Am feeling proud of myself for this accomplishment, and thought I'd report some discoveries:
-- it was way easier than I imagined it might be (despite the fact that I never thought of myself as much of a "shopper")
-- initially I needed to remind myself that I was doing this, then it became totally automatic
-- gathering together all containers of soap, shampoo, hand lotion, etc. into one place allowed me to use up stuff -- and I'm still using up things without buying (& will continue to do so until I'm completely OUT of something)
-- initially I allowed myself to buy used, but even this amounted to only 3 pairs of pants & because I'm simultaneously trying to downsize I quit going into shops/stores at all & was happier (& more financially solvent) because of it
-- there is something expansive about just Stopping, and assessing what I have, revelling in both the richness of whatever possessions I have & also recognizing their fleeting pleasure/usefulness -- and it engenders a sort of detachment as well as pleasure.
--I ended up mending some things & felt a "stewardship" in these actions
--last August I began a list of "incoming" and "outgoing" objects & have gotten rid of so many things in addition to bringing in very few. This has kept me moving in the direction I want to go
--I feel liberated!