The Completely Crazy 2014 Clothes Challenge

Jazee

I started my new job this week and after years of working at home I had to update my office wardrobe - £100 spent - which means that I have well and truly broken my budget of £120 for the year. Did get a 10% discount though.

kerri_gt

Jazee wrote: »

I started my new job this week and after years of working at home I had to update my office wardrobe - £100 spent - which means that I have well and truly broken my budget of £120 for the year. Did get a 10% discount though.

Perhaps keep a note of the £100 but don't count it in your total,cit sounds like it was a necessity and it's not very MSE if you lost out on a new job due to having no appropriate office wear .x

Jazee

kerri_gt wrote: »

Perhaps keep a note of the £100 but don't count it in your total,cit sounds like it was a necessity and it's not very MSE if you lost out on a new job due to having no appropriate office wear .x

Kerri, you are too kind, but it is a good idea, it was necessity not choice as such. I'll adjust siggy.

fedupandskint

Finally updated the front page!

So, it's goodbye to Happytails and to Antwacky who have left the challenge, bye bye.

Call back in anytime to see how we are getting on.

As for me I'm heading towards another no spend month which will make it 7/9 months with no spending on clothes.

I did buy myself a new pair of walking boots but these are allowed as I saved up every penny to buy them and walking boots and clothes are allowed to be bought by me this way. It's the impulsive spends not budgeted for I try to keep in check which is working well this year.

mothernerd

No spend in August for mothernerd. However have finally cracked today. Bought a J*sper Conr*n wrapover dress in the BHF charity shop for £8.99- all over tiny triangles in cherry red, dark green (so will do for Christmas), pale aqua and cream. Very versatile, smart yet could be worn everyday, forgiving fabric but will not look stupid when I finally start to lose weight.

Second purchase (from same shop) rich bright green/ turquoise jumper, boat neck, batwing sleeve (but real sleeve not one continuous piece from wrist to wrist), mostly synthetic but 10% mohair for £5.99. Will adjust signature in a moment (can't find the written down list).

I have been feeling a little flat and this has helped. By any reasonable standard I should have lost some weight by now and be ready to drop another dress size. However 3 weeks bed rest and about 15 weeks of physiotherapy culminated in a diagnosis on 5th August of severe arthritis in my right hip, I am awaiting a surgical consult and can barely walk. Until the surgical consult (hopefully sometime before the end of September) I don't really know what my options are (surgery is the end of the line, all other options have been bypassed).

So generally trying to keep cheerful and positive but enforced inactivity has meant my weight is creeping back up (still under 15stone, start weight of 17st 10lbs in December 2012, but was getting closer and closer to cracking 14st). Hoping the dress will make me feel good and will renew dieting efforts - concentrating on increasing my veg levels at the moment, especially carrots, celery and broccoli for healthy snacks.

Gem-gem

mothernerd wrote: »

No spend in August for mothernerd. However have finally cracked today. Bought a J*sper Conr*n wrapover dress in the BHF charity shop for £8.99- all over tiny triangles in cherry red, dark green (so will do for Christmas), pale aqua and cream. Very versatile, smart yet could be worn everyday, forgiving fabric but will not look stupid when I finally start to lose weight.

Second purchase (from same shop) rich bright green/ turquoise jumper, boat neck, batwing sleeve (but real sleeve not one continuous piece from wrist to wrist), mostly synthetic but 10% mohair for £5.99. Will adjust signature in a moment (can't find the written down list).

I have been feeling a little flat and this has helped. By any reasonable standard I should have lost some weight by now and be ready to drop another dress size. However 3 weeks bed rest and about 15 weeks of physiotherapy culminated in a diagnosis on 5th August of severe arthritis in my right hip, I am awaiting a surgical consult and can barely walk. Until the surgical consult (hopefully sometime before the end of September) I don't really know what my options are (surgery is the end of the line, all other options have been bypassed).

So generally trying to keep cheerful and positive but enforced inactivity has meant my weight is creeping back up (still under 15stone, start weight of 17st 10lbs in December 2012, but was getting closer and closer to cracking 14st). Hoping the dress will make me feel good and will renew dieting efforts - concentrating on increasing my veg levels at the moment, especially carrots, celery and broccoli for healthy snacks.

I feel for you. Keep at the diet. A couple of years ago I lost over two stone and was done to 25 BMI - which was the first time in 20years. I then ruptured my ACL in my knee and ended up with two operations and last year I was over 3 stone heavier. I couldn't believe that I had done it to myself again. Last year, I lost a stone. I am now back on my journey to get back done to my ideal weight. I have already lost the weight that I put on this year have just over 2 stone to go. Clothes are feeling more comfortable. I keep looking at my smaller clothes. I have warned my husband that when I get back down there I am going to need some new clothes - I look forward to that shopping trip!!! Have put this months clothes budget away for when I need smaller sizes.

kerri_gt

Gem-gem wrote: »

I feel for you. Keep at the diet. A couple of years ago I lost over two stone and was done to 25 BMI - which was the first time in 20years. I then ruptured my ACL in my knee and ended up with two operations and last year I was over 3 stone heavier. I couldn't believe that I had done it to myself again. Last year, I lost a stone. I am now back on my journey to get back done to my ideal weight. I have already lost the weight that I put on this year have just over 2 stone to go. Clothes are feeling more comfortable. I keep looking at my smaller clothes. I have warned my husband that when I get back down there I am going to need some new clothes - I look forward to that shopping trip!!! Have put this months clothes budget away for when I need smaller sizes.

Sorry to hear about your ACL, nasty injury. As a suggestion, could you put away a set amount every time you lose a certain amount of weight? That way you'd have pennies saved for when you reach your target. Well done on your loss so far, fantastic achievement, and remember, if you're exercising and building muscle, that weighs more than fat, I've been doing boot camp for 2yrs and put a good 1/2 - 1 stone on, but lost inches round my waist.

Gem-gem

Thank you Kerri for your pearls of wisdom - my hubby and I do lots of walking but yes I am going to need to up my exercise levels. I'm trying to avoid paying for a gym membership.
Still no clothes spend - which is hard when white stuff have a 20% sale on.

kerri_gt

Gem-gem, I find I exercise much better when I have someone pushing me, or in a group (where I have discovered I seem to have a slight competitive side which was deff missing when I was at school lol)), hence my reason for boot camp. I don't always get to do my fav sessions, and it's changed about all the time so constantly working different muscles. I know I work harder than if I was at a gym where I'd stick to what I enjoyed aka found easy, and wouldn't push myself as hard. If you enjoy walking, could you look for a local running group or something similar to try? Obviously being careful with the ACL recovery.

mothernerd

Thanks gemgem. Have spent £3.50 today on 2 100% cotton nightdresses - couldn't pass the charity shop advertising a sale on lingerie and nightwear. These have been on my wish list all year, was thinking of making them but at that price. They are very large but can alter the top bit if necessary and lots of 'skirt' gives me room to move my leg or wrap round when it's really cold.

Finally received a date for my surgical consult, October 6th (but at the hospital I didn't want, furthest away from home, 3 buses and 2-3 hours to get there) so, on the grounds of being prepared, it's justified. My mother would disown me if I went to hospital with my current assortment of mis-matched tops and bottoms + assorted cardigans when it gets nippy.