Can I survive a year without buying clothes?

[MaccaPaccaismyNemesis]

I like shopping, especially pretty day dresses, and I have spent much of 2013 building up a decent amount of clothes after bring pregnant and eating cake changed my shape though I have lost my preg weight now. (Only 2 years later!) .

I was having a look through the other day, and I think I could save a fortune if I made myself not shop for clothes or shoes in 2014. It could help financially to pay back the overdraft etc, and maybe just maybe I could save some money. I can definitely dress well for the year, but will people notice that I'm sporting the same clothes?

Would anyone like to join me in my quest to not shop in 2014?

I'm gonna try and fit in to my pre first pregnancy clothes as I have loads of pretty things that haven't been worn for 3 years!! Just 20kg to lose :-(

Hahaha I'm still here . I actually keep forgetting I'm part of this and wandering into shops. Luckily my friends was with me, who is just been wittering to 10 mins before about not spending, and she pulled me back out of Crew. In my defence, it was purely forgetfulness, not trying to bend the rules!

I think once I lose the habit of trying to walk in clothes shops I'll be ok

Now, maybe I should extend this no-buying-things business to furniture. 'Tis my real weakness......

Stay. Away. From. The. Shops. Toad. !!!!!

I'm feeling very pleased with myself as has been a week now with nothing purchased and haven't even browsed the t'internet. I do realise this is a bit pathetic with another 51 weeks to go but small steps and all that.

I've just bought a car which has cleaned me out for a while. I am going to try. ebaying stuff and staying away from the shops is my game plan.

I have some vouchers so I will use those.

Gah. Stupid phone.

friend not friends. And I'd not is. Mumble grumble

Hahaha belize every little (amount of time not spending) helps

I'm in. I overspent horrendously last year. Which was a bit scary as I've never been one for clothes or shoes before. I've just got some basic underwear in the sales & a hat/scarf/gloves for cold mornings/evenings.
I was feeling very low & depressed & somehow I got into the habit of buying new clothes to cheer me up. Then it didn't help & I'd feel worse than ever before.

I'm hoping some counselling & no more spending will improve 2014.
Good luck everyone

I'm in. I'm very tempted by sales and 'bargains' so I am going to deregister from some of the shops which send me emails of their sale bargains. I find this particularly hard when shops have final reductions, but bought loads last year and have probably got enough clothes to last a few years, so am going to revisit those.

I bought a few thing in the sales on Boxing day and now that is it.

Yes budgeting is key, I think depriving yourself of absolutely everything leads to massive spending binges (does with me anyhow).

Even if I allow myself to buy a couple of paperbacks at the beginning of each month I feel cheered at the thought.

Welcome FleeBee, I understand that feeling only too well of cheering oneself up and then feeling wretched because you've spent too much.

I'm not in as such, but I did make a list of everything I will need this year and I will stick to it. It's all stuff like pyjamas, underwear, tights, bras, leggings and gloves. I will also need two cardigans and two pairs of shoes (ballet flats) and Birkenstocks and possibly a pair of black trousers. I reckon I can get through until April without anything new anyway.

Best of luck, everyone!

Can I join?!

I have crazy amounts of clothes...and recently ordered around 50 various tshirts from an extra cheap sale link posted on S&B which marked a bit of a turning point. I suspect I may have become a bit of a spendaholic...

I have a lot of clothes, but will be keeping them all as I know that I will end up replacing anything I part with in one way or another. I also overspent on toiletries and make up. A couple of months ago I put everything but the products I was using daily into a big box. Now I go 'shopping' for new lipstick or moisturiser etc in my box. This really has worked well for me, so I intend to try something similar with my clothes, storing the items I rarely wear and pulling them all back out whenever I 'think' I need something or feel the urge to browse or shop. Odds are that I'll already have it, but forgot. I expect to have several bags of stuff at least in storage, so I'll never remember what I've stored and will be surprised every time I look!

Good luck to you all!

Happy New Year and may the willpower be with you!

Two days in and have bought nothing. I will, however, admit to several cravings:

• a navy zatchel saddle bag (on sale). Have now unsubscribed from the site where I saw it.
• a white statement necklace (to go with all my Summer navy and white stuff) This one was easy to resist as wasn't for sale.

If you love clothes / accessories there's always just that one more perfect item to make your wardrobe complete. Deep sigh. I completely understand how the budget idea works for some, but for me I think cold turkey will be best. Once I've recalibrated my self-restraint over the year, then I plan to do the considered, quality purchase only thing (5 items a year).

As well as save money, the five item limit should hopefully reduce the number of garments in the medium to long term. Storage is a real issue, and there's no doubt that a large wardrobe sucks away free time and takes energy. I envy the pared, sleek wardrobes of 333 participants, but at the moment that particular challenge is not for me. I do regret that I've overspent on clothing and accessories but I do feel I have something to show for it and plan to enjoy my clothes and get good cost per wear on the nice things I do have. Just no more to be added in the next twelve months!

I'm still on holiday and still in the middle of the big wardrobe / drawer tidy. Have a good pile for the charity shop and a smaller pile for eBay. Having quite an enjoyable evening pottering and sorting out.

Mmm.. think I'm possibly with you on the Cold Turkey approach Novel!

Trouble with a budget is that it then entices you on to the sites and that for me generally ends in carnage .

I haven't done my big wardrobe sort - will start then when DC's are back at school.

I would like to attempt to join in too please.

last year I tracked my spending from 2012 and was shocked at the amount I had frittered away. so in 2013 I managed to slash the amount to one third of that and really thought about what I bought more.
I set a tight budget- which I didn't quite stick to and I kept a record of spends.
I also had a wardrobe sort out sent stuff to charity and ebayed.
At times it was hard esp when two of my closest friends are mad for fashion/shopping etc. Eventually it did start to get easier tho and I became much more selective.
I found the Martin Lewis demotivator on MSE useful. (Also reading articles on the amount that goes to landfill.)

I was quite pleased with myself and now I'd like to go one better .
I need a new bra but that's it. Good luck everyone.

Really interesting thread. I'm not sure I can join as I know there are a few things I'll need this year (new bras, work trousers and probably a couple of summer things - I struggle with summer) but am going to try to stick to that list so will be with you in spirit.

One thing that surprisingly really helped with my clothes spending was having my colours done and a style consultation. It wasn't cheap - £200 - but I had it as a 40th birthday present (had a just 2yr old and a bf-ing 4mo and couldn't go out anywhere to celebrate). The stylist went looked at my body shape, reviewed items I'd brought from my wardrobe and talked me through what did/didn't suit me and why. I actually found it took a lot of the thrill out of shopping as I can now immediately eliminate at least 95% of what I see due to it being wrong cut/colour/neckline etc... I think for me the thrill of shopping was about all the possibilities and it kind of took that away. But it has meant that when I do buy something now I'm much more confident I'm going to get the wear out of it.

The other thing I've found helps is doing a seasonal shop -easier to budget for and to make sure I buy things I need and that work together rather than random sale items.

I like Helena's advice about putting a week's worth of outfits together - will try that his Sunday.

Spangle I'm sure you could join, everyone needs the odd bra, pair of trousers. Speaking personally it is the constant flow of unnecessary tops, coats, jumpers, boots, handbags, jeans etc that I am trying to stop .

Foxdongle, that's interesting that you have tried and succeeded before, gives me hope!

I love reading your posts Sisukas, they just ring so true with me .

I'm sending some bits back to M&S and Hush today. They are not quite right but previously I would have just kept them and there goes another £100. It's a hassle returning them and trust my luck I won't get back the full price as stupidly bought them before Christmas and all now in the sale but to be refunded even half the money is better than nothing at all and having two garments that I would look at like this ever time I look at them.

I still NSD so no clothes bought or ordered.

I have a scarf to return and a bag. Sisukas you are so right about being more discerning feels more controlled for me - safe. This year I have gone back to basics of sticking to two colours in main garments, matching up shoes and bags, no patterns for me (unless very subtle). I found what fits and flatters and I only buy that now, no matter how lovely something looks - its just not for me. I walk away.

Re sale shopping, I dont feel like going out and spending money to save money on any items as I have what I need and I am very happy with the items from my splurge in Sept that as you say fit and are in the right colour choice for me etc.

I thought about this thread when i went to park yesterday - i didnt look like was making any statement with my outfit overall though nice (IMO) it felt right to wear what I did as it was practical. I was secretly snorting at some of the house and hound clothes horse types trottng about with their kids (oh does that make me mad and bad? i dont know...but I took a bit of satisfaction in knowing Im not going to be enslaved to fashion this year but neither does that mean I wont look nice)

Oh I feel bad now - you sound so nice and well informed I wouldnt think I was laughing at someone like you Sisukas - I was in the muddy park (as in nature reserved type not playground) with ruddy wet walking paths and we played in the wet leaves

Yes but you can still dress up 'appropriately' I still wore a matched up outfit and a naice gillet from fatface. I did my eyes and lips. I just wasnt top to toe in 'the country set' look! I never am top to toe in any look actually. I went out for a meal recenty and I wore a silk pannel dress from Mint Velvet (has some great cuts for my shape) with kitten heal boots and found that I was bit overdressed. Even though I got compliments I felt a bit of a tit tbh. My make up was too heavy too.

With your pear shape have you not enjoyed the fifties skirts that were around? Follow your line as Gok says. Do you wear wide leg linen trousers - I have re-intriduced these this summer gone So practical and feel I can stride about after kids without worry (hairs and colour on legs stress free!) I made an effort to hint and trends with tops and accessories . I even bought some hushpuppy sandals and more birkenstocks this year - they kept me sane, if that makes sense.

Ill fitting clothes durng the summer have been a probem for me in the past.

I had to take some stuff back today so I went to the shopping centre. I did buy a plain white stuff top today in the sale and a bra for my dd with some tights and socks all very marked down.

I am going to chuck out some old stuff and I have some stuff on ebay. Mrs De Vere you are right about getting a thrill about selling stuff and it makes more space in the wardrobe.

Also you can offset the sales if you do need to buy some clothes.

I do enjoy shopping and there is just no getting away from it.