The Completely Crazy 2013 Clothes Challenge

citizenkitten

fedupandskint wrote: »

This is something we used to do on one of the previous threads

Have a FREEDOM CLOTHES DAY!

ah not my problem my wardrobe is huge but i wear everything in it, i never wear the same thing in a month due to my job, but i doubt anyone notices anyway lol!

stephr wrote: »

I'm new to this forum and thought this thread would be a good place to start! I'm 19 years old, and considering I have no student debt over my head because I didn't go to uni, I still have somehow managed to rake up £900 worth of overdraft on 2 separate current accounts. Now I've got a new job and am hoping to get that all sorted...

congrats on the new job, yeah better to set a reasonable target and maybe if you come under... maybe use it for a holiday? i saw 5 nights with BA and 4 star hotel in istanbul for £264!

Ihatethemoneypit wrote: »

This will cover everything! I usually buy something new every time we go anywhere so I can't see this being easy!

Any hints or tips would be brill

welcome! i shall be posting some tips later that i think may help.

Going4TheDream wrote: »

I have also salvaged a pair of my fave work shoes, the insole bit had slipped and got all twisted so I have removed both and found some insoles in a drawer, cut them to shape and voila (new) wearable shoes. have just given them a polish and they are spot on again. My OH thinks I have totally lost the plot, so I said ' are you going to give me £50 to get new ones, mmm thought not so whats wrong with mending instead of spending as there is nothing wrong with them apart from the insoles! ' ha he said nothing and went back to his online game!!! :rotfl:

well done on the massive sort out, i did one a month ago and it is soooooo theraputic. giggles about your OH.

short_bird wrote: »

Ah. It appears I am doing the Project 333 already without realising it:o Have gone through my wardrobe and I wear 30 items; just need to separate lounge wear and fitness attire.

well you can help the rest of us!

Lotti379 - and all experienced membrs can you also post your tips for me and the newbies???

citizenkitten

moneytalking wrote: »

because its hidden away in mounds of other unworn 'stuff'!

Short_bird - I have just been reading up on Project 333 and I think it could shake me out of my bad habits... I am definitely up for giving it a try... Thanks for the tip!

you tried the hardcore lot who have spreadsheets.???!!! love those guys! yeah my target is £500 so you are in good company.

vintagegal wrote: »

• I am learning to sew and have lots of fabric waiting to be made into dresses

i was hoping the other sewy members on here would help us??!! welcome!

Want-To-Fit-In wrote: »

Can I be put down for £200 for the 5 of us + any gift vouchers/birthday money

Thank you

of course welcome to the gang!


anyway those who have yet to be numbered, i will do this later, pesky work getting in the way.

also yep veterans can you all post your tips up here to help us newbies and get the idea juices going???

been inspired by the spreadsheeters and may create a catalogue of my clothes! also really inspired by the sewers! wondering if you could put up tips or hints of easy things to do/learn.

mcculloch29

Hello everyone - belated Happy New Year.

I joined in last year, rapidly reached my budget limit but then had an unexpected sudden drop in income (I'm self employed).
I haven't bought anything for some months now.

I'm 55 this year and mostly work from home as an e-tutor. I don't do skirts and dresses as they aren't practical for teaching and travel - I've also taught in the community for years.
I've recently lost well over 2 stone in weight, but I'm tall, so it doesn't really show that much.
This weight loss has to continue, as I have severe arthritis in my left hip and excess weight really causes problems. My dress size is 16-18.

My clothes buying problem lay in the fact that we have two X-Catalogue shops locally. These shops are only in the North East and Cumbria and are fantastic for bargains, though you need to be a bit lucky.

The catalogues that the ex products are from are the JD Williams chain, including Fifty Plus, Simply Be and also some Joe Bloggs. They do tend to be for the more mature person but they also do clothes size up to 38..

I've had some unbelieveable bargains from there - a £50 pair of wool mix trousers for £2.50, a £40 Arlene Philipps evening top for £7, a £40 Joe Bloggs top for £12, ditto Joe Bloggs jeans, dressy trousers retailing at £40-£50 for £5 (x 6 ...!), Kaleidoscope tops retailing at £24-£40 for £8.

When you add in a former inability to enter Primarni and leave empty handed... well!

I don't really need anything this year. Not underwear even. Primarni's seam free briefs are incredible - they wash and wash and never show wear. I have many...
Bras... I must own about 30 and that's after a clear-out. Socks and tights .. ahem. I probably could wear a different pair every day for three months.

Many of my trousers have comfort waistbands and are in stretchy fabrics, so I'll be able to drop to a 14-16 without them falling off me.

I may want to buy shoes later this year, and possibly a winter coat for next winter.
So a budget of £ 100 for the whole year. Wish me luck!

the_cat

This will be my third try at this challenge - if you'll have me! I have plenty of clothes but that doesn't seem to stop me buying more. Mostly bargains, just like many on here

So this year I am determined. I especially like the idea of saving the difference to do something nice with, as I find a lot of my nicer clothes gather dust as I dont have enough special opportunities to wear them. I have the clothes for the life I want, but not the life itself as budget gets taken up with clothes....madness!
I think I will plan a theatre trip (or two) with any money left over and will set a budget of a more than generous £500, not including sports trainers.

his_missus

hello all!

Not been tempted by the sales nor have a found a winter coat I like, guess I'll just have to look like a tent for a few more months.

Had a quick read of the project 333 idea. It'd be nice to have a staple wardrobe but I'd have to leave jewellery out of the equation I don't tend to buy a lot of it but have accumulated quite a bit. Got rid of loads a while back to the charity shop too. I love changing my jewellery daily almost.

Might have a look at my wardrobe this weekend - hide away those tops that are too tight and get rid of my flowing summery skirts which now make me look hippy (as in enormous hips hippy not "peace man" hippie :rotfl:)

Hmmm...:think:

short_bird

I do have a limiting factor with clothes: can't wear artificial fibres next to my torso for any length of time as I overheat and get itchy. Not to mention the static transferring to my hair:rotfl:
So that eliminates a large number of garments straight away:D

Have any of you noticed a trend in the garments you are disposing of? Too big? Too small? Unsuitable for your life as it is? Doesn't suit? Can't throw it away, still has plenty of wear? Can't throw it away, it cost a fortune? Bought it to cheer me up? Last minute purchase? Worn it to shreds?

km1977

Mags30 that is a good idea for the charity shop clothes BUT please shoot me now!!! I have just been up town and spent more money for c@@p I don't really need right from now on I will stop but will Wright it all down in my book to add towards my budget not sure how much will let you all know in a bit when I unpack it not loads though. I also need to set myself a budget for make up and beauty products! maybe I will up my clothes budget slightly and have it all together so not a separate one for each! xx

lotti379

citizenkitten wrote: »

oh those "bargains" eh! WELCOME PARTNER! if i keep the members updated, would you mind doing the monthly updates for the members and i will take that and update the first page??

Of course!!! I'm sorry I've been AWOL, still having a few problems posting but all should be well soon!

lotti379

Hello to mcculloch29 and the_cat - great to have you aboard!! :T :T

Oooh I'll be thinking of some tips, mind you I did lose track of my budget last year so perhaps I need some myself..!

My main saving trick is also my downfall, which is charity shops, sales and general bargain hunting! It pays to scout out which charity shops have good stock, some areas of town can be much better than others! As a case in point my great aunt goes off to cancer research in chelsea when she needs something for a new job or nice event!

Actually, what has really helped me re-assess was making a bet with Mr Lotti that I wouldn't buy ANYTHING from the end of October 2012 until the start of 2013. It was sooooo difficult to begin with, but slowly the urge to spend did ebb away... so much that I haven't been near the sales, and have only bought a pair of tights that I needed for my NYE outfit (and that was in the untotalled-up 2012 budget too!).


So I think I will also aim for 2013 to contain 6 No Spend Months, as I would really like to continue the chilled approach I have now! :A Anyone want to join me aiming for some spend-free months?

lotti379

fedupandskint wrote: »

This is something we used to do on one of the previous threads

Have a FREEDOM CLOTHES DAY! This involves freeing up something from your wardrobe to wear eg Freedom Monday or Freedom Friday were always popular days. It helped us wear what we already own instead of always buying new things to stick in unworn.

Anyone up for a Freedom Friday this week? Then plan an outfit to wear from your wardrobe something that's been in there for ages that you haven't worn

I'll wear a skirt to work that I haven't worn yet and has been in my wardrobe since May - hmm, and I thought I was doing ok wearing what I had!

YES! Totally up for this!

Thinking caps on everyone, Freedom Friday approaches!