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?

y they have to have such nice things

i have events 2 x parties informal.

i have receipts

i have a spreadsheet

They are here, my feet are warm. Gawd, they are ugly but who cares. Shopping ban is now back on! Overthinker- don't worry about licking my slippers, have you returned your M&S thingies?

Sisukas the best tip for hemming trousers is to try them on inside out and then put on the shoes you want to wear them with. Put a mirror on he floor and pin the trousers up all the way round (if you have a lot of turning up to do you might need to cut the existing turnup off first). Keep checking that the length is right and is level. Do the same for both legs and do a final check then take them off carefully. You can do a light press before you stitch them if necessary.

Foolproof I promise you!

No Macca but I will. I feel such a twit. I only wanted something for a party i am going to from Hobbycraft:

Automatically parked right outside huge M&S as I can always get a P&C space.

So I went in, browsing before I realised it.

Tried on 6 items as DD(2) was settled so I jumper at opportunity

Then DD had accident so I ended up buying her new bottoms (cheapest but practical I could find)

So I bought a

Dress - nice blue fits well but I dont think the quality is there, not like my day wrap dresses from phase eight.

Cream blouson with needed diamante neck trim - bloody thing looks hideous now at home

Low block shoes - only £25 look nice but actually look shit (sorry but they do) with my jeans (?) and I dont need them I have 5 pairs of flat pumps amongst other flat shoes.

Long silver pendant, rope looking with charms on - sorry its v naice.

I would love to keep the dress but really at £30 its not going to wash well. I have 3 day dresses from Mint Velvet I could wear - this blue one just seemed fresh - with the silver pendants its pretty.

The only thing if I am honest I could justify spending is wellies for our holiday and a waterproof which I have priced for under £40 for both. After getting soaked this afternoon on school run I really need to get a grip.

I'm just doing my nails now - is not just about the clothes right.

I think I'll wear a black and olive ovoid dress with black tights and heeled brogue dollies or slouch boots. Harumph.

Helenagrace - how did you do this last year - what are your tips?

sisukas - Im a fan of wonder web too - good luck.

so actually Macca I will return tomorrow to my local one. God I'll have to pass Laura Ashley. Maybe I have a bogger issues than I thought.

I love how you 'jumper the chance'! Freudian slip perhaps?!

I am no judge, this thread is for me, a way to be honest. I wrote down how much I owe on catalogues yesterday. I feel determined to clear it, and in 15 months that shall be the case come hell or high water. What the fecking hell have I been buying to owe nearly 2k on five different catalogues !

That second comma was a mistake- I promise my ego is not that massive!

I did say up thread I paid off my Next account it was just over £1500. This is amongst cards. Tomorrow I am paying 1k off a card where it has been balanced transferred that many times I have no idea what the orginial spending was You are not alone Macca

Regarding my use of the word "addiction"up thread. I do think I exhibit addictive behaviour towards buying clothes, shoes and accessories. However, I'm not in the camp of compulsive shoppers who buy indiscriminately or daily, or those who spend hours physically shopping (although I can spend hours browsing online) I don't have any debt apart from a mortgage. The things I buy are lovely things, not tat. I can always justify their place in my wardrobe, unfortunately.
I do think it's addictive behaviour when there's always one more thing that one wants to buy. There's been so many items over the years that have been "the last thing I need for a while"
When I was younger I shopped to boost self-esteem. Now it's about distraction and self-soothing from a demanding work life. (As well as the fact I get huge aesthetic pleasure from nice clothes). I will always want to present myself we'll, but I need to "go turkey" to re-calibrate and break the cycle of constant craving.

I have made it through the first month and not purchased a single item of clothing. My bank balance is definitely healthier!

And I am ashamed to say that I have stuck to my plan of wearing everything in the wardrobe that fits at least once before doing the ironing and I still haven't emptied the wardrobe. (Just to clarify I have two pairs of work trousers that have been washed and ironed but everything else has been a single use wear!!!)

Ouch ouch ouch!!!!

In 2013 I spent just over 1100 quid online at next and that doesn't even include the delivery charges!

I get my bonus in February which I was going to put away for the next 4 months because I go to SMP, but as I've got another 300 outstanding with next, I'm going to use some of the bonus to pay that off and then close my account! That'll save me the 100 month I usually chuck at them.

On a positive note I've not bought a single item of clothing in January and I'm finding a new lease of life for old clothes I havent worn for years.

It's late in the day but can I join? I did but some.clothes in January, but things I really needed, a warm waterproof coat, some jeans as NONE of mine fit, things like that. But I do feel I have enough and while I don't know if I can make.a whole year I hope this thread will help me cut down significantly

I got to the end with a £10 spend on a cheapie top for work but my dad had given me £20 so I didn't feel bad. Also my work wardrobe is dire. If I could lose even 10lbs, my choice of existing clothes would really expand.

Hello B here .

Very pleased to report that I've made it through January without buying a single item of clothing and indeed only spent £23 on books as a non-essential purchase.

It is hard though isn't t? I sort of think, OK I've done this now and want to shop .

Feel a bit downhearted as had car tax, service, tyres and RAC membership out in January so my bank account looks awful anyhow. Suppose I have to think at least I didn't add to the debt by buying unneeded clothes.

Macca I totally get your need for a decent pair of slippers, I live in mine for a good part of the day and evening - no point in buying cheap ones that you have to keep on replacing. The Boden ones are very pretty and I have two pairs that have lasted at least 2/3 years. Just bung them in the wash every now and then.

Welcome AmberSpyglass (one of my favourite books ever)

Thanks, jaisalmer

I have car tax and insurance due soon so really can't be spending any money on clothes. Except now you've mentioned slippers and mind are falling apart because they're cheap and I live in mine too. Bah temptation!

The real problem here is not so much the money being spent, but that the money is being spent in the most uninspiring clothes shop on the planet... Next.

Hello Amber . And a big welcome!

Thanks, *Macca!

I made it a whole month!

So excited about this. Am selling c.35 things on ebay including some clothes I bought and rarely wore.
I am going to a black tie dinner at work and just pulled out my 3 posh dresses to find they're all too big. Am going to list 2 of them on ebay tomorrow and am wearing the least big of the three. I may need to buy a nice frock at some point (I'm thinking 1 black, 1 floral/pale for weddings, perhaps try to find them in a local dress agency where I've seen good things v cheap). But I won't even think of doing that until after March. Hopefully I won't get asked to anything super posh between now and then.

Another survivor of the first month here too! I paid my £31 into my savings account yesterday and will put another £1 away for each day I do not spend on clothes. Over January I bought a new pair of gloves and a snood scarf - both from Primark and cost £5 in total. They were necessary for the cold weather while watching my son's football matches. I keep them in the boot of my car so I always have them. Also they are liable to get covered in mud, wet etc as always having to tie his laces!

It is getting hard though - 1 day 11 more to go, but I found myself either avoiding town or walking through and browsing, while going to get tights for DD or a t shirt for DS (he keeps growing!). I do then remember that I am on a healthy eating plan and have a full box of clothes under my bed which I cannot fit in, including some lovely summer stuff.

I have done a partial audit of my wardrobe, and intend to book a day off work and do a proper critical one when I am not pressed for time. I do think I still have too many clothes and still don't wear them all often enough. I am working out and about for the next few months, so not wearing my usual workwear, more trying to keep warm with fleeces, t-shirts, etc so I need to ensure I have 4 or 5 tops that go with my two pairs of work trousers for after easter - plenty time to lose a stone to ensure tops that are a little too fitted will fit properly.

What does everyone think they've saved in January? I think it's at least £100 and would have been more if it hadn't been for the slippers!

I don't really know... I spend a lot on clothes but quite irregularly, so it's hard to estimate. There's no way I'm going back through bank statements for last year that would end only in tears!