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Original poster

Can I survive a year without buying clothes?

794 replies

MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 23/12/2013 23:06

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!) Grin.

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 23/01/2014 16:32

Changed back, I miss being called Macca!

OP posts:
Belize · 23/01/2014 17:06

I've not got around to changing it quite yet!

Sisukas, I could have written your post I really could.

I've been the same with mortgage and interest rates, have been soooooo stupid just sleepwalking through life over the last few years. Sometimes you really do need a wake up call don't you.

Hello again Macca!

Jaisalmer · 23/01/2014 17:22

Not quite another country but a place within one Wink.

foxdongle · 24/01/2014 11:03

hi trying to keep up with the name changes!

Loving having the extra in my account and able to plan holidays etc.
I always thought I was a bit money savvy with other stuff e.g. paying down mortgage, not getting into debt etc. But I have been rubbish with clothes shopping- really wasted loads of £££. It's only when you tot it up that it really hits you eh sisukas? I was so shocked and annoyed and only totted up 1 year-2012.

I have just relegated some leggings to painting clothes (they had gone really bobbly wearing with boots and are oldish) not long ago I would have automatically replaced them even though I have four more pairs! This is the kind of madness I need to avoid.

And some of the "I've got to have it!" have just not lived up to my expectations and ended up in cs/ebay.

Luckily some of the "I've got to have it" were good buys and are now being worn over and over....:)

Sisukas · 24/01/2014 14:37

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

ashamedoverthinker · 24/01/2014 15:01

I do feel quite akin to this thread.

I havn't added up but I do know I just paid my Next account off £1533. A lot of that was kids clothes too.

I have to confess I love to see children in their little matching outfits - all very well. On occasion I have seen children and been a bit 'meh' about how they are dressed (stff not matching or fitting correctly) when it is obvious the parent is well dressed or drives a nice car or maybe if I know them and what they do for a living I think they could afford not to let their child look like whatever I have judged them. NOW I can see how OTT my spending has been (sometimes the odd label) on DC's and other people my look and think oh what a waste or frivolous. Having caught up on laundry (not out spending or browsing!) I can see how much excess the DC's have in their wardrobes. I can also say this extends to toys too. It just has to stop.

I think the austerity and self discipline it brings is easy to transfer to other areas. I am no worse off for not having 2 or 3 cakes whilst out this week. I have £10 to last me 7 days.

Like I said up thread since starting this we have committed to an agressive budget. I think our attitude have been way out of step generally and we still live hand to mouth on a good income - this is how we were brought up, we need to save all the time, we have done in the past for specific things but generally spend.

I have certainly had my eyes opened. I am sorry for being so judgey in the past.

Can I recommend booking buget weekends so you have something to look forward to...its working for me!

I think I'm doing ok with enjoying wearing clothes mostly boot and coat combinations that are newish - I have enough to wear a different combo for two weeks worth of school runs Blush Im wondering what happens when the newish feel honeymoon period wears off....

Jaisalmer · 24/01/2014 18:37

Sisukas and ashamed your posts ring so true (B here by the way). It's the sleepwalking through spending that I feel so ashamed of, I know people look at me and think I'm mad to be so frivolous but I've always thought of them as boring Blush. They are not boring, they are making proper grown up choices that I seem incapable of making.

An aggressive budget sounds good and yes my austerity has definitely spilled over into not buying toiletries, cosmetics, magazines - all that stuff that we get so hung up over.

Scarletohello · 24/01/2014 18:41

If I lost weight I would have a while new wardrobe! ( of clothes I currently can't fit into)

Also have about 50 pairs of shoes/ boots. Just can't stop buying them

What's wrong with me..??

Scarletohello · 24/01/2014 18:43

Fwiw if you get your colours done you are much less likely to buy things that don't suit you, don't go with the rest of your wardrobe and you end up giving away.

It costs money to do it but for me I think it's saved me a fortune over the years....

orchidella · 24/01/2014 19:27

scarlet you're right about having your colours done and knowing what suits you. The only problem is then seeing stuff that you know would be the perfect colour on you and then having to resist it. It was particularly so last Autumn/Winter when the vivid blues and emeralds were all on offer. Much easier for me to ignore pastel spring shades that do nothing for me. Sisukas I agree about the missing-out-on-the thing-you-wanted being necessary to reset the brain. I guess the brora cardigan will be a good start Smile

Original poster
MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 24/01/2014 19:31

Arrrgghhhh! Started my day with the car not starting-£100 later and an hour late for work. Found myself shopping for handbags on my lunch break and just about stopped myself. The emotional shopper in me came out today in full force. Hmm

OP posts:
Blueandwhitelover · 25/01/2014 11:41

I have had a few wobbles this week where my fingers have clicked on the ebay tab and my feet have crossed the road to the charity shop but I have resisted! Does make me realise that a lot of my purchases have been made through boredom.
I have also been doing what a poster recommended up thread and have been wearing things in my wardrobe that normally don't see the light of day.
I plan to do this till I've worn everything that fits (the ironing basket is looking a bit full) but I figure that will make me decide if I will ever actually wear the item again and get rid of it if not. I've already found a couple of tops that I forgot I had.

Helenagrace · 25/01/2014 12:37

It's so lovely to be embracing clothes austerity in company. I did it on my own last year and that was hard.

A beloved brown dress has a small hole in the arm. I'm trying to decide whether to take it apart and make a pattern from it (I have some dark forest green fabric in my stash) or whether to shorten the sleeves and the dress and turn it into a summer top.

I've been setting out five days worth of clothes each Sunday night and it's helping me to make the most of what I have. I'm wearing a better variety of clothes rather than just grabbing the stuff nearest the front / top of the pile.

ThePearShapedToad · 25/01/2014 16:58

How's everyone doing with willpower on this grey and horrible day??

I went shopping yesterday- for work needed tights, which was on my "allowed" list, and then saw a lovely spring dress that would have been gorgeous...

And felt so guilt ridden that I'd have to lie to you all that I put it down and walked out!

Hurrar! Mass-anti-peer-pressure works! Grin

ArtemisatBrauron · 25/01/2014 17:52

It's going well for me so far - I've been avoiding the shops like the plague, so I haven't been tempted yet. I'll need work tights too, hopefully when I do the audit tonight I'll find 6 good pairs for this week and put off the shop until next weekend.

Thebluedog · 25/01/2014 18:54

I went for a walk the other day and saw someone wearing a pair of military type boots and I caught myself thinking 'ooohhhh I like those, wonder where she got them' I started day dreaming Shock looked down and realised I had on an almost identical pair. In the past I'd have gone looking for the exact ones... It just brings home how much money I've spent on clothes and shoes when I've got similar stuff anyway - shocking

Thebluedog · 25/01/2014 18:58

Oh I love the idea if wearing things that have been lurking in the back if the wardrobe, I'm going to try that this week.

I've been on adoption leave for the past 3 months and been wearing the same 2 pairs of jeans and 2 different jumpers... I can't believe I've wasted so much in clothes and still only knock about in 4 items of clothing Shock

Original poster
MaccaPaccaismyNemesis · 25/01/2014 19:03

I'm the same for wearing the same stuff. I have three dresses and loads of navy leggings that I wear in rotation at home. 4 pairs of identical trousers for work with 7 or so tops. I wear three different kinds of shoes- two pairs of black brogues and a pair of brown boots when I'm at home.

I have so many dresses for going out in, but rarely go out these days. Maybe I should dress for a party more often?!

OP posts:
Scarletohello · 25/01/2014 23:39

Ok, do charity shops count...?

< hopeful >

ArtemisatBrauron · 26/01/2014 09:21

I completely agree about not wearing the full range of my clothes. I have 6-7 work outfits that I rotate, then at home live in the same jeans and couple of t shirts with cardigans and the same boots. This is a woman with c.40 pairs of shoes ffs.

Apart from work tights and maybe a new bra or two I definitely don't need any new clothes any time soon!

sugar4eva · 26/01/2014 16:28

Fab thread! So inspiring ! I used to have shopping addiction and it is horrid! Up thread someone was talking about the emotions behind shopping that can apply to some. For me I got such a hit when I shopped and its about replacing that elsewhere I guess. I think if you are addictive ish type person you can get addictive re other things and so maybe should get semi addicted into not shopping or getting less things of good quality? Which shops are good quality? For cardis , dressess etc.....I'm not trying to encourage shopping ! Just better planning!

Thebluedog · 26/01/2014 18:49

Wow today I wore a pair of boots I bought about 4 months ago but haven't really worn since, a holey type jumper over a long sleeve tshirt, both of which I haven't worn for ages. If forgotten how nice they looked and they matched the new (old) boots. Smile

androbbob · 26/01/2014 20:18

I agree, this thread is inspiring. I am going out for tea and a catch up with a friend tomorrow night and have planned to wear a top I bought in the summer from Wallis but never worn. It lives in that half of my wardrobe where I have to open both doors to get to half of my clothes Grin

I too have a Next account and a catalogue account with a small balance of a few hundred on, so I am closing them down in the next few weeks. Not necessary and too easy to buy stuff in a couple of clicks.

I have £27 in my jar ready to pay into the savings account.

I think the winter months should be relatively easy compared to the spring and summer months, but you lot should keep me on the straight and narrow!

Thebluedog · 26/01/2014 20:36

I love this thread and find it really inspiring. I actually think of it when my finger hovers over the 'buy it now' button. Grin

ashamedoverthinker · 27/01/2014 19:59

Hello, I'm feeling very tempted to go looking as I feel I need something.

I know exactly why I want to go and get something and I feel silly. I know it is wrong but it would make me feel better. This is all about buying somethng to make me feel better and put on a front against a particular person. I have never felt like this before and I dont like it. I wish I could let go.