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?

Gobblers if I can do it you can. I've spent 30 years overspending and bored with myself if truth be told! I said I would do it this time last year and failed spectacularly so really trying hard this time.

I am a clothes junkie too...

Well I went shopping today at a very large out of town shopping centre for some clothes for my kids today as one of them is going on a school camp next week and the kit list contained some stuff we didn't have.

However I ended up in the large M & S today on the very same day as the end of the sale and everything was reduced to £1-£4 and I bought some underwear and PJs. My excuse is that I have lost some weight on another thread and needed to go down a size but in reality they were lovely and I wouldn't have bought them at full price. Knickers were £1 for silk ones and I bought a matching bra for £3.

Now all I need to do is throw out the grotty stuff.

See, now I am thinking I could pop to m and s tomorrow, I am going to be cramp at this

went to shops. did buy a belt with a gift voucher. debenhams had Spring range in, very nice but don't need any of it.

also resisted buying boots n.o 7 3 for 2 skincare. may need night cream but am trying to use up all my odd samples or trial sizes hanging around.

I have started sewing again . Really pleased that I appear to have some motivation to be creative again. And it keeps me out of clothes shops. Had to buy fabric yesterday as I'm making a quilt for our king size bed, but worth every penny as it will last a lifetime. Can't wait to get started.

Hello everyone! I am joining you as I need to save hard this year for home improvements (still £2000 to go), to replace my car and for next year's holiday. I just do not need any more clothes and really need some discipline. I've been selling clothes/handbags through a local dress agency and will have another batch sorted for spring. I gave some heavy coats and macs to a collection for rough sleepers and am determined to pass on more stuff (particularly shoes) to charity shops when I get out my spring/summer stuff. Doing those things really makes me feel better.

Can I join please? I have a feeling this won't be easy to do alone!

My DH is about to take a job at around half his current salary!! (But it's in something he has always wanted to do, & could well pay off big time in 5years, so I'm behind him of course. Grudgingly. Sort of)

So we will have to tighten the purse strings.
I am a bit of a loose cannon when it comes to clothes (I wore a £75 coast top to cook Xmas dinner in. I got oil on it & it is ruined. I knew that might happen but thought "well, I've had it for over 2years anyway") I CANNOT continue with this attitude as I simply won't have the money to replace anything.
Good luck everyone!

Forgot to ask, can we still buy underwear (essentials like knicks or the odd bra)? And well done fellow clothes' bingers for giving it a go, it will definitely be worth it.

I will only buy an item if it is a replacement.

Little giraffe I would have been in tears if I spilt oil on an item worth that much. But then no item in my wardrobe costs more than £40.

Rumbled I don't even know when this happened. I used to buy most of my clothes in the teenager section of new look (I'm 37 btw)
I just seem to have developed a bit of a cavalier attitude in the last few years, but it will have to go.

Frugal will be my new middle name. (I feel a name change coming on)

Littlegiraffe you are not alone we are here hee hee!!

I would have cried too re your top. My DH did that to a top he was wearing (pretty much the only decent bit of clothing he possess) on Christmas Eve and I nearly killed him .

I think we are allowed underwear as long as it is not too extravagant.

I haven't bought a thing since Christmas Eve which is completely unheard of for me. Hard but a good feeling .

Thinking of a name change, any suggestions? Well done Belize!

So underwear is OK? . I hope so, because all of mine are hideous. I literally wear them until the fabric is falling off the elastic and they are all grey and dingy. Pajamas too. Not because I can't afford to replace them but because they are all nice and soft and worn in when they are old and I like them better that way. DH (who hates shopping) will sometimes go and buy me some new ones because he is so appalled at the state of them sometimes . I'm going to have to name change now, aren't I? I just don't get fancy underwear. I probably should make more of an effort but I'd rather spend money on nice jumpers, leather boots, buttery-soft handbags, pretty scarves, cool earrings...

Wearing stuff till it wears out is uber-frugal, no?

Hoping that it's OK to buy children stuff too? As mentioned upthread we're moving overseas to a vastly different climate in March and we'll be living out of our suitcases for several weeks until we get the bulk of our clothing back. Will have to get the DC some new things.

Just checking new name- what do you think?

I will join but only buy the odd treat item? Is that ok?

Main reason is new relationship where he wants me and I want to too in the bedroom mostly outfits and lingerie. I don't mind spending there. God that sounds so lame!

Anyway I did try last year and am trying re classics. Got top in Top Shop Thursday which is nice and potential new workwear/after work.

So count me in please.

Good name :)

< looks around guiltily >

It's not clothes..... But 'tis random reckless spending.... Does buying a wooden carved animal from Africa count?

Please say no!

Good new name Macca - just need to remember it's you now!

Toad - wooden. carved. animal. from. Africa...... did you nip over there this week???

I'm with you on Random and Reckless!!!!

Hahaha belize am there with work at the moment

It's staring at me from the corner of my room. But it's not a dress. Or shoes. So it's ok..... Yes?

< feels like a naughty schoolgirl >

Well we went to Next and M&S yesterday as we were out to a party last night. It would have been so easy just to buy a new top to go with the standard black trousers that I tend to wear, but I resisted. Earlier in the week I decided to sort out my summer stuff, to see what fitted. I have loads of trousers but not many tops. I did find two long sleeved tops that now fit, so I wore one of those. Felt really pleased with myself. The trousers were new also but never worn. Both items were bought from a charity shop over 2 years ago and never worn, so once I had turned the trousers up, they fitted fine. Planning to wear the top a bit more. Quite a lot of the ladies at the party had dresses on, which is not something I wear.

I can be a slob - jeans and t-shirt type of outfits, as they are easy and comfortable, but no fashion statements being made! I have found two nice tops in my collection that would be great with dark jeans for weekend use, when out and about, so I am trying to make more of an effort this year.

Toad as you can

Oooops! Toad, as you can't any wear it, I'd say it's fine. Is it a giraffe btw?

Macca/Shopping good name. I tried changing mine to littlefrugalgiraffe but failed!

I think my first test will be the next time I have to buy DS clothes.... Which will be soon as he's sprouting again!

Sorry littlegiraffe it's a giant wooden hippo! Like your name though!