Lately, I've been a bit more on edge. My stress level is palpable. I'm going a million miles an hour, and for some reason I just can't seem to calm down.
And then there was a light bulb moment. While having a conversation with a co-worker about her recent lunch-hour trip to Banana Republic, I remembered what has changed: no more spending on stuff.
Clearly, over the years I have become a little dependent on buying things to lift my spirits
when I'm tense. Yes, I, like many, have become accustomed to retail therapy. Now, I knew that I had a tendency to buy a new pair of shoes or home accessory from time to time without really needing them. However, I had no idea how much not buying those things could affect my mood.
So began my quest to curb my retail therapy habit. I had to find something to boost my happy factor without spending a dime. It's all about stress management
, and here's what's been effective so far:
- Working out.
A tried and true stress buster, exercise boosts your energy and your endorphins. The only caveat to this retail therapy remedy is my intermittent lack of motivation. But with ample opportunities to workout at or close to home it's a lot easier to make it a priority. - Tickling the ivories. Last year, I purchased a digital piano. Yes, it was part of a stress-related spending spree, but in my defense it was a used find from Craigslist, not a full-priced indulgence. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, playing music has helped me escape. There's something really great about getting lost in a pile of sheet music.
- Tackling a home project. Now, I know what you're thinking. Projects around the house mean shelling out cash. Au contraire, there are plenty of projects I can undertake without spending. For example, a little closet organization or deep cleaning in the kitchen gives me the satisfaction of accomplishing something. Plus, it helps me feel like my world is just a little more put together.
Have any of you kicked the retail therapy habit? Tell us: What helps you resist the urge to spend when you're stressed?

Being a second semester senior is not nearly as exciting as I thought it would be.
I've noticed the trend in my friends too. Picture-perfect 5.0 students — who are all varsity soccer team captains and presidents of clubs — skipping class! They've planned their whole academic lives just so they could put these activities down on their transcripts, and now they're embracing their second semesters like it's the afterlife.

When I started at
But try not to let senioritis get out of hand — and don't let it affect your grades. Even if you've been accepted to college, your final transcripts still count. There are horror stories of students who
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