Thread: I have OST [oh shiny thing] syndrome

Title courtesy of Devi Safir

So what does a dancer do when she knows damn well she doesn't need another costume,
but just has to have another one...just this once!

Does anyone have any tips on how to stop the urge, or am I just preaching to the choir here?

I.can't.stop.shopping

I just ask myself if i'd rather invest in education or costuming, and let my good ol' sense of guilt (it's a well-developed friend) do the rest! It actually does help that I've made public statements about my commitment to not buy such and such until this and that.

But I'm not performing right now, which is enormously helpful in this regard. Plus, now I find it easier to try to spend money on dvds, books, music...

But seriously, try any plain budgeting trick, like writing down exactly everything that you spend on dance-related stuff (including bus fare to shows, etc.). Make some decisions ahead, and write down what you do regardless of your decision -- then all that's required is some effort to make the two match up if they don't align.

Or there's the "latte factor". Cutting out a small expense that you make regularly can save up a lot, or at least you can be aware of where the money is going and decide if it's something that makes you happy or something that is frivolous. An example of a redirect is only drinking water at home, but ordering a soft drink or cafe con leche when you go to watch a dance show. Or wearing your current exercise gear for a while instead of buying new classwear so you can save up your pennies for performance costumes.

Do you have a buddy your size (whom you trust with your soul) with whom you can co-own props, etc.?

Being broke most of the time sure helps.

I think the same thing when I have infrequent "fun" money. I could spend it all on this costume, or I could do several private lessons w/ x dancer as well as a workshop and gas money to attend a couple hafla. I also think too that I could invest the money in more materials for making costume pieces for me and to sell. Typically, the "fun" money ends up going for some unexpected expense or bill with a tiny bit left over for me to do one hafla or maybe buy a few yards of fabric and some elastic. Living on a low income makes you really really good at budgeting and prioritizing.

Become much uglier. You'll find you look awful in nearly everything and therefore, you won't buy them.

Originally Posted by Zumarrad

Become much uglier. You'll find you look awful in nearly everything and therefore, you won't buy them.

True dat.

Or, to avoid the work of actually changing your appearance ('cause, sorry, Shaabichic would have some work to do to become ugly.... just saying), you could just invest in materials to make yourself think you're ugly. E.g., an annual subscription to a trashy fashion mag is probably like $20. Yes, it's an expense, but compared to the cost of buying a Bella, you're up to $780 or more in savings! You have to think long-term...

force yourself to sell one before you buy one.

I have made a big effort NOT to make myself a new costume for every performance. Its hard since I have all the making of Billions of costumes staring me in the face every day!

I find that if it's a really nice costume that is actually somewhat affordable, and I make myself wait a few days, someone else will usually snap it up first and save me

I can usually deflect the urge to buy another costume by starting on a costume project. Much cheaper and I work slowly, so it takes a long time to complete. Seems to satisfy my lust for beads and other shiny things!

Originally Posted by shaabichic

Title courtesy of Devi Safir

So what does a dancer do when she knows damn well she doesn't need another costume,
but just has to have another one...just this once!

Does anyone have any tips on how to stop the urge, or am I just preaching to the choir here?

I.can't.stop.shopping

CHOIR HERE!!!

Though I've been trying to be better. If I see something I like and would rather have then something in my closet I try to sell then purchase. or work out a payment plan and still try to sell something. or trade. I've gotten much better, but spent WAY TOO MUCH $$$ when I first came to

Originally Posted by Rosalind

I find that if it's a really nice costume that is actually somewhat affordable, and I make myself wait a few days, someone else will usually snap it up first and save me

sorry
lol, thinking due to my first comment, it may be me

Originally Posted by Teophania

I just ask myself if i'd rather invest in education or costuming, and let my good ol' sense of guilt (it's a well-developed friend) do the rest! It actually does help that I've made public statements about my commitment to not buy such and such until this and that.

But I'm not performing right now, which is enormously helpful in this regard. Plus, now I find it easier to try to spend money on dvds, books, music...

But seriously, try any plain budgeting trick, like writing down exactly everything that you spend on dance-related stuff (including bus fare to shows, etc.). Make some decisions ahead, and write down what you do regardless of your decision -- then all that's required is some effort to make the two match up if they don't align.

Or there's the "latte factor". Cutting out a small expense that you make regularly can save up a lot, or at least you can be aware of where the money is going and decide if it's something that makes you happy or something that is frivolous. An example of a redirect is only drinking water at home, but ordering a soft drink or cafe con leche when you go to watch a dance show. Or wearing your current exercise gear for a while instead of buying new classwear so you can save up your pennies for performance costumes.

Do you have a buddy your size (whom you trust with your soul) with whom you can co-own props, etc.?

thanks! i really do need to try to budget better..i'm really horrible at it actually lol.
i would probably have more costume money if i cut out my starbucks/panera coffee drinks. i'm not quite sure how i became so dependent on those drinks. it sounds like i have an addiction lol...

i don't have anyone that i can share costumes with...that's a good idea, but it wouldn't work in my neck of the woods. we all kinda dance at the same places.

Shems' advice is great - generally I try not to buy new things unless something else gets tossed out, recycled or sold.

Another good tactic is to sleep on things - when you first see something you want, give it a few days to a week until you make the actual purchase. Your desire may have cooled off by then, or someone really has bought it already, or it has come to a sale instead!

Originally Posted by Lesedi

Being broke most of the time sure helps.

I think the same thing when I have infrequent "fun" money. I could spend it all on this costume, or I could do several private lessons w/ x dancer as well as a workshop and gas money to attend a couple hafla. I also think too that I could invest the money in more materials for making costume pieces for me and to sell. Typically, the "fun" money ends up going for some unexpected expense or bill with a tiny bit left over for me to do one hafla or maybe buy a few yards of fabric and some elastic. Living on a low income makes you really really good at budgeting and prioritizing.

you just described my life...but somehow i scrape up money to buy a costume (usually in payments). it's bad, because i tend to let a bill or 2 slide. i reason with myself by saying that the bill will still be there later...the costume won't

Originally Posted by Zumarrad

Become much uglier. You'll find you look awful in nearly everything and therefore, you won't buy them.

Its well known in the Belly Dance world that the correct number of costumes needed by a dancer is "one more".

I typically cannot out right afford costume's but I can usually justify purchasing the makings of them.

And I do it when I'm bored- and at home- and not working- which in fact means' I'm flat broke.

I did it two months ago- having a hard time making ends meet- and I got two new scarves (one hip and one for the head) and then shoes. My justification for the shoes were legit-I'd been searching for almost two months for affordable version of the shoe and very picky about it- and I found them... for under 35$ I caved ....the rest was just boredom and want want shinny things.

I find if I can keep myself busy and not buy till I finish something I'm a little safer- but its always impulse buys that I have thought through enough to form a "oh I can do this this and this" and then I won't be bored at home.

I have a new ap on my phone that logs my finances and keeps all my accounts pretty up to date- that has been the most helpful- usually because it yells at me LOW BANK ACCOUNT- or OVER BUDGET FOR xxxxx. OR BILL COMING x$.

very helpful for me... self control is hard with shiny things!