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 would say a couple of hundred at least. It's all gone on the blasted car instead but at least not even more in debt I suppose.

Artemis I wouldn't dare go back through bank statements, but lying awake one night shortly after this thread started I added up in my head the new clothes spend from last year that came to mind and it was well over £2k and that really was without trying. Assuming it was probably more like £3k that is a decent holiday .

I did this for Lent last year (not buying any physical objects except food and items to make things with, i.e., no clothes, books or magazines, but iTunes, dry cleaning, pointless evening classes and virtual magazines fine). I was surprised how much I saved. I have done the same this month and have saved a lot - there is more in my bank account than there normally is! I have also not cluttered my house with clothes I will only wear occasionally. But some of my work clothes are maybe looking a bit tatty. I tend to sprint for trains and rip the seams of pencil skirts which cannot always be mended very successfully!

By the way, for hems and stuff, DO NOT CUT, I repeat, DO NOT CUT until you are SURE it is the correct length. You may not even need to cut anyway depending on fabric.

I've been hovering (think I posted) and I think I spend on clothes etc out of boredom. And also necessity.

I do have an awful lot of pretty dresses that I either tire of or don't wear (summer daytime vintage).

Then there's stuff I need or want but wear to pieces. My star print Zara long sleeved top £16 and worn more than enough times to justify the price.

Recently I bought vintage ankle black suede boots (lovely and replace or can wear instead of similar Natura boots which are now looking worn (but wore every other day last September to this month!).

Same with Massimo Dutti navy quilted jacket, I wanted one lighter material with a hood that'd suit me.

And navy/ecru Oasis crochet dress. Got Friday but its a dress up/down dress that I can see I'll wear year in year out.

A lot of impulse buys were Monsoon skirts (but tried to get in sales) but they're worn summer.

I think I may get colours done and find out about styles.

I know my downfalls - one off trendy pieces and tops

Stuff I can remember buying last year off the top of my head:

Russell and Bromley boots which I never wear as they are hell on the feet £195
black skinny jeans - £25
hobbs jacket for work £89
hobbs dress for work £99
3 x uniqlo heattech tops @ £9 ea - £27
uniqlo heatech leggings - £13
Uniqlo cashmere jumper £40
about 30-40 pairs of sheer tights for work (they rip) - c.£50
New bras after intervention - £160
Sports bras £40
New running shoes £120
Running tights, socks, hoody in TK MAXX £59
Blue skinny jeans £24
Jigsaw jacket off eBay - £30
Charity shop binge in late dec (including hobbs dress, zara jeans, hobbs cardy x 2) £30
Asos pencil skirt - £18
2 H and M pencil skirts - £40
H and M tweed skirt - £25
Mango jacket £49
Mango skull pattern shirt - £25
Mango cream blouse for work £20
TOMS £40
Brora Scarf £120
Dune boots in sale £83
Coral T shirt from Hobbs £16
Hobbs peasant style skirt £49
Urban Outfitters blouse £18
Urban Outiftters indian pattern t shirt £30
Lace dress £30
Black pencil dress £30
Max Mara T shirt £15

===
£1,609

And that does not include any of the stuff I got rid of when I moved (because I can't remember any of it!!), I charity shopped about 8-9 massive black bags of stuff so there could easily be another grand in there.

Feeling very cross with myself now. Some of that stuff gets worn on a daily basis and I don't regret it at all but a lot of it I could definitely live without.

Those small £20 / £30 purchases just add up SO much.

I reckon I could spend £20 to £50 over a month on clothes I dont need. I am putting that money away each month, so it will go towards our holiday next year. Found charity shops last year and spend too much in there, probably £5 to £7 a go on one or two pieces, but have had plenty of wear out of them. However, do I really need 20 t-shirts when I am only wearing three or 4 of them! So even though it is cheap stuff from charity shop and great value per wear, it is all just clutter in the wardrobe really. I dont have the money to buy decent clothes and I am not very good with decent stuff - always manage to catch them on things, splii things on and stain them, etc, so stick with mainstream - Next, Wallis and supermarkets.

I am looking forward to not spending in february as in January. I do think I will struggle more as the months go on.

I reckon I shop out of boredom - I do like looking at clothes, but never really find anything I really like, or if I do, have no thought whether it will go with anything else I own. Standard uniform of black trousers for work with a selection of 3/4 sleeve length tunic style tops. Weekend wear is usually jeans and a top - never catch me in a dress!!

andro and artemis - yes I am the same as you.

Last year I had a friend (for about 5 years) we would meet at Westfield Stratford - and she was a shopper - worse than me if that makes sense. She would almost cajole me into buying something and sometimes more in her style than mine.

I do shop for boredom so anywhere I go where I would be tempted (nearest town Kingston upon Thames after work) I stay away from. I have shops on my doorstep for work (SW19) but I also make an effort to not buy. Very hard when I see something I like, need etc.

The worst times were last year when I bought about 2-3 H&M tops (cheap but not my style) wanted to take them back then lost the receipts and had to give away.

The thing that is almost bad for me is that my work doesn't require much - I preferred when I had to wear a suit every day or if I had a uniform.

Artemis - how much of what you buy do you NEED? or wear? should I say.

I did buy for example a nice Navy blazer in Zara but not best quality. It will do for now but as I KNOW I suit and would like another one I will look eg Tommy Hilfiger, Massimo Dutti, Joseph etc for another one that will last. I know it sounds daft but I am investing more in classics.

I also have (have yet to pluck up courage and offer to buy) on today a gorgeous pleated Louche black and white tiny stars in bow pattern calf length skirt (chiffon) that I borrowed from SIL and love it! So easy to wear!

Maybe it's good next to your list (I will do same) to do a x per wear you do and maybe cost so you work out how much it costs per wear.

And also I found it was good to make a note of what I returned (Whistles tops, Hobbs jumpers) and what you WANT in clothes. do you want wool, cotton etc? (another thread on here).

helloboys I am good at wearing stuff for work - I buy classic stuff, good quality (mostly hobbs/jigsaw/whistles/max mara/jaeger etc) and it lasts for ages. Weirdly because that stuff is so expensive I think carefully and only buy if it's perfect.

It's casual stuff I am terrible with - I by a £20 t shirt here, a £30 pair of jeans there, and then realise they don't fit/ I don'tlike them. Usually too late to return. I am currently selling a coat I bought in the Urban Outfitters sale two years ago for £70, never wore it probably lucky to get £10 for it now. I get suckered in too easily thinking things are bargains.

Artemis - you seem better than me re workwear! I was going through a phase of buying Jigsaw suits (on ebay) or Fenn Wright Manson dresses (also Ebay) but then finding them a bit mumsy or the suit wasn't right.

I'm quite lucky re coats - but I tend to find I have a lot of eg bags - about 3 bags same colour, same style 1 Whistles, others vintage and Spanish brand. The Spanish one got an oil/grease stain on and can't fix it. The Whistles one the stitching has come away but haven't mended it!

I bought can you believe a vintage brown and fake fur leather bag (£10) at weekend but I have to stop doing that.

Hello all - just checking in to say I've NC (used to be Artemis at B...)

Hurrar!! Well done everyone for the first month!

I'm finding that I've got so many clothes that we're getting a bit tight ( too many biscuits) that rather than doing some exercise I'd just go and buy the next size up.
So I've got an entire wardrobe of beautiful clothes that only ever fit me once when I tried them on in the shop

So am using this "no buying clothes" thing as an excuse to actually get into my "slim" dresses again :)

• were

Silly phone

i have just returned two items of my indescretion.

its funny i disnt feel i could post anything until i had done so. i wish a diet thread could have as much influence.

lots of good posts will cat h up properly when im back home.

Well done ashamedoverthinker!

I've caved already and bought a watch. Do watches count?

I also spent my clothes budget for January getting my colours done. I thought that would save me cash but I'm already thinking of all the things I want. Note want and not need! I did need the watch though as mine is losing time and looks scabby. (justifies purchase to myself!)

I managed not to buy anything for myself clothing wise. I did buy some face cream and an eyeliner at the end of the month. I will try to carry on with this as long as I can.

Sold a "designer" item I bought for £90 a few years ago and never actually wore for £4.63 on eBay. I wish I had a crystal ball so I could see what purchases are "good" and which are things that I'll want to get rid of in a couple of years.

Definitely have been suckered in to "bargains" of designer things at half off, etc, far too many times.

Im selling two coats on eBay so I'm hoping to get around 100 for them. The challenge then is to NOT spend the funds on eBay "bargains" straight away!

On the other hand, this is definitely motivating me not to buy anything!

Does this count?

Past 2 days - in dept store yesterday very tempted by perfume. I PUT IT DOWN.

Today out shopping for food etc - in Ann Summers - nothing I wanted anyway but...

In Oliver Bonas fingered some tops - most I didn't like anyway.

I think what I will do rather than go cold turkey is to look, see if I like and then return to shop.

In dont know Helloboys I really don't ive just spent 2 hours browsing waterproof coat and boot combo.

I really dont know if I can do this.

I really WANT the waterproof stuff I NEED it for holiday in 2 weeks and another camping holiday

I tried several bags on in town today - they all just seemed silly pointless objects and satisfied myself I am well over the coral navy bag urge.

But the coat and boots (both in sale but I know this is not the point!)

ashamed - the boots - maybe. but could you BORROW the other waterproofs?

or check cheapest online. moneysavingexpert.com often have good links to deals.

suppose...

Tis a nice waxed parker though

Oh I'm doing this! Fancy there being a thread about it!