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?

Nice idea :)

I would say you should set a small budget for emergencies (e.g. all of your black tights get holes), and maybe write down all of those emergency purchases so you can check that they really were emergencies.

Yes! I will join this is one of my resolutions for 2014. I am supposed to be decorating my house this year properly and determined not to get into debt so don't want to be tempted here and there by clothes shopping

Mmmmm.... well I think the problem with waiting if you are anything like me, then you will go nuts over the next week and buy loads .

I lay in bed last night at 2am (listening to the wind) and added over a couple of thousand spent on unnecessary clothes and that was without really trying.

Guess it's all relative, not sure if that is a lot or not a lot to posters but it could have bought me a couple of flights to lovely places instead which in my heart is what I would prefer to do with the money.

It is too easy to spend many multiples of £100 though...

I don't have a clothes shopping problem, it's craft stuff and video games/books that I have so much of that I am planning on just using what I have in 2014 and anything I want to buy just putting it on a list and see if I still want it/ if it's cheaper in 2014 when I should hopefully be better off from not spending so much.

Oh god I got the Joules sale email this morning.

When I wanted a new(ish) car this year I persuaded my dh that I was serious about spending the money on it by not buying any clothes for about three months. Obviously a bit of a difference between the cost of some clothes and a car, but the thought was there.

I cracked after about two and a half months.

I need to do this. I go a bit mad looking for something online, and then when it comes realise I didn't really need it and don't wear it.

I sold some stuff on eBay earlier this year. Amongst which were a Seasalt sweater and a Joules sweater that I'd never actually worn.

Putting on half a stone in weight this year didn't help. They didn't really fit very well anymore.

God this is cathartic!

Katinkia, I guess it is whatever you feel you shouldn't be spending lots of money on so yes we should absolutely all encourage each other to spend less.

All those beautiful catalogues/brochures that plop onto the mat every day and god the emails offering 20% off argh!!!!!!

RedPencilPot, gorgeous coat but not sure if we should be posting links to lovely clothes !

I did it last year and it was hard to begin with. But I managed it so I did it this year too.

I cheated a little by using gift money to buy a pair of frivolous shoes and replacing my jeans that were no longer mendable. And it helped that my mother-in-law offered to buy me a dress for my birthday.

I'm planning on doing it again next year. Again I'm cheating as I've lost two and a half stone so am wearing clothes I've not worn for years so they feel like new.

no-one will notice or care.

go shopping again when you actually need something to wear, i.e. everything you own is too worn out. Underwear and footwear excluded as these items do wear out.

if you live that long.

I don't think I bought any clothes this year, I've got sufficient. Also helps that I really, really hate shopping.

I envy you if you detest shopping, I love it too much, hence needing to reassert control over it. Have been getting e-mails all day inviting me to sales.

Oh I hate shopping. Detest it. Trying stuff on in glaring mirrors in busy changing rooms. Other people. Queues. Getting hot and bothered and fed up and there's still the slog back to the car and the drive home.

Internet shopping on the other hand, on the same lovely little phone that I'm currently MNetting on, from the comfort of my snugly armchair in front of the fire, is just too bloody easy.

Oh I so need this thread! I bought almost an entire new wardrobe full of clothes this year(and kept the old stuff, yet almost everything is languishing in there having been worn once or not at all
All I ever do is put on jeans and a jumper. Of which I also have too damn many!
Before reading I had decided to restrict myself to a couple of hundred for 'emergencies'. But jeez, what sort of emergency is there likely to be which 3 double wardrobes and several drawers rammed full can't cope with??!
Count me in please

I'd love to join. But may need to buy some basics though. Like vests and t shirts.

RedPencilPot

I have a km coat similar to that. I quite often get men asking where I bought it so they can tell their dw about it.

I did it this year and managed to get to November before having a modest splurge. I was saving up for a holiday though so I had a good incentive. It has slowed me down generally, I think. Good luck if you go for it!

Is a basic pair of plain black shoes acceptable? I have nothing formal that fit me anymore and I might have to go to a funeral. That's allowed isn't it?

I'm in
I might need to buy some black leggings, and one new bikini for an already booked summer holiday. Other than that nothing for 12 months!!! I could save a fortune, I am actually very excited about this.
Can we get the thread moved to credit crunch op?

I would wait on the shoes, personally.
If the only reason to have them is a possible funeral, then get them if it happens. It's not as if black shoes are a rare commodity that need snapping up in advance!!!

No that's true but they will be cheap now.

Or I could borrow some, my sister's the same size as me.

OK, I had to buy two pairs of pyjamas today to see me through but I am resolved not to buy anything else.
Does the challenge involve having an emergency fund for anything?

Can I suggest that you write down everything you spend on clothes/shoes. It totally makes you think. I bought a pair of pink shoes in June, a white stuff dress in July, NOTHING in Aug, Sept and Oct (big deal for me), 4 items from a charity shop in Nov and my Christmas dress (Monsoon) in Dec. I also bought a cheeky Fat Fact dress in the sale on Christmas Eve but as they're called the JANUARY sales I'll calling that January!

I think the very fact that I know what I bought back in June means that writing stuff makes me appreciate it more. I started this as a conscious effort for less excess in my life.