Part of the problem is: what does the average person do to pass time? I wish shopping wasn't considered a hobby in North America, but it is...groceries, clothing, electronics, books, music, entertainment - all these things we have to shop to obtain. It feels weird to buy less.
It's not buying less but buying things you need. When I got my job I went out and spent my first paycheck on a new wardrobe. I planned it all out. How many shirts and skirts and dresses and mixing and matching. I didn't go to the mall for 4 straight months and it felt good. I had exactly what I needed and I didn't have to worry. Now I find myself going to the mall occasionally after work and buying things on sale or super cute. Unfortunately I have 5 summer dresses and 2 shirts that don't go with any skirts I own. I'm shopping more now but shopping worse.
Yeah, I guess I should've said shop less. I actually really don't enjoy shopping and try go as little as possible. I do a lot more window shopping, where I'm at the mall because I'm bored but purposely don't have my wallet/credit card with me to spend money. It's fortunate and mistfortunate at the same time that I don't fit into most clothing, so I can't walk into a store with nice clothes and buy stuff on the whim. It takes me hours to find 1 thing that might fit me properly. Now that I've thought about it, most of the clutter in my house is art that needs storage space, my pottery, and some memorabilia.