Sharron's no buying clothes for 365 days!!!

glasgowgirl

Hi,

I would love to join but am finding the prospect very scary! However, the amount of time I spend going round the shops/shopping online, buying stuff and then changing my mind/feeling guilty and taking it all back for a refund is getting out of hand.

I'd like to get off this merry-go-round for a while and get things back in perspective as I really do feel it's become an engrained habit that borders on addiction and at the end of the day I have nothing to show for all the time spent!!

What I would really like is to not buy anything til spring - wear out all the winter stuff from last year so that it doesn't go to waste and also get my life back!!

xx

katieclampet

Hi glasgowgirl, I know exactly what you mean. I used to go shopping most saturdays, often not for anything in particular, just end up buying bits and pieces. dd2 & I used to go. We now go shopping about every 6 weeks or so, and go to buy specific things, presents, clothes for kids and such like.

I get lots of household chores done sat morning, and have the rest of the weekend free, (well more or less!) I have saved quite a bit (and so has dd) and have much more free time. I also really enjoy going shopping now, since its more of a treat and less of a chore.

Good luck!

katiex

tara747

glasgowgirl wrote: »

Hi,

I would love to join but am finding the prospect very scary! However, the amount of time I spend going round the shops/shopping online, buying stuff and then changing my mind/feeling guilty and taking it all back for a refund is getting out of hand.

I'd like to get off this merry-go-round for a while and get things back in perspective as I really do feel it's become an engrained habit that borders on addiction and at the end of the day I have nothing to show for all the time spent!!

What I would really like is to not buy anything til spring - wear out all the winter stuff from last year so that it doesn't go to waste and also get my life back!!

xx

OMG this is me to a tee!!! I work in town so I think nothing of it, but once in a while when I'm down to the last day for returning something I find myself dashing to that shop at lunch even if I have other things to do (e.g. bank, post office etc). And I stop myself and ask... why am I doing this?

Shopulimia I believe it's called...

Anyway, I am with you on this. Let's shop less!

As for the toiletries...well, my stash is growing, not shrinking with all the Body Shop/M&S/Boots/Thierry Mugler pens glitches! But it is all for pressies so that's me sorted for gifts for a year or more.

curlygirl1971

I've done that too in the past (buy, take back, buy, take back)......and like Tara747 leaving it to the last minute or even over the 28 days sometimes and then breaking out into a sweat at the till thinking 'please don't notice'. Do that much less now because I was caught out a few times and ended up with things in my wardrobe I didn't need and didn't even want and never wore......sometimes with labels still on 2 years later when I was doing a charity shop sort out. Shopping became something I did on a Saturday - like a leisure activity.

Now I've got my frugal head on I still go to town, maybe to run a few errands, but I either don't go in places or nothing interests me to the point where I think 'yeah I want that top rather than have £30 in my pocket'. Although there are lapses, and occasions when actually I really would like to treat myself to something - but if I do buy something that costs over say £15 its usually the result of careful consideration rather than an impulse. And of course even that has gone out the window now I'm on this challenge.

Have succeeded so far on this challenge but I'm a third of the way through but already feel bored and scruffy. Had a few good suggestions on this thread re. Xmas Party outfit and ended up borrowing something from my sister - so thanks very much! As I've not bought any clothes for over 4 months I have a little spare cash in my spending account so next month will be making a small over payment on my mortgage and am pretty chuffed with that.

In the long run - If I last the stretch (which I will do) then I honestly do think I will be going out and buying myself some new clothes at the end of it. I suppose in some peoples books this defeats the object as I will probably spend money I've spent months trying to save. But whatever I do buy will be good value; It will be a thoughtful purchase rather than a whim or an impluse, I'll get a lot of wear from it, I will really appreciate it and hopefully it will a size smaller!

Sorry for rambling....it's late night posting that does it

curlygirl1971

GrammarGirl wrote: »

When you go for your new trousers at Tesco, take a look at the label. Polyester is hard to avoid when you've got less than £30, but a lycra mix will help the trousers retain their shape. If I were you, I'd go for a simple pair of wool trousers. Perfect for winter with blouses and cardigans and a little different from your bog standard black.

As for the party dress... do you have a black pencil skirt and a chiffon blouse? Pull the pencil skirt so it sits on your waist and belt it with something shiny. Tuck the chiffon blouse (doesn't have to be chiffon... I'm just thinking sheer rather than cotton) in, stick some sheer tights on, add heels and a few chunky bangles or a eye catching necklace and away you go!

That's just one idea. If you know black, stick to it and brighten it up with accessories. Scarves are good, like Sharron says. I think the thing to remember is you don't have to wear a dress.

Hope that was a little bit helpful! x

Many many thanks for the advice Grammergirl (and everyone else who responded to my original MOAN). Got my trousers from Tesco and followed your advice. Only had to pay £7 cash as the rest was funded by CC vouchers. But you know what.....I had a voucher for 'spend £40 and get £6 off'.....So really my two pairs cost me £1. Ding Dong. I'll feel more like a proper working-girl (as in Melanie Griffith - rather than a night walker) now that I look decent again......and I can throw away my half-mast pair!

nichart20

still going good ladies I have not bought a single thing since LBM, OH bought me lots of new lovely underwear for christmas along with some lovely RI jeans I could not find anything else, I found it hard to find things I think I had got used to telling myself not to buy stuff so had my no shopping head on but he said I can just have money for after christmas to shop
hopefully we will have lots of lovely things under the tree

Swinstie73

Hi all,

Have been following the thread and am going to start in the New Year to not buy anything as my wardrobe is fit to burst. I have mentally tallyed up some stuff and I have 9 pairs of winter boots, 9 pairs of ankle boots, 5 winter coats, 15ish handbags, countless sandals, tops etc. I really need a capsule wardrobe, found your thread Sharron but the pictures weren't showing up!

I agree Glasgowgirl, I constantly buy stuff, feel guilty then taken them back, I must waste gallons of petrol driving back to the shops (sometimes the same night)!

flippin36

After some drastic building work, I have been lucky enough to aquire a dressing room. So I have spent the weekend sorting out my clothes so they are all together in this room. Well it totally shocked me at actually how many clothes I actually have (and thats after I had thrown some out!) I have managed to fill a small bedroom with clothes and shoes! So next year I am going to try and follow your example. Thank you for your thread.

tara747

flippin36 wrote: »

After some drastic building work, I have been lucky enough to aquire a dressing room. So I have spent the weekend sorting out my clothes so they are all together in this room. Well it totally shocked me at actually how many clothes I actually have (and thats after I had thrown some out!) I have managed to fill a small bedroom with clothes and shoes! So next year I am going to try and follow your example. Thank you for your thread.

OMG you lucky thing!!! I would looove a dressing room/walk in wardrobe..... :j

flippin36

tara747 wrote: »

OMG you lucky thing!!! I would looove a dressing room/walk in wardrobe..... :j

OH wanted an en suite but I stuck to my guns :j.