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?

My sister did it a couple of years ago. I think she had to buy a suit and shoes for work, but she didn't buy any non work clothes. She was always someone who bought a lot of clothes so she had quite a stash. I think I'd find it much harder as I have less of a stock. She broke her habit to a large extent and buys much less now.

Can't believe I've not checked on this thread but it's been ticking over. The year is coming to an end and I've not totally succeeded in buying nothing but here goes. I've bought two pairs of shoes as they literally fell apart and needed replacing (work shoes), a pair of jeans to replace a ruined pair, a dress to wear for a few weddings and a pair of slippers. Total spend for the year has been around £150 I think. Compared to the thousands I spent in past years I've really pleased. Most importantly I've stopped shopping as a hobby. :). I've also paid back £1000 worth of debt. How's everyone else getting on? :)

Well done macca so inspirational. Bet you're thrilled about the debt. That is one of my reasons for attempting this but I've not done well at all! Still keep looking at eBay. I suppose I now really um and ah about whether I really need whatever it is but I've bought some right old duff cack. Some great bargains too but on the whole it's loser ville. You have bought necessities that replace a well used item. 150 in almost a year is gold star territory. What's your plan for next year?

Thanks Darkhorse- the plan is to carry on, there are still catalogues to be paid off- it's a bit horrifying to realise that paying the minimum is almost redundant once you pay the interest. I'll continue to replace items as they reach the end of their useful life but never want to become so blinded by the need to spend. I'm going to use the £40 a month I'm not spending on catalogue payments to pay down my Very and SimplyBe account. I no longer cringe when I get the statement which is a good start!

What's your/everyone else's plan for 2015?

I'm going to carry on but realistically my summer wardrobe will need major updating as I spent next to nothing on it this year. I'm pleased that I've spent roughly £300 with over £130 being running gear. Not bad at all. I'm proud of myself and have made great progress in paying off debt

That's great mummy ,though save your summer wardrobe energy for next summer. Debt busting is one of my main incentives for trying this. I've decided to ban amazon and eBay for 3 months, other than selling. If I say a year that's rather too long but 3 months might hopefully be enough to break the habit. Not that I buy much clothes wise from amazon, usually shoes that don't fit and need returning.
One thing I'm proud to report, I took a pair of boots to the heel repairs guy in our local market. For £5.99 he shaved a few cm off the height of the heels, re heeled them and covered the scuffs. I never wore them before as they were just a bit too high and now they are so comfortable and look great. I've worn them twice since I got them back the other day. They look amazing with a cosy super dry cardi (bnwt)I got from eBay that I was regretting buying but since it's gone so cold I'm pleased I did. Let's gloss over that. Ebay has caused me more sorrow than pleasure.

I think I joined this earlier in the year. I've definetly failed at no spends this year. But have succeeded in spending less. I think in total I've spent about £800. On myself. The majority of that was a handbag. I have bought essentials (pants bras etc) but for the most part have thought carefully about buying new clothes shoes etc. The majority of new things I've bought have been from eBay.

I'm starting the new year unemployed for the first month. Then a new job in feb. Don't need anything new for new job as have lovely work clothes already. Will do another wardrobe audit and will sell anything I haven't worn.

A year on from the start how have you done? My total remains at £300. I managed the Christmas season with one work party night, one girls night out, a Xmas lunch and a house party without making a new purchase. It was a challenge but a good coat, sparkly heels, party hair, glittery nails and make up went a long way to disguising the shabbiness of my clothes!

I'm definately carrying on into 2015. I reckon I can get by on a similar amount of money- I won't need any running gear bar trainers so should be able to update my summer stuff and come out even. I'm willing to rise to the challenge. It would be great to get some more updates!

Hi I was on this thread near start but did not stick to challenge. But I wanted to say it did and continues to influence me. Since then I have embraced minimalist ideas - though still to put into practice a lot of stuff.

I havn't bought any clothes since a blouse in September and some gym bottoms. A coat in the summer (for the winter)

I've worn all my nice dresses that I got last year that fit me better as I've lost weight. It feltreally good to just pull stuff out and not have that strained dash around shops that would see me sweating about not being able to find anything. I enjoyed myself just the same It felt good knowing I hadnt spent anymore money.

I must say mine has been motivated by a tighter budget and a desire to wait before buying anymore clothes until I have lost weight. Nevertheless I have learnt that sometimes I rely on my clothes as a 'front' and other times they are purely functional.

I really enjoyed some of the insights in this thread - I still find it interesting the link between ourselves/identity and the clothes we wear.

I never posted in this thread but I was inspired by it and vowed not to buy any clothes for myself this year, from around February 2014. I did not succeed in buying nothing for myself, but I really broke the habit of compulsively buying clothes off the internet and relying on these purchases/new clothes for a "thrill" and a sense of satisfaction and increased self-confidence. My clothing purchases have been much more considered and I've saved a huge amount of money. I have also only bought things I "needed", for instance clothes that wore out/fell apart or that I didn't have in the first place, rather than anything and everything. I am also really happy with how this has positively impacted me financially. I used to feel like I was always "one step behind" with credit card bills, etc. - never in debt but always pulling together the money to pay off each bill before its due date - now I feel "in front" of these bills and much more relaxed about money. All the money saved has also really helped with our savings for moving to our "forever home". Thank you for starting this thread and I am going to continue this into 2015 - avoiding spending money on clothes/shoes wherever possible, continuing to save, and no longer feeling "addicted" to online shopping!

Oh my lord I did it. Apart from one shirt and pants / socks which I didn't count as cheating from the start.... No clothes bought.

Just gone online to start a MAD FRENZIED SHOPPING attack... And there's nothing I want.
I think I've broken myself! Aaaargh.....

I tried this too in 2014. Whilst I did not completely succeed in buying nothing, there were some positive outcomes for me:

• I bought a lot less than I normally would (I only really bought work stuff as I was getting scruffy and I have a professional job so looking smart is important).

• It really made me think long and hard about whether I needed something before buying it. In particular I have gotten out of the habit of buying things that are "bargains" cheap but I never end up wearing them and I have only bought things I really need. I have also thought more about whether new purchases will go with anything else I have and when I would wear them, rather than just buying random dresses because they are beautiful but knowing full well I never go to the kind of places where I could actually wear them!

• I have become more creative in putting together outfits from what I already have.

• When I got some vouchers for Birthday I really really enjoyed my shopping trip to spend them. Whereas before I would shop all the time so it didn't really feel like a nice treat.

I am not going to continue the shopping ban in 2015, but hopefully can continue to put the lessons I have learned into practice.

Was in town with the kids while they spent their book tokens and wasn't even tempted by the sales. It feels good to have that strength now as crazy sale shopping was my particular issue. My charity bags last year contained many many dresses that I bought yet never had the occasion to wear( or in reality were utterly hideous)

I have two friends who love to shop just before Christmas we had 20 minutes to kill before our table in a restaurant was ready. We went into Primark and within 10 minutes, they had armfuls of stuff- no time to try on so BOOM 50 quid each on the cards and all on stuff that wasn't needed and on an unplanned trip. That was me a year ago and I don't want to go back.

me next noisyoysger break me next I want to be broken!

Congrats to all who kept it up (or just bought essentials) for the year. I would actually like to buy more clothes but I don't have much disposable income. I usually buy two or three things during the year - mostly tops. I generally buy a top in the summer when all the bright colours and prints hit the shops. And I like to buy something new (even if it's just a top) for Christmas. I never buy online as I live in Ireland and we're usually charged postage if we buy from Next etc. That can add significantly to the cost. Also, I'm a bit old fashioned and I like to see and try on what I'm buying. I couldn't be bothered with sending the things back if they didn't fit or I didn't like them.

It made for a very interesting thread to read.

Decided I need this thread for 2015 as it was such a help last year.
January spend - £3 on Primark dress- to good to leave
February spend £0
So far so good. Unfortunately I'm going to have to buy jeans as Im down to my last pair and they have holes in the knee now.
Anyone else continuing?

Hi, IamMummy- yes I'm carrying it on. I had to buy a few more tops due to wear and tear- even sewing them up couldn't save them! It's completely changed my mindset. Roll on 2015

i'm continuing. Although I know I won't be able to not buy any new clothes.

I'm just really thinking about the things I am buying. Only if I need them.

So far this year, I've spent £27 on a skirt from Oasis. That was on Thursday of last week.

I'm being careful with clothes, washing them properly for a start, making sure they're dried properly and put away.

am mending things that need it, and am selling the things I just cannot wear.

i'm continuing. Although I know I won't be able to not buy any new clothes.

I'm just really thinking about the things I am buying. Only if I need them.

So far this year, I've spent £27 on a skirt from Oasis. That was on Thursday of last week.

I'm being careful with clothes, washing them properly for a start, making sure they're dried properly and put away.

am mending things that need it, and am selling the things I just cannot wear.