2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Baileys_Babe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82175294#Comment_82175294

I was thinking the same or keep the bag, shoes & jacket neutral so they can be worn on all the occasions you need to dress up.

weenancyinAmerica

Can you wear black slacks and a fancier top to the parties. Easier to pack two tops and the pants than two dresses.

Laura_Elsewhere

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82175275#Comment_82175275

Pip, I think you should just think of the fabulous events we have here in the village hall at Much Mending on the Borrow- I mean, it's wartime obviously but be honest, nobody cares that we wear the same frocks and shoes every time! Men wear the same suit to everything and nobody cares!

Seriously- take one dress, and comfortable party-shoes, and wear it to all four events, and if you absolutely must then take a range of light scarves/pashminas.

Honestly- the people you're travelling half the world to see, are they really the sort who will point and sneer?! I can't believe that…

so if your family and friends won't be sneering at your splendid frock, who are you fretting about? Wear something that feels good and looks nice, and put the extra effort into enjoying the trip!

dND

I hope I'm not too late to wish you bon voyage @PipneyJane . I've been hidden away for nearly a week when the charging socket on my laptop broke, so no laptop. I do have the phone but I really don't like staring at its tiny screen.

My first reaction was to look at a new computer, just in case. Oh my goodness, the prices have more or less doubled over the last 3 years. 😱😱😱 But a very nice PC repair man, who was only 600yds away, has fixed it. 😁

I need to report yet another spend! While changing over my summer to winter clothes I weeded out some socks that were past their best. Being commercial cotton ones I find that any sort of repair puts me into the princess and pea category. Lidl had an offer for a 7-pack that I couldn't resist, so, another 7 coupons used taking me up to 55 coupons used. It's been a heavy year this year.

The new socks have not gone straight into use yet but are ready and waiting for when needed. I decided to follow an idea from someone I follow on Instagram, (Back to the good life), and had a think about what I would do if I had to leave the house in a hurry, say next door caught fire, or the gas main ruptured, (not prepping for Armageddon). I decided that I could probably live in whatever I was wearing but I would feel more comfortable if I had clean underwear. 🤣 I usually bulk buy underwear when I see a good offer so I've decided to store part of that bulk in a grab bag and rotate it through as you would food. Minimalistic but hopefully giving at least a bit of home comfort if billeted elsewhere for a night or two. Dxx

CapricornLass

Bon voyage, Pip - hope you have a wonderful time!

maryb

I thought I might just scrape through the year on budget but today I stocked up on thermals since the El Nino is predicted to give us some bitter weather after Christmas and if you wait till it's cold they've sold out. Plus all the noise about stocking up indicates we might well have intermittent disruption including rota power cuts.

Debating whether to admit to a bit of black marketeering or carry it forward and knock it off next year's allocation

BTW Primark's thermals are very good, can recommend