
Personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
Food
Gifts
Gas
Items/categories I completely cut out...
Shopping for (clothes, VS, purses,
Shoes (gets its own category)
Unnecessary Cosmetics
Home/kitchen items
Some people mentioned that they still need to purchase things like a certain clothing item they don't have, or a kitchen appliance they need. I haven't found myself "needing" anything like that all of last year I did this, or this year. However it differs for everyone depending on the person/situation. That's why you are able to kind of "tailor" it depending on your lifestyle.
I've been so serious about it that I've also been purging all of my stuff and have probably eliminated my stuff by about 60%, and I still haven't found a need to purchase anything.
Once I learned to say no to a feeling that I "need" something, it turned out I never did.