Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I've developed a bad habit of biting my cuticles and hang nails. I've tried to stop several times but it's almost an unconscious act. Is there a sartorial cure for this? Maybe a treatment you could recommend?

Signed,

Bitter Biter

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Dear B.B.,

The first step is identifying the cause or circumstances that trigger you to bite your cuticles. It may be beneficial to keep a log that shows the day, time and action that caused your compulsion.

Once you identify the trigger(s), try replacing your unconscious cuticle assault with another action, like chewing gum, repeating an affirmation (e.g. "I will not bite my cuticles") or focusing on an object until the urge subsides.

Now it's time to restore your cuticles to a healthy state. One strategy would be to keep a standing manicure appointment. Not only will the nail technician be able to clean up and repair the damage, their judgement of your poor nail care may just be the kick you need to kick the habit for good.

If bi-weekly manicures aren't in your budget then i

nvest in a pair of cotton "moisturizing" gloves and a bottle of cuticle oil

("vitamin E" oil would be an equivalent)

. Right before bed, wash your hands, lather them with lotion and then apply the oil to your cuticles. Carefully put on the conditioning gloves and take them off in the morning. (If sleeping in the gloves becomes cumbersome, try to wear them for at least two hours before bed.) This allows the lotion and oil to nourish and strengthen both the nails and skin around them, making

your nervous habit that much

harder to initiate.

Take a photo of your weekly progress and whenever you feel the need to nibble, just look at the picture you took from 'week one' and hopefully that will be enough of a deterrent.

If you are truly serious about kicking this habit, realize that t

his is a process that only perseverance and patience can treat over time. As the expression goes, idle hands are the devil's playground, and I think as a direct result your cuticles have had enough "fun" for one lifetime.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com

Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I have a self-diagnosed shopping disorder. It started when I was a teenager working to pay for back-to-school clothes and from there its just escalated. If I'm not browsing in the mall, I'm shopping online. I've tried to find "shopaholic's anonymous" meetings but my online search resulted in me buying a pair of shoes. Can you offer me any advice on what to do to curb my spending?

Signed,

Sally Shopaholic

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Dear S.S.,

Your first duty is to take a long, hard look at your closet. Take everything that still has a tag on it or has yet to be worn - not just clothing, but shoes and accessories as well - and put them into piles. You have to promise yourself that you are not going to buy anything new until you've worn everything that's already new in your closet. Pair your "new items" with the remaining apparel and accessories to create restructured looks just by combining pieces you already own.

Use current fashion magazines to inspire looks that you may not have thought of. Browse discount clothing stores in the event that it's necessary to buy something while still merging your wardrobe. But be honest when determining whether something is "necessary". Shop with a friend who will discourage spontaneous spending.

At this point, you've probably been able to save money or pay down bills by cycling through your closet, so why not keep it up? You can consign any clothing that you don't plan on wearing again, creating disposable cash that you could either save or splurge. Lastly, give yourself a monthly clothing allowance and what isn't spent should be put towards something you've always wanted to do, like take that vacation you've never been able to afford (hint, hint).

If all else fails, you could check out this book. Ironically, it may be one of the last indulgent things you purchase for a while.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com