Clothes Challenge

Fozz

Have decided to challenge myself not to buy any new clothes for the next year!! I only really buy charity shop clothes anyway, but was getting into the bad habit of calling into my local charity shop every week and coming out with one or more items of clothing. Then I'd decide that I was fed up with some of my old clothes and take them back to the same shop. Hopefully this will save me a few pounds a week, and I have enough in my wardrobe to last me.
I've decided to start knitting again so will make an exception for home-made clothes!

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

good idea Fozz and good luck with the challenge but beware of the knitting, I can come out of a knitting shop having spent a fortune and must have had a mental block on when I got my credit card out! Definitely my achilles heel when it comes to spending!

lil_me

I've been strict with myself this year and only bought with money from old ones I sold, never anything full price either, jeans wearing now were £30 in M&S new, £6 inc postage off ebay new with tags!

When we (hopefully) move I plan on bagging stuff to be ebayed after we move as I don't want the hassle of it before we move with packing etc, then might treat myself. Some will go to charity shop aswell depending what it is. Have took 3 bags there this week.

I tend to only buy what I need, I have basics of 1 skirt, 1 jeans, 2 trousers and one pair for 'scruffs' which have more holes than material but handy for cleaning in etc. 7 tshirts (enough for if we go on hols) one sweater, couple of tops for 'scruffs'. Replace the good cothes when needed, jeans I replaced were stitched back up more times than I care to admit (worlds worst at sewing!!). Don't tend to go out on an evening so what I'll be getting rid of is most of my 'dressy' clothes that have just sat there for ages. My partner is the same, has his work stuff, casual and scruffs stuff, rest will be going as doesn't get used.

rosieben

I started this a while ago after I read Eco worrier's Wardrobe challenge -
http://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_worrier/2007/03/index.html

I'll buy new underwear, but everything else is second hand. Actually last spring I bought all of this summer's wardrobe, including shoes, from ebay so I've been living this way for a long time.

This has somehow and quite unconsciously filtered through to other spending areas and I find I need less 'stuff' of all sorts. Except for medicines and electricals I will probably not be buying much of anything new at all, ever.

Eco-worrier wrote an article (August 9th) called 'What I have is what I need' saying much the same thing so it isnt just me that's found this shift in attitude spreading to all areas of life.

Good luck with your challenge!! :T :T :T Keep us posted with your progress.

Fozz

Thanks for replies, started challenge at the beginning of September, and already have a feeling of relief almost - looking at clothes in shops was taking up time as well as money, I felt compelled to look through clothes in every charity shop in town! I do still go in them, but look at books instead, a habit I don't want to break! I usually e-bay or take my books back to the shop when they're finished with.
I'm also very much against consumerism , have been consciously waiting at least a week when I have the urge to buy something new, to think whether we really need it. More often than not the answer is no. In a way having less money helps this, I'm sure if we were more " comfortably off " I would buy things on a whim and end up with a houseful of junk.
When I said I was going to start knitting, it usually takes me a year to finish a jumper, so even this will fit into the challenge!!

Toonie

I do try to buy second hand and will only buy when needing (for instance I need a pair of trainers for work, my old ones won't even glue back together anymore!)

My biggest problem is I have long legs, broad shoulders and long arms. So, when buying from ebay its hard to get the right size, so I tend to just buy if I really need it.

Would love to try a challenge like yours Fozz, but I don't knit and am allergic to wool anyway (amongst many other things) so would have problems there. If I do go out clothes shopping I take my budget with me and leave credit and debit cards at home. Its the easiest way not to overspend.

Penelope_Penguin

Well done Fozz! I've been doing something similar since January - nothing brand new. I'm sat here in cargo pants from Freecycle and a top from Cancer Research shop.

I hate shopping, go into clothes shops, am completely intimidated by the choice, and have to retreat. The release of not having to do this is incredible.

I don't have many clothes, but to prevent me getting bored of them, twice a year I pack my summer/winter clothes into storage. I'm about to pack away my summer clothes and get out my winter ones. It'll be like having a whole new wardrobe.

I'm now turning my thoughts to books - only buying second hand. Bought some cookery books from Amazon, and this week made my first purchase from Green Metropolis. I might start seling some of mine, too.

Penny. x

ceridwen

Well done all! I'm not that brave - I am sticking to my resolution not to buy any clothes at all at present. Discovered 2 holes in a new-ish jumper yesterday - :mad: - but will try to mend it. If I cant - then just resign myself to one jumper less. A work in progress again.

kunekune

My challenge is more modest, but will hopefully result in reduced expenditure nonetheless. Rather than just buying winter clothes at random, I will make a list and do it in one fell swoop (on Thursday afternoon, when I am in London). I'm in a job where I have to look good (though not in a suity sort of way) when facing students, and last year I got away with a minimal wardrobe because I was only teaching on two days. This year it is four, so I need some more stuff. Also, because in New Zealand it never really got cold, I am still building up my casual winter clothes collection. Second hand is great, I love that, and do it when I can but as a short size 22 with narrow hips, it isn't usually safe to buy bottoms unseen!!!!

Good luck to the others, your discipline is inspiring.

JAMIEDODGER

good luck with your challenge! i will be following with interest:)

taplady

I could do woth having a go at this but think I will find it hard as I seem to have gone mad lately, since I lost weight I just seem to be adicted to buying clothes - not all new, mainly in the sales or charity shops. DH peeked in my wardrobe and counted 12 pairs of jeans yesterday:eek: a couple of them are too big but I have to admit to having 10 pairs that fit:D I think I need to call a halt now.
The one thing I do need to buy are some leather gloves as I really suffer with my circulation in the cold and I lost my pair from last year. I will sort through my wardrobe ASAP and see what I can get rid of(usually give to my mum or sister) and try not to buy any more!;)